Blogs - StrataFlows

Get the Latest Manufacturing News From The StrataFlows Blog

 

Invoicing software billing software

Affordable Billing/Invoicing System Tailored to your Organization

Most Billing systems are either way too complex or expensive.  What’s even worse is that they expect you to change your business practices to work with their solution.  StrataFlows offers an affordable Billing/Invoicing system that is tailored to your organization.  StrataFlows has helped organizations better manage billing/invoicing by providing a …

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Project Management Software

Project Management Software that is Tailored to your Organization

Are you tired of project management solutions that force you to change your business practices to work with their software.  I think you will find our solution refreshing.  StrataFlows has helped organizations better manage projects by providing a flexible solution tailored for each organization.  You can easily know the cost …

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Manufacturing and Logisitics in Warehouse

Automating Inventory Processes for Manufacturers and 3PLs

StrataFlows has specialized in helping manufacturers and 3PLs address Inventory related issues for the past 10 years.   Our Inventory processes are customized for each organization and plant.  We can easily integrate with any ERP or homegrown system.  Here are just a few of our features: Material Availability:  Capture the who, …

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Automate Permitting for Local and State Governments

StrataFlows has created features for all kinds of industries.  For years, we have supported state and local governments with software for Building Permits, Burn Permits, Business Licenses, and more.   We provide an automated process for government administrators and give you a better way to serve your citizens. Here are just …

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StrataFlows Adds New Features for the Service Industry

StrataFlows continues to expand our features across multiple industries.  We recently added features that are geared towards the service industry.  However, any current or prospective StrataFlows’ customer can take advantage of our new functionality. Summary of the new features: Quoting:  Create professional proposals with a few clicks of the mouse …

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AWS Button Instantly Notifies You of Manufacturing Line Issues

Using a manual process to communicate when you have an issue with your manufacturing line is a tedious and time-consuming solution. In this day and age, you need to be quick and nimble to communicate to your team when there is an issue with the line. This will save companies, …

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Using Machine Learning to Automate Document Processing

As we continue to evolve the StrataFlows platform, we are excited to announce our latest advancement.  StrataFlows can now automate the processing of documents by using Machine Learning (ML) models to automatically pull data from various documents into actionable data. Imagine never having to manually enter the data from an …

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Process Automation – When is the Timing Right?

I bet you are super busy, and you desperately need to automate your processes in order to have any sanity.  However, you are just too busy to do anything about it.  What a dilemma.  Just think – with just a little effort you can address your issues that are causing …

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Pros and Cons of Custom vs Out-of-the-Box Software

A difficult decision is made each day across all types of organizations trying to automate processes.  Organizations try to decide whether to invest in an out-of-the-box solution, or they spend the time and resources developing a solution for their specific needs. Neither choice results in an optimal decision long-term. For …

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Automating Material Change Requests

Changes on the product floor are a part of doing business, unavoidable.  You might as well embrace change by automating it.  How do you track the changes today?  Relying on your ERP system from our experience doesn’t cover all that change typically entails.  For example, how do you track if approvals are required, bins need …

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forklift, warehouse, supply chain

Five Ways to Resolve Material Flow Issues

As you probably know, supply chains remain in chaos, and while in some aspects of the overall situation, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel, it remains crucial to ensure that you get things right the first time.  Part delivery is slow and costly enough. You …

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best supply chain management software

The Worst of Two Evils – ERPs or Spreadsheets

You know your supply chain is a logistical nightmare with poor communication, a lack of standards, and little transparency.  On top of everything else, you are too busy putting out fires to think of a solution.  For most, it comes down to two solutions: 1) Trying to fix the issues by changing your ERP system.  It is …

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process automation

5 Ways to Improve Process Automation

There are many reasons why 3PLs and manufacturing companies have inefficiencies with their processes. These inefficiencies cause disruption in material flow, increase downtime, and cause delays which ultimately cost businesses time and resources. Here are 5 ways to improve your Process Automation Improve Communication – Poor communication is the root …

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Digitally Transforming Logistics in the Supply Chain

Digitally Transforming Logistics in the Supply Chain

Companies have increasingly been adopting newer technologies in recent months to get a jump start after the Covid-19 slump. With customer demand being so volatile in many industries, it has often been a task for 3PL and 4PL companies to adjust their business processes to combat these disruptions. Business closures, …

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Amazon’s Meteoric Growth in a Pandemic

Amazon’s Meteoric Growth in a Pandemic

Amazon’s logistics footprint grew a meteoric 50% during 2020, all with a pandemic going on. What is the secret to Amazon’s successful growth this past year? 1 word: Automation. People sometimes associate automation with downsizing or a way to cut costs, but Amazon took a different approach and made it …

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Innovation Struggles in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Innovation Struggles in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Innovation can be a tough task for smaller businesses looking to get a competitive advantage. In the US small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are generally companies with less than 500 employees, but based on the industry, ownership structure, and revenue, that number can be as high as 1,500 employees. PricewaterhouseCoopers …

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Robots Taking Over Supply Chain

Robots Taking Over Supply Chain

Robots and robotic processes are portrayed in many Hollywood blockbusters as a part of the science fiction world, but now they are becoming a crucial component of the manufacturing and logistics industries. Deloitte says these autonomous robots can range anywhere “from robotic process automation to flying vehicles with powerful image …

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Safety Stock vs Lean Manufacturing

Safety Stock vs Lean Manufacturing

In this time of volatile markets, supply chains are struggling to find the right balance between keeping lean manufacturing practices with just-in-time (JIT) inventory strategies and buffered inventory levels with plenty of safety stock. According to Gartner VP of Supply Chain Research and Advisory Geraint John on Supply Chain Dive, …

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Logistics Nightmares Freight Transportation During Weather Events

Logistics Nightmares: Freight Transportation During Weather Events

Unexpected weather events can wreak havoc on domestic freight transportation and the 4 ‘ways’: roadways, railways, runways, and waterways. Trucking (on roadways) is the largest (70% of the manufacturing and warehousing industries) and often the hardest hit industry for that reason during these big storms. The Superstorm in 1993, Hurricane …

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Using Big Data to Optimize Operations

Using Big Data to Optimize Operations

Manufacturing and logistics companies have vast amounts of big data that is often underutilized in their operational decision making. This Dark Data, as Gartner defines it, is “the information assets organizations collect, process and store during regular business activities, but generally fail to use for other purposes (for example, analytics, …

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Stay Resilient When Supply Chains Change

Visibility: Stay Resilient When Supply Chains Change

According to The Economist, when the swine-flu pandemic of 2009 happened “companies ramped up production…only to be driven to the verge of bankruptcy when demand fell back to normal”. Building resilience in your company to plan for changes is vital to staying competitive year after year. But how do you …

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Material Flow Analysis

Optimize Material Flow: Analyze Issues and Exceptions

StrataFlows Featured as an Expert Columnist in Supply & Drive Chain Executive Material Flow Analysis (MFA), or Process Flow Analysis (PFA), is fundamental to any material handling strategy. MFA aims to map, inspect, and evaluate all flow of materials from suppliers, to storage locations, and finally to the point of …

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Technology Solutions: Thriving Amid Disruptions

Technology Solutions: Thriving Amid Disruptions

Resiliency has been the overwhelming theme in the past year as companies have grappled with changes in the supply chain due to Covid-19. As the ProMatDX approaches in April, manufacturers are reminded of software solutions that give them more visibility in their supply chain as they recover and prepare for …

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StrataFlows is Exhibiting at ProMat DX 2021

ProMat Digital Experience (DX) 2021, presented by MHI, is quickly approaching. This show connects manufacturers and supply chain professionals with access to the solutions they need now to modernize and improve the resiliency and agility of their operations. This year, like most other tradeshows, ProMat will be taking place virtually. …

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Lean Manufacturing: Uninterrupted Flow

Lean Manufacturing: Uninterrupted Flow

The Toyota Production System adopted a methodology in 1930 making production processes highly efficient. In recent years this methodology has been lauded for the successes of Toyota and has been defined and named Lean Manufacturing. According to Kettering Global, these “lean techniques have been adopted by more than 72 percent of machine shops across the country”.  There are five core principles of lean …

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