SYSPRO Case Study: PEN Locks up Efficiencies with SYSPRO
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- SYSPRO
Tech Stack
- Financials
- Material Requirements Planning
- B2B Trading
- Office Automation
- Screen Customization
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Digital Expertise
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
- Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
- Functional Applications - Product Data Management Systems
Applicable Industries
- Agriculture
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Quality Assurance
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
- Process Control & Optimization
- Supply Chain Visibility
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- Training
About The Customer
Prison Enterprises Network, better known as PEN Products, is a division of the Indiana Department of Correction, based in Indianapolis. This prison system has housed infamous individuals such as John Dillinger and Mike Tyson. PEN Products produces a variety of durable and non-durable goods in its facilities, many of which are used within the correctional facilities throughout Indiana, while others are marketed to the general public. This operation provides meaningful jobs for offenders and offsets the costs of maintaining the state’s prisons. PEN Products operates nine manufacturing sites and three farms, producing diverse products such as foodstuffs, license plates, clothing, beds, mattresses, dormitory and office furniture, concrete products, soaps, detergents, and outdoor equipment for Indiana state parks.
The Challenge
In 1995, PEN Products began evaluating its information requirements, recognizing the need to automate the dissemination of business information throughout its multifaceted manufacturing and farming operations. PEN realized the importance of implementing new procedures to meet the requirements of fiscal self-sufficiency. The real challenge at the time was to find one computer software package that could accommodate what were, in effect, about two dozen different businesses. Additional selection factors centered on having to operate within a governmental/correctional/business environment and the ability to compete in the marketplace with efficient, private sector product and service providers.
The Solution
A search was conducted, and the choice was SYSPRO enterprise software. A major reason for the selection was the software’s ability to fit a wide variety of accounting, distribution, and manufacturing applications. SYSPRO’s diverse range of over 40 modules offered each business unit the opportunity to implement a tailored software solution for greater control and management. As only limited resources were available, a time-phased implementation strategy was adopted to facilitate a smooth transition to the new computer technology. By 1997, SYSPRO software modules were being fully used in the areas of financial control, sales, purchasing, inventory, and shop floor production. All accounting and distribution software modules are installed at PEN Products’ central office in Indianapolis. Eleven manufacturing and farming operations throughout the state are online to the central database. While seven use dial-in lines, six sites, including the newest facility in Miami County, communicate via a dedicated LAN.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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