Resource Manager DB Reviews

Summary: Overall: Banker Steel Company is a Steel Fabrication company in VA. As their IT Director, it was important for me to find the proper system to automate the Production Scheduling process. RMDB filled that gap with an integration gateway to bring all the critical data together from (4) applications into one common repository. This provided a more accurate means of forecasting, scheduling and analysis. It indeed "Filled the Gap" that was missing in order to accomplish the things we did in a more accurate and secure way.

Our Reasons for Choosing Resource Manager DB: Our environment is very specialized. Using a more generic ERP system would not have been practical and would have required a complete overhaul of many of our already-proven processes. RMDB, as a complement to our ERP system, allowed us to maintain the flexibility we need.

Positive: Pros: There is a lot to like about RMDB. The biggest Pros that we've experienced with it are:

* Full Data Warehouse - we were able to connect data from as many as (4) different software platforms into a single repository, The time savings alone in retyping of data into spreadsheets, reviewing various printed reports and manually creating production schedules saved us countless hours.

* User Interface - The interface is so customizable that it is easy for anyone having experience with spreadsheet software, such as MS Excel, to pick it up and be productive within minutes.

* Process Automation - Through the use of queries, rich database features and timely reporting, it provides the ability to create processes that may typically take many steps (or multiple systems) and bring them into a mouse-click in the process menu.

* Customization - We were able to customize many of the reports to look exactly like what the user base was already receiving. This made the transition within the production environment very easy. For example, our complex scheduling report used to take as many as (16) hours a week! After RMDB was implemented it took less than (3)! And the training time needed for our user base was minimal.

* People - The guidance we receive from RMDB has been invaluable. They worked with us throughout the automation and testing of our critical processes to ensure that we had a complete and successful implementation. They showed a vested interest in our use of their product.

Negative: Cons: Because RMDB was such a good fit for our needs, it's difficult to raise any major cons about RMDB. I think the biggest issue at the time we purchased it was the lack of more detailed documentation. However, that has dramatically changed over these last 10 years. What the documentation lacked at that time the RMDB support staff made up for with their advice and expertise.

Summary: We have been a slow implementers. Despite this, the program is straight-forward and it it’s easy to jump back in. It is also a usable tool even without have all features in active use. Finally, support is exceptional.

Positive: We like RMDB's ability to easily import from excel in a modular way. We build complex products and like RMDB's ability to handle multiple sub-assemblies, purchased parts, and a skilled labor force (with specialties) well. We like the ease in running "what-if" scenarios.

We had previously used an ERP package from one of the "big players" and found it much more labor intensive to implement, much more expensive to maintain and more rigid in its application.

Negative: Even though implementation is simplified, it still takes effort and time. I wish there were canned excel templates pre-mapped to RMDB to help simplify the process, although since support is so strong, RMDB has essentially done this in implementation sessions for our business.

Summary: I have assisted a few of our clients in deploying Resource Manager, and it seemed to be very effective for them, especially in being able to plug in a customer's desired due date and figure out when they need to start the job.

Positive: Resource Manager has many desirable capabilities, including the ability to engage in capacity planning by resource. However, the most powerful feature is the ability to engage in "what if" scenario analysis before firming a schedule, and the ability to do both forward and backward scheduling. Can answer the questions..... "If we start the order today, when will it be complete?" and "If the customer wants it by XX date, when do we need to start the order?"

Negative: It is a very powerful tool, so in order to use it effectively, a person will need to take the time to really learn and understand its capabilities. It is especially helpful if they understand spreadsheets and databases.

Summary: Very positive. Allowed the planners and schedulers to rebuild a positive relationship with production. Customer service improved significantly.

Positive: Very quick to implement (2 months from first demo!) so fast ROI. Also builds confidence of users.
Easy to understand the essentials, but allows the complexity to be added where required stage by stage. Easy to link with existing systems. Support good with rapid response to enhancement requests.

Negative: The user interface is somewhat old-fashioned. Not a problem for real users, but can cause concern in the pre-implementation phases.

Summary: A versatile software that can adapt to most production structures, but you need to test it, to see if it fits your production model.

Positive: The system is versatile in its scope of offering. Every company runs their production a little differently, the staff at User Solutions is committed in making necessary changes to best fit the customers operation.

Negative: like any computer software it may not meet "exactly" everyone's current production model, an element of adjustment and compromise is needed to reap the full benefit of incorporating a scheduling software. So definitely should give User Solutions a call, and test the product to see if it fits your production model.