Aquilon’s quotation system opens the door to smooth operations for Oakmont Industries

Oakmont Industries has been supplying doors, frames and builders hardware to professional builders in western Canada and the United States since 1975. Multi-family residential construction represents over 90% of the business, while high-end single family dwellings make up the rest.

Thanks to its success, the company in 2003 was able to move into a purpose-built 48,000 square foot facility in Surrey BC, housing its three workshops: a wood door shop for all interior and exterior doors, a complete welding shop for hollow metal doors and frames, and a glass shop. The facility is also home to Oakmont’s thirty-six employees, some of whom have been with the company almost from the beginning.

Evaluation

Oakmont needed an ERP system that was fully integrated and met the needs of the whole business. Their business is about 50% manufacturing and 50% distribution. Critical to its operation is a solid project estimating capability.

As to not repeat a previous failed ERP implementation, they hired a consultant to help with the selection of a new system. His approach was to learn about their business first, then look at ERP packages that could fit the bill.

Solution

Aquilon software was selected and a week later the migration was complete. It was a painless process, according to Jim Blessin, Oakmont president.* They have been using the software for more than 10 years as more features and functionality were added to make it the complete solution it is today.

Employees were very happy with the new system and how it integrates project data with accounting, manufacturing and distribution.

Conclusion

Aquilon was selected as the best ERP system for businesses that has both manufacturing and distribution. Jim noted that many packages they looked at had good support for either manufacturing or distribution, but not both. They were also complicated.

The project quotation system was highlighted as a key distinguishing feature. Producing a quote per day on average, project estimating was, and still is, key to Oakmont’s successful operations

Implementation and migration wasfast and painless and the users praised the simplicity and ease of use.

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AT A GLANCE

Requirements/Challenges:

• An single ERP system that would meet the needs of both manufacturing and distribution
• Easy to use system that would integrate seamlessly with accounting
• An effective project quotation system
• Fast migration

Outcome

• One ERP system fully integrated between Manufacturing, Distribution and Accounting
• A highly effective project quotation system