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Manufacturer implements major enterprise-wide computer platform Crystal Window & Door Systems launches new sales-production information system F California, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio.
make the significant invest- ment in a new system that would be able to growwith the company, remaining viable for many years to come." The new system offers many features that improve order ef- ficiency, accuracy, turnaround and flexibility. Customers can see up-to-the-minute product information and configura- tion options. Order status is easily checked in real time online. Clear, plain language quotation and order docu- mentation includes digital product illustrations for every line item and correspond-
ing accessories are listed by opening. When required, shop drawings are automatically generated, improving accu- racy and turnaround time. Production scheduling and delivery or pick-up confirma- tion are readily determined. Crystal's new system will also allow trained trade cus- tomers to develop quotations and enter orders directly through the online EZ-Crystal portal, speeding the time from quotation to order through delivery. "We are already working with several dealers training their staffs on our system, so they can log in and enter their orders right from their offices," said Steve Chen. "This interactive feature will greatly enhance the success of our dealers' businesses." Additional features, such as 3-D product image rotational capability, are in development for future implementation. Crystal engaged the Soft Tech Group, which has cre- ated systems for many other fenestration industry leaders such as Kawneer, Graham, Comfort Line FiberFrame and Schuco, to develop the comprehensive systemneeded to integrate all of Crystal's operations. A 20-person team of Soft Tech programmers and dedicated Crystal pro- grammers and IT specialists worked for two years to bring the new system to fruition. "The front end of the sys- tem, what our customers see, covers product information, specifications, estimating, quotations, configurations and engineering," said Mason Wang , Crystal's Management Information Systems (MIS) manager. "The back end of the system covers the business operations from sale to final delivery and billing." Soft Tech's V6 software, the leading estimating and engineering software for the fenestration industry, was customized for Crystal and integrated seamlessly with its partnering software Con- tractERP by Access IT, spe- cifically designed for the fen- estration industry's business operations. New HP servers and networking hardware supplements the company's existing computer operations. The resulting system forms the most powerful platform yet for Crystal to accommo- date its vast product line and sales growth. n
LUSHING, NY — Na- tional manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems has imple- mented a new multi-million dollar enterprise-wide com- puter system. This next-gen- eration platform manages the company's quoting, sales, production, delivery and other vital operations. The new system is in use at Crystal's headquarters and main pro- duction plant in New York. It is being phased in at Crystal's other production facilities and sales offices around the country in Pennsylvania,
Over two years ago, Crystal initiated the development of a new computer system to integrate quotations and order placement, inventory, produc- tion, shipping and accounting processes. "Our prior system was state-of-the-art when it was first installed, and it has served us well for over a de- cade," said COO Steve Chen . "However, Crystal has grown so much in its 25 years of op- eration that we knew the cur- rent system would not be able to keep up. With technology
evolving to allow more rapid, real-time information for the fenestration industry, we wanted to be able to offer this enhanced capability to our customers. Crystal decided to Crystal V6 Computer System
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