
Steelhead's Starter Package was designed to offer custom job shop software, deployed lightning-fast, at the lowest cost possible. The Starter Package includes essential elements to turn a job shop into a profit-generating powerhouse through digital systems and automation in record time. This case study highlights the success story of Powder Coating Technologies, a 30+ year powder coating industry leader that embraced the Starter Package as a tool to raise the bar on efficiency, quality, and customer communication.
Introducing Digital Transformation
Powder Coating Technologies is in Plymouth, Minnesota, less than 20 minutes from Steelhead's Twin City area location. The business transitioned ownership in early January, opening a new chapter for growth and transformation. The new owners, Chad and Meghan Fifield, inherited a highly experienced team of professionals dedicated to quality and eager to innovate.
As a former Director of Operations at Amazon, Chad understood the importance of integrated technology to optimize warehouse operations. He knew exactly what he wanted and began researching options. He sought:
- Enhanced employee experience by removing barriers and simplifying workflow
- Virtual order tracking to eliminate bottlenecks, improve flow, and reduce lead times for customers
- Paper elimination in favor of cloud-based solutions to simplify information/communication flow
- Data-driven decisions to identify trends, root cause defects, and act
- Enable scale by reducing non-value-added tasks and firefighting with more time to think big
They quickly found Steelhead Technologies and moved efficiently through the demo and agreement process. Within three weeks from the first contact, Powder Coating Technologies was fully transitioned from implementation to the Customer Success team, showcasing the agility of the Starter Package.
The Expedited Deployment Process
The deployment began with a thorough plant audit and discussion of process steps. Within a matter of days, the facility's digital twin was fully developed in Steelhead. The digital system encompassed various data sets including:
- part information
- Vendors
- Customers
- inventory lists
- and more...
This information was curated by the Powder Coating Technologies team and seamlessly imported into Steelhead. Following synchronization with accounting systems and comprehensive training for both administrative and production floor staff, Powder Coating Technologies began a new chapter - one synonymous with its name. Overnight, the business digitized and set off to revolutionize the coatings industry.
Two-Week Starter Package: Powder Coating Technologies swiftly moved from initial contact to deployment in just two weeks with efficient and clear communications from both parties.
Hands-On Approach: The Steelhead team personally guided Chad through the Hatchery, an immersive, mini-metal finishing workshop to simulate the technology. This training experience ensured a smooth transition. Immediate Positive Outcomes: The deployment encompassed core functionalities such as order entry, processing, inventory tracking, shipping, packing slips, and invoicing.
Impact on Powder Coating Operations
The adoption of Steelhead's Starter Package has brought about significant improvements for Powder Coating Technologies. Key outcomes that highlight the positive transformation in their operations include:
Inventory Tracking: From zero inventory tracking, Powder Coating Technologies now efficiently manages and depletes its inventory using Steelhead.
Enhanced Efficiency: With all orders entered in Steelhead, the plant enjoys improved visibility, streamlined processes, and real-time data.
Data-Driven Decisions: The owners eagerly anticipate utilizing Steelhead's Insights for metrics and tracking data to power business decisions.
The end of the job shop manufacturing ERP implementation is just the beginning of the Starter Package. This new foundation offers easy access to additional features and functionality. Powder Coating Technologies plans to explore the next level in the Steelhead experience, which includes further automation and efficiencies with an optional upgrade. The company also aims to finetune its digital processes further with a focus on metric development, benchmarking, and capacity planning.
The Job Shop Software Starter Package
Powder Coating Technologies' success with Steelhead's Starter Package showcases the effectiveness of a budget-friendly, rapid deployment solution. The transition from manual processes to a streamlined digital system has not only improved efficiency but has also set the stage for continuous improvement and future growth. The team effort in creating the intuitive and industry-changing solution is paving the way for many other organizations to follow.