User Solutions, Inc. Announces
Resource Manager-DB Exact/Macola Link

   South Lyon, MI: User Solutions, Inc., has announced immediate availability of Resource Manager-DBTM with Exact / MacolaTM Link. For the first time, Macola Customers have a ready-made add-on to immediately improve their planning, scheduling, and tracking capabilities. Written in Visual Basic and utilizing the Jet Engine run time database (same as Microsoft Access - SQL option later) with Microsoft Excel as a flexible report writer, Resource Manager-DB provides Macola Customers unsurpassed flexibility for leveraging Excel on local PCs, and sharing data across a network. The new Macola Link features a direct SQL connection with Macola Progression SeriesTM software and now Resource Manager-DB can read from and optionally write to numerous Macola Modules per customers specific requirements.


Resource Manager-DB / Link Features 

   Resource Manager-DB with Exact / Macola Link provides the user with the best of breed approach by adding powerful and flexible manufacturing planning, scheduling, and tracking features to Macola. Combining ease-of-use for small to medium sized firms, with powerful reporting and open integration for larger operations, Resource Manager-DB enables customers to efficiently manage critical resources such as labor, materials and workcenters.
    Users can leverage their Macola System data combined with familiar Microsoft OfficeTM to add Routings and Shop Scheduling to Production Order Processing (POP). In addition, ResourceManager-DB adds "What-If" analysis plus powerful Finite Capacity Planning and Scheduling for both POP and Shop Control Modules. ResourceManager-DB also supports Just-In-Time and Lean Manufacturing techniques. The product features on-the-fly configuration and rescheduling, allowing the user to see the benefits almost immediately, without complicated analysis or set-ups.


Exact / Macola End User: "Cost Effective and Flexible"

   Milwaukee Sign Company, located in Grafton, WI, produces signage for major oil companies, quick service restaurants and retailers in the U.S. and around the world. According to Thomas Bohmann, Director, Strategic Projects, "We've been using Macola for 6 years utilizing Routings, Shop Floor Control & Manufacturing Cost Accounting. Recently we analyzed our business and concluded Production Order Processing provides us with all the capabilities we need while saving us considerable administrative costs & maintenance fees.
    "Our one reservation during the decision making process was the ability to schedule work centers according to capacity restraints. This is when Macola suggested I explore User Solutions' scheduling system Resource Manager, as a possible link to Production Order Processing in Macola. User Solutions was very receptive to our ideas and, after a joint effort in understanding both systems, User Solutions has customized a link between Macola & Resource Manager to support our goals for automated integration.
   "We are now able to import POP work orders into Resource Manager for scheduling purposes using Value Added Cost Types & Product Structure Costs to load the work centers for capacity planning. Scheduled due dates are updated in Resource Manager & automatically sent back to Macola to update work order due dates & sales order required ship dates. 
   "The capabilities of Resource Manager & the link to Macola will give us the needed scheduling tool to plan resources & confirm product ship dates for our customers. 
"Resource Manager is a cost effective software tool that goes well beyond our needs, but has the flexibility where we can utilize what we need & still maintain the integration of our Macola modules without duplication of effort. I'm looking forward to a continuing relation with User Solutions". 


Advanced Planning and Scheduling Included

    Resource Manager-DB contains many advanced planning and scheduling features normally found in systems costing 10 times more. Resource Manager-DB features: alternate routings, alternate workcenters, automatic optimization, multiple constraints, and detailed workcenter calendars that can be adjusted at any time. Now, inevitable labor fluctuations, workcenter downtime, and unexpected material shortages can be immediately accounted for, allowing the user to regenerate a schedule with new priorities - on demand. Real-time Resource Calendar reports include: Load Utilization, Backlogs, Bottlenecks, Capacity Pockets and more. In addition, a special Dynamic Reconfiguration allows the user to easily and quickly reconfigure scheduled Production, on-the-fly, to reflect reality.


Affordable and Compatible

    Available through Exact / Macola Business Partners or User Solutions, the single user version is $4,900. A 2-5 multi-user version is $9,800, plus maintenance & Macola Link. Resource Manager-DB runs with Windows and MS Office 97 or greater for reports. For more information, or for free trial, contact: www.UserSolutions.com or call toll free (800) 321-8737.