This technical information has been contributed by
BTD Manufacturing, Inc.

Software Helps Metal Parts Fabricator Prepare for Rapid Growth

SEATTLE, Wash.--Avanade Inc., a global IT consultancy, recently announced that it has delivered an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution for BTD Manufacturing, Inc., reported to be one of the largest non-automotive metal parts fabrication shops in the United States. Avanade's offering, built on Microsoft Dynamics AX, is said to create a stable foundation for growth while significantly reducing costs and increasing productivity. It has helped BTD streamline business operations over the last three years by empowering employees with customized tools that decrease the time spent on production, scheduling, and planning.

"Since partnering with Avanade to implement Microsoft Dynamics AX, we have seen a dramatic increase in output and operation effectiveness," said Marty Kiebke, vice president of materials & systems at BTD, in a statement. "In the past, we struggled with limited data visibility and navigation, requiring employees to spend extra time looking for information. With Microsoft Dynamics AX, we can now gain more visibility into data, customize experiences by user role, and provide a stable technology with which we can expand our business."

Sean Jazayeri, general manager, enterprise business solutions at Avanade, commented, "We've seen similarly positive results with our other manufacturing clients using Microsoft Dynamics AX to gain more insight from their ERP reporting. The role-based solutions Avanade has developed really customize the user experience, and the flexibility of the technology allows companies the room to grow."

BTD Manufacturing produces parts and assemblies for markets that include recreational vehicles and home construction, among others. The company focuses on ways to deliver greater value through a broad array of design, finishing, and packaging services, in addition to state-of-the-art metal fabrication services that include stamping, tubing, welding, machining, and tooling. With 450 employees across four manufacturing plants in Minnesota, the company needed a system that would provide for its continued growth. BTD was also concerned about the rapid consolidation in the ERP software industry. The company required an ERP solution that would meet its near-term business objectives but would be flexible enough to help them prepare for future growth.

"Taking the 'noise' out of the system was exactly what we needed," said Kiebke. "We are now capitalizing on efficiency gains. With Avanade, we've built a business management solution that allows us to confidently grow. The new system offers powerful, integrated functionality and is easier for employees to use, translating into efficiency gains."

BTD was recently honored with the Microsoft Convergence 2008 Customer Excellence Award in the Manufacturing Industry Leadership Category. The award recognizes a manufacturing firm whose innovative use of technology in its business delivers measurable benefits to its organization. Customer Excellence Awards recognize, honor, and celebrate customers who have achieved outstanding success with their Microsoft solutions, as well as Microsoft partners' solutions.

Avanade is a global IT consultancy dedicated to using the Microsoft platform to help enterprises achieve profitable growth. For more on Avanade, visit www.avanade.com.

For more on BTD Manufacturing, visit www.btdmfg.com.