Datacraft Solutions’ Founder Marotta Comments on e-Kanban Best Practices

Currently Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com) is
the only true ASP provider in the e-kanban market space. Some of
the other competitors provide a hosted solution as an additional
option verses typical software purchase. Datacraft Solutions is
unique in that they provide one system which incorporates all
the best practices from their total community of clients.

According to Matthew Marotta, founder of Datacraft Solutions,
“We do not charge for upgrades to the system as we learn about
new best practices that clients ask us to incorporate. Before
Datacraft incorporates the request, it is reviewed buy a lean
advisory board to validate the value of the best practices and
the value added impact upon our partner community. Once it is
passed, they develop, test, and implement.”

The hosted solution provides the customer with their own set of
servers which are maintained offsite by and outsourced set of
administrators. All of the administration fees, equipment,
support teams and software updates are all included in the
monthly service fee which is less then the cost of hiring an
internal system administrator.

The value of an ASP is that manufacturers can buy “by the
drink”, low risk, and a see a rapid ROI. Only internet access is
required.

The non-ASP option leaves manufacturers investing a large sum
into the communication network, IT personnel, IT training,
application servers, consulting for system modification, along
with all the hidden costs that come with it. The only
disadvantage of using an ASP is the client never owns the system
(application), only their own data. This concern tends to be the
issue of IT since they want to control all phases of the
e-kanban operation. The cost of the control is wasteful and
completely antithetical to a Lean Initiative.

While some ERP systems QAD, Factory Logic, and Supply Works have
some e-kanban functionality is not their core focus, so
manufacturers are purchasing the ERP system at a significant
price tag including all the prices increases (and upgrade
charges). From the perspective of Lean functionality and
immediate ROI the cost cannot be justified, unless there is a
plan for a manufacturer to replace the ERP system.

Another Kanban system which is not an ASP is Pelion Systems.
Companies like Pacific Scientific determined it was very
confusing to use, very expensive, and replaced Pelion with
Datacraft Solutions e-kanban.

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Datacraft Solutions www.datacraftsolutions.com Matthew Marotta
800-819-5326

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