Are you stuck on the “When” of ERP implementation? If you’ve figured out the Who, What, Why, and How but are having difficulty selecting the timing, here’s a secret: you’re not alone. 

Many distributors postpone ERP hoping that some sign will reveal the perfect time to implement. Yet, without a glowing bat signal or the piercing eye of Sauron, companies pursue a wait-and-see method of decision-making. Why? The justifications are fairly common:

• We’ll wait until the new fiscal year
• We’ll schedule it for our slow period
• We’ll do it after we finish hiring
• Maybe after the holidays

Rationalizations like these drive delays, yet time is not on your side. Without the essential improvements of interconnected ERP software, days, weeks, and months equate to lost opportunities for compounding savings, productivity, and growth.

So, when is the right time to implement ERP software? In short, the answer is “Now.” Remember that the longer implementation is put off, the longer your company will be mired in redundant, inefficient processes. Honestly ask yourself these questions:

Researching business software options can seem like a daunting process, and you may have a thousand questions relating to ERP. I thought it would be helpful to share some of the answers for common questions. For instance, have you ever wondered:

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EFC International, a leading supplier of engineered fasteners, with corporate office in St. Louis, Missouri, has announced the implementation of their worldwide globalization strategy with the opening of offices and warehouses in China, South Korea, and Germany

Expanding its global footprint and investing in key strategic global markets, EFC ensures both supplier and customer needs are met.   “EFC’s physical presence in these countries enhances our relations, providing local support and value by offering a simpler, more cost-efficient way to manage the supply chain, “ said Guenter Retkowski, Vice President of International Sales.

The FCH Sourcing Network has teamed up with the Fastener Training Institute for a fourth year to announce the promotion and selection of a scholarship candidate who will be awarded full tuition to the Fastener Training Institute course, “Fastener Training Week”. Once completed, the course qualifies students to sit for the Certified Fastener Specialist exam, a distinguished industry credential.

To qualify for selection, candidates must work within the fastener industry and must submit a brief essay, approximately 300 words in length. The essay should address the importance of training in the fastener industry, and the impact of training on the candidate's career. Candidates can be nominated by owners or managers, who are welcome to submit an essay on behalf of a nominated candidate. There is a limit of one nominated candidate per company if the nomination is being made by a manager on behalf of a candidate, however, there is no limit to the number of individual candidates from any given company who submit an essay on their own behalf.

Megliola brings decades of fastener experience honed across sales, marketing, and operations.

Vertex Distribution, a division of HWC (NASDAQ: HWCC), is pleased to announce that Richard "Rich" Megliola has joined the team as President of Vertex Distribution. Rich began his career in the fastener industry after acquiring a degree in Marketing from Kean University when he took an Inside Sales Representative role at Reynolds Fasteners, Inc. During Rich’s long career at Reynolds, he helped grow sales from $29 to $200 million while rising to the role of Vice President of Sales & Operations. He was named president of Reynolds Fasteners’ sister company Atlas Screw & Specialty Corporation after they were acquired by Heads and Threads International, LLC. Following leadership roles with Stelfast Inc.as COO and Titan Fastener Products Inc. as EVP, Rich was named Director of Sales North America for Acument Global Technology, a division of the world’s largest fastener manufacturer with over $1.2 billion in annual sales, Fontana Gruppo Special Fasteners. Rich is married with 2 children and resides just outside of Chicago. Rich is currently serving as a Board Member

From Amazon's 2016 Annual Report

Day 1 is the term that Jeff Bezos uses for an organization’s startup and growth phases. He talks about “Day 1 vitality”, when organizations are delivering to their customers great value.

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From Harvard Business Review

Financial capital is abundant but carefully managed; human capital is scarce but not carefully managed. Why? In part, it’s because we value and reward good management of financial capital. And we measure it. Great CEOs are held in high regard for their clever management and allocation of financial capital. But today’s great CEOs need to be equally great at managing human capital. READ MORE

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COMPANY NEWS

From Lawrence Heim, Elm Sustainability Partners

The deadline for filing the CY2016 SEC conflict minerals disclosure has now passed, although there are likely to be a few late filers. It is too early to glean anything from the filings and at least three analyses will be conducted, including the Development International study, which is the most comprehensive of them. We all anxiously await these reports. READ MORE

From Inc.

A handy toolkit for those of us who depend on uninterrupted flight time to get work done. READ MORE

Tonawanda, NY May 31, 2017 – Sherex Fastening Solutions, a global leader in engineered fasteners, tooling, and automation, is pleased to announce the launch of a new wedge locking washer product line. 

“The TEC Series product line adds another fastening solution to our portfolio, continuing our 35 year tradition of developing innovative, lowest total installed cost fastening solutions for our valued customers,” says President Adam Pratt, "TEC Series washers are a high quality, high performance, cost-effective solution to the challenge of securing joints that experience severe vibration and load.”