Generac Portable Products Implements J.D. Edwards OneWorld to Manage Flow Manufacturing
Manufacturer of Generators and Pressure Washers to Support Corporate Growth With Flexible Software System
DENVER, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- J.D. Edwards & Company (Nasdaq: JDEC), a leading provider of agile, collaborative solutions for the Internet economy, announced today that Generac Portable Products, LLC, a manufacturer of portable generators and pressure washers, has gone live on J.D. Edwards' OneWorld(R) software. The Jefferson, Wisconsin-based consumer products manufacturer is employing the solution to support its flow manufacturing processes, control costs and manage the growth of its enterprise.
"In the past four years, our sales have grown at an annual rate of nearly 50%," said Jeffrey Dart, business process director at Generac. "We needed a software solution that was flexible enough to keep up with our expansion and also effectively handle our flow manufacturing systems. J.D. Edwards offered the right combination of functionality and agility for our business." In addition, the company saw a fit with J.D. Edwards' corporate culture. "We knew this was going to be a long-term partnership, and we wanted to be certain that our values matched well," said Dart.
Generac utilizes flow processes to manufacture its generators, pressure washers and other products, which are then distributed through retailers such as Sears, Home Depot, Costco, Lowe's and Sam's Club. The company is taking advantage of J.D. Edwards' robust Kanban and backflushing functionality to track inventory throughout the production process.
The entire implementation was completed in 10 months during a period of record sales.
Partner Grant Thornton, LLP carried out the selection and implementation of J.D. Edwards' solution. "The implementation was excellent," said Dart. "Grant Thornton understood our business, and they took advantage of J.D. Edwards' flexibility to meet our business needs and aggressive schedule."
With 200 concurrent users, Generac operates OneWorld on the IBM AS/400(R) and Windows NT(R) platforms.
About Generac Portable Products
Formed in 1998 to acquire the portable products division of Generac Corporation, Generac Portable Products designs and manufactures engine-powered tools, primarily portable generators and pressure washers, for commercial and residential use. Generac Portable Products believes that its strength in both product categories is the result of a strategic approach to engineering and manufacturing, innovation in product development, and a focus on quality. The company also manufactures some of the components for its core products, such as alternators, pressure washer pumps, and cradles. Generac Portable markets its products through multiple channels of retail distribution, including the leading home center chains, mass merchants and warehouse clubs, as well as independent dealers. The company employs 1,070 people at its headquarters in Wisconsin and 80 people at its manufacturing facility in Cheshire, England.
About J.D. Edwards
J.D. Edwards is a leading provider of agile, collaborative solutions for the Internet economy. The Company's integrated ActivEra(TM) Solutions deliver supply chain collaboration and fulfillment, and enable business-to-business trading communities in the consumer products, industrial and services industries. The Company's solutions are web-enabled and operate in multiple computing environments.
Founded in 1977, J.D. Edwards is headquartered in Denver and posted fiscal 1999 revenues of $944.2 million. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Company via the Internet at www.jdedwards.com or at 800-727-5333.
SOURCE J.D. Edwards & Company
CO: J.D Edwards & Company; Generac Portable Products, LLC; Grant Thornton, LLP
ST: Colorado, Wisconsin, England
IN: CPR MLM
SU: LIC
06/07/2000 15:07 EDT prnewswire.com |
