Shape Corp. Transforms Operations with Plex Manufacturing Cloud for Enhanced Agility and Efficiency
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
- Asia
- Europe
Country
- United States
- China
- Mexico
- India
- Japan
- Korea
Product
- Plex Manufacturing Cloud
Tech Stack
- SaaS
- Cloud ERP
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Productivity Improvements
- Customer Satisfaction
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
Applicable Industries
- Automotive
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Predictive Maintenance
- Process Control & Optimization
- Supply Chain Visibility
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
Shape Corp. is a full-service, tier-one supplier that designs, engineers, tests, and manufactures metal and plastic products. The company is known for its innovative engineering solutions and flawless execution. Shape Corp. serves multiple industries, including automotive, office furniture, medical, and agriculture, across more than 15 countries. Founded in 1974, the company remains family-owned and privately held, employing over 2,800 associates in the United States, China, Mexico, Europe, Japan, Korea, and India. Shape Corp. is a pioneer in custom roll forming and injection molding, positioning itself as a leader in process and material advancements. The company's commitment to innovation and quality has made it a trusted partner for its clients, and its global presence ensures it can meet the needs of customers worldwide.
The Challenge
Shape Corp. faced significant challenges with its existing ERP-based management platform, which was unwieldy, expensive, and labor-intensive. The company had added new IT systems throughout the 1980s and 1990s to support its growth, but by the early 2000s, these systems had become a patchwork of disparate solutions that required frequent upgrades and patches. This situation was not sustainable for Shape's plans for growth, as it needed a more integrated and agile solution. The company wanted to replace its multiple systems with a single, integrated solution that could handle preventive maintenance, production, gages, problem controls, and more. Mainstream ERP solutions were too broad and required too many add-ons, which did not align with Shape's needs. The company needed a solution that would allow it to stay agile without extensive integration or customization.
The Solution
Shape Corp. selected the Plex Manufacturing Cloud as its new ERP solution due to its agility and flexibility as a SaaS model. The cloud-based solution allowed Shape to manage all aspects of the software off-site, reducing IT costs and burdens. The company piloted Plex in its plastic molding injection business, which was a relatively contained environment with few raw materials and limited complexity. The pilot was successful, and Shape rolled out the Plex Manufacturing Cloud across its entire operations, completing the deployment in just seven months. The Plex Manufacturing Cloud provided Shape with a comprehensive range of modules, including HR job processes, time clocks, planning, manufacturing, quality management, preventive maintenance, and financials. This integrated solution allowed anyone in the business to access data related to these activities on various devices, enhancing real-time visibility and automated reporting. The cloud ERP enabled Shape to get new sites up and running with standard processes in just two weeks, ensuring the company could keep pace with its competitors. The solution also facilitated real-time visibility of raw material levels and automated shipping and finance reports, reducing errors and processing time.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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