Command Tooling Systems Chooses Microsoft Technology to Power Its Global Expansion

Manufacturer selects Microsoft Dynamics NAV for easy integration of its operations.

REDMOND, Wash. — America’s technology leader in the manufacturing of toolholders for high-precision machining operations has selected Microsoft Dynamics™ NAV to serve as the technology backbone for its global expansion. Microsoft Corp. today announced that Command Tooling Systems LLC, headquartered in Ramsey, Minn., chose the Microsoft® technology to replace its previous enterprise resource system from Epicor Software Corp.

Command Tooling serves a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, computers, defense, electronics, medical equipment and job shops. Since 2004, the company has been evolving from one focused on domestic customers into a global enterprise that requires a system that manages multiple warehouses, a variety of currencies and other issues associated with globalization. As Command Tooling’s customer focus has broadened, its leadership has understood that its capabilities also must expand to meet additional demands.

Previously, Command Tooling Systems ran its operations on an outdated UNIX-based system that did not function well with current software and created difficulties when data needed to be retrieved. Although the product was no longer supported by the provider, Command Tooling still was under contract to pay its monthly fee.

“Microsoft Dynamics NAV was a very good fit to allow us to run our business without programming changes,” said Jeff Allen, director of operations at Command Tooling. “The integration with Microsoft Office products, like download and upload from Excel®, will save hundreds of hours for our staff.”

Command Tooling and Akron, Ohio-based Microsoft partner Lean Back-Office have begun implementing a comprehensive set of Microsoft Dynamics NAV capabilities. Among them are general ledger, cash management, accounts receivable and payable, credit card management, service management, customer relationship management, manufacturing, inventory, item tracking, warehouse management, material requirements planning, capacity planning, product configuration and shipping, and Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server portal integration. The system also integrates Lean Back-Office software for integration of shipping with a variety of carriers.

Further, Lean Back-Office provided Command Tooling with a range of business-process improvement strategies so that the company could gain the most return on investment from Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

In implementing the new technology, Command Tooling relied on a Microsoft Office Project document that furnished a detailed list of all tasks, projected times and responsibilities involved in the migration. “Without change orders and delays on our side, our partner quoted a ‘not-to-exceed’ project cost, which was huge for us,” Allen said.

The system is expected to begin fully supporting company operations on Jan. 1, 2008. Command Tooling anticipates gaining a number of benefits from its Microsoft Dynamics NAV technology:
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Ease of use. The system employs the familiar Microsoft interface, enabling it to integrate smoothly with other Microsoft products.
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Role-based workflow. The software is tailored to specific jobs within the company so that each employee has the information he or she needs to work most effectively.
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Ready access to data. Microsoft Dynamics NAV operates from a single database where all financial, operational and customer data is stored. Employees therefore have easy and fast access to the information they need, when they need it, with Microsoft Office applications and other tools.

“Microsoft Dynamics NAV is helping Command Tooling Systems open new paths of efficiency, speed and accuracy for its global growth,” said Michael Park, corporate vice president for the U.S. Dynamics business at Microsoft. “It’s a perfect solution for companies faced with the challenges of globalization that demand integration of data from numerous locations and financial environments.”