Integration of Multi-plant Operations with Corporate Distribution System to Streamline Information Flow and Improve Customer Service

TP Orthodontics has made the decision to expand the company’s MAC-PAC XE implementation to support a new manufacturing site in China and integrate MAC-PAC XE with a corporate distribution system. Material flow between the new plant and the company’s LaPorte, Indiana site will be integrated using MAC-PAC XE Transfer Control capabilities. Order and production information flow between the manufacturing plants and the distribution system will be automated using TDCI Integration Server.

“MAC-PAC XE has performed well for us in LaPorte, so it makes sense to use it to manage our new plant as well,” states Patty Conlin, TP Orthodontics IT Operations Coordinator. “And its multi-site Transfer Control gives us the capabilities we need to closely manage the flow of material between the two plants, giving us a lot of flexibility.”

Operations for both plants will be integrated with TP Orthodontics’ corporate distribution system to eliminate manual re-keying of demand and inventory transactions.

“Using TDCI Integration Server to automate the information flow between our manufacturing and distribution systems will take as much as 3 days off the time it currently takes to get visibility of demand at the plants and visibility of finished goods at the distribution centers,” adds Conlin. “That will enable us to respond to customer demand with less inventory in the pipeline.”

TP Orthodontics evaluated multiple integration tools and selected TDCI Integration Server because of its proven effectiveness integrating MAC-PAC XE with related applications. TDCI will develop the ‘connectors’ to integrate the two systems.

TP Orthodontics is a leading manufacturer of orthodontic products and services, and a MAC-PAC user since 1990. The company recently returned to active MAC-PAC XE maintenance and upgraded the product for OS/400 5.1 compatibility with assistance from TDCI.