QAD Software Beats Y2K Deadline and Fuels Rapid Results for Solvay Automotive

Faced with rapidly approaching year 2000 compliance problems, Solvay Automotive Inc. chose QAD's enterprise software to integrate its distributed facilities and create consistent business practices throughout the company. Solvay Automotive, a manufacturer of thermoplastic fuel tanks, fuel storage and delivery systems and air-intake manifolds, completed the rapid implementation of QAD supply chain-enabled enterprise software at its four locations in the United States and Canada in less than six months.

"All four of our automotive plants were using different versions of a business software package that wasn't Year 2000-compliant and lacked compatibility between facilities," says David Stephens, Solvay Automotive director of information systems. "QAD software's enhanced connectivity and ability to meet our industry-specific needs quickly paved the way to replace our old business system."

After a team of Solvay Automotive technical and end-user employees reviewed several industry vendors, Solvay Automotive signed the contract with QAD on April 30, 1998. The company began implementing the software at its plants in Adrian, Mich., South Bend, Ind., Troy, Mich. and Blenheim, Ontario in May, and went live with the system on Nov. 1, 1998.

The QAD solution was selected because of its established reputation in the automotive industry, its rapid return on investment and its Y2K compliance.

Solvay Automotive gained greater control over production scheduling through the use of QAD's Advanced Repetitive Line Schedule Workbench to create a two-week production schedule. The two-week production schedule, along with long-range EDI planning information, feeds MRP to drive the component requirements. The supplier schedules are then released to support the production schedule.

To support Solvay Automotive's 24 x 7 operation, the company runs on HP K460 and HP K-420 servers that are centrally located in Troy, while the plants are connected via the WAN. The company plans to expand the use of its system to include supplier EDI, resource planning, financial budgeting and forecasting and online requisitions.

QAD's (Carpinteria, Calif.) software is specifically designed for global manufacturers in the following targeted industries: automotive; consumer products; electronics; food and beverage; industrial; and medical products.