Success Stories
Joshua McGriff
International SIOP Analyst –S&OP
Biomet BTBS
McConnell Chase Software Works. LLC, provided outstanding forecasting product performance, implementation service and on-going support to our organization.
From the point of view of business results, Biomet BTBS, using the McConnell Chase FD6 tool, met and exceeded all our expectations for forecast accuracy improvement and bias reduction.
The McConnell Chase forecasting and demand planning tool, FD6, quickly and successfully created the forecasting system hierarchy unique to our business model in one consolidated database. The feature set of FD6 was altogether powerful and comprehensive. Within our 5-member demand planning team, two of our new analysts came from shops that ran Manugistics and one came from a shop that ran I2 — all reported FD6 to be equally powerful to those demand planning software solutions but found FD6 easier to use and significantly nimbler on terms of adaptability and configuration change. Our team was able to make proper and swift decisions within the context of our S&OP process based on FD6 forecasts.
In terms of support, McConnell Chase:
- worked quickly and knowledgeably with our implementation team to get us up and running,
- seamlessly assisted our organization in transitioning to a new corporate hierarchy standard two years after the initial implementation,
- provided an additional hierarchy branch so we could use FD6 for budgeting,
- provided setup assistance for multiple instances of FD6 that were used for experimentation,
- added direct systems integration with our MAPICS ERP system which was based on the DB2 database running on AS400 servers,
- stepped in to do support many, many times having to do with data integration,
- based on our request, added a set of six powerful and interactive management reports that became staples of our S&OP process,
- always handling any issue quickly and demonstrated full command of the demand planning/demand management subject matter and all related IT areas,
- in general, providing expert support for a very fast, high capacity and reliable software solution.
Based on our experience at Biomet BTBS, I would recommend the McConnell Chase solution and their support to any organization looking for an industrial-strength, efficient, easy to use, easy to adapt system.
Brian D. Six
Software Solutions Manager
HP Components Group Information Technology Dept.
Thanks for the FD software used at what was Avantek, a wholly owned subsidiary of HP.
We found that it worked well with virtually no problems after installation despite some heavy customization required by our site. When minor problems did arise, mostly from users improperly using the system, you responded quickly to help us resolve the difficulty.
Though we did not use all features included in the FD software, those features that we did use helped us to make better forecast decisions.
To put this letter in proper perspective, I should state that in using the FD software we had close to 50,000 parts in our item master. The FD software handled that huge volume flawlessly. In addition, several users of FD requested some specialized reports. Thanks for building those reports Joe!
Frederick T. Howard
Materials Manager
GTE – Automotive Control Devices Division
FD was an important piece in helping us improve our forecast accuracy from 85% in ’94 to 97% in ’97 and was the last piece in the MRP puzzle for us. By adding FD, we were able to close the loop on MRP providing us with a level of supply and demand management we had not previously been able to obtain.
Michael J. Rau C.P.I.M., C.P.M.
Director of Operations
Greenfield Industries, Kennametal – CPG Division
McConnell Chase Software Works. LLC has provided outstanding products and services for our organization, Greenfield Industries, Kennametal. Throughout these years, McConnell Chase Software Works, LLC has provided valuable services such as the FD Forecast package, education and training, trouble shooting, and general consultations.
McConnell Chase Software Works, LLC has also successfully created FD Forecasting System models specifically for our company and our unique business models in one consolidated database; Industrial international, industrial domestic, retail domestic, make for order and make for stock. Also successfully implemented programs and reports that track, audits and report all pertinent forecast data needed for our management team to make proper and swift business decisions. These programs and reports generated were and are important to the company operation.
McConnell Chase Software Works, LLC continually provided invaluable products and services assistance for our organization. Your being there has and is most welcomed when it comes to keeping the McConnell Chase FD System up and running. I would be pleased to recommend you and your products to any organization which needs a proper and common-sense approach to forecasting and your excellence ability to train, educate, new users and their management team.
Jeff McMichael
Product Manager
Scotsman Ice Systems
I have found FD to be extremely flexible in helping our company forecast product and its ability to factor in seasonality is one of the products greatest strengths. The nature of our products require flexibility to forecast at multiple product levels and the most appropriate forecasting methodology varies by product and FD gives us the flexibility to meet these needs. I also like the fact you can compare multiple future forecasts by month to historical demand data all on one screen, which gives me greater comfort in the forecasts that FD is recommending. And where appropriate, if I don't like the forecast FD recommends it is very easy to manually override the FD forecast.
Although I am not able to devote enough time in forecasting to take advantage of all of FD’s capabilities, almost each time I use it I learn something new that helps me to produce better forecasts. In sum, I feel FD is an extremely valuable forecasting tool.
Julie Sutton
Director of Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning
Biomet Orthopedics – Medical Devices
Having worked in the field for 10 years and having had working experience with four other major forecasting and planning solution vendors, I chose a new route with McConnell Chase and give McConnell Chase an A+. We had an ambitious go-live schedule and they met it spot on. Our 2008 implementation of their FD6 solution has a ten-level hierarchy with 30,000 SKUs, 5 major markets, and 45 distribution centers.
Their solution’s speed and ability to configure are awesome. Their competence is off the charts, and their turnaround time in providing for our special requests has been terrific. We had a healthy concern because McConnell Chase is a small company, but that concern is long gone.
Ilir Mallopolci
Forecast Analyst
Disston Company – CPG Cutting Tools
I have used FD forecasting for over seven years to analyze data retrieved and interfaced with ASK MANMAN and it has been phenomenal. The support and the attention to details received from Mr. McConnell was as amazing as the product itself. FD forecasting software helped Disston make proper planning decisions while reducing waste and avoiding shortages.
I had a chance for the last six months to use the newer version of the FD 7 which is set up to work with our newest ERP system Kenandy (Salesforce platform). The FD is programmed with the user in mind, easy to use, multiple analyzing models, data selection methods, easy to load and extract the data and has advanced reporting.
The support from McConnell team to train and make modifications to the system to meet Disston’s needs was as always phenomenal. We have a software that is helping us make proper business decisions.
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