Centennial announces the formation of its 'Best Practices' consulting group. The Centennial Best Practices consulting group brings focused efforts on improving five key business processes and cycles. Centennial's best practice vision is built on the foundation of the importance of fully integrated software systems that must provide management mission critical information. In this environment, real-time integrated systems become a key business driver to impacting company profits.

The AIC Textile Converting module is a suite of integrated programs that have been designed to allow management and control of the converting process.

The control includes the ability to manage Greige inventory positions daily according to sales projections. Through bar coding the system allows for updates to roll inventory by shade, shrinkage-length, shrinkage-width and quality.

What is a reasonable WIP material loss?
A 2% variance is common, but it depends on the type of business. A 4% spread loss is not uncommon depending on the nature of the fabric, the type of spreading equipment used and whether or not cutting is manual or automated. Many automated systems have been purchased on a 1 to 2% savings of fabric.

Manufacturing losses from cutting are due to defects in fabric, manufacturing irregulars and garments that don't meet spec per measurements. This loss could be 2% but if the goods are being imported this could be a condition of the contract and could be 0%


Ken Grindle, VP of Operations
Email your 'FAQ' to:
kgrindle@aicsoftware.com

In today's rapidly changing business environment, companies are constantly seeking solutions for maintaining and growing their market share; they must provide new product servicing capabilities, make their operations more efficient while integrating technologically advanced systems including the Internet, Web based technologies, and wireless solutions.

Technology no longer means the systems the office operates on. Wireless technology and Web based solutions are bringing meaningful real time communication solutions for the sales force, for remote sourcing / manufacturing sites, for highly automated distribution centers, for vendor and customer connectivity, and for a mobile management group. Tying together all locations, activities and companies is an easy task with the properly implemented integrated software solution.

Centennial has brought together a staff of exceptionally experienced industry senior managers and a suite of AIC Software solutions that can bring significant value to your business. We have the technology, the staff, and the set of industry 'Best Practices' to improve your operating efficiencies and positively impact your profits in a short period of time.

Call us for a 'Best Practices' review, Executive Information-System review or ERP Software Requirements Definition or a Technology feasibility assessment. Our goal is to bring value to you the customer by providing services and solutions that bring more in the way of a benefit than the total project cost. In most situations we can provide a payback scenario of approximately one year or less.

Sincerely,

Kerry Mortensen
President
kmortensen@aicsoftware.com

Many technological advances have been made in the area of data collection. One of those is with RF (radio frequency) hand held terminals using Symbol Technologies Spectrum 24 High- Performance Wireless LAN and the new ergonomically designed PDT 6840 (with 16 display lines).

We have coupled this technology with the AIC Stock Locator System and the newly developed bar coded Raw Material Locator System. RF provides instantaneous updates to the locator system, AIC inventory database and the finished goods movements file.

Barcode systems provide inventory accuracy in excess of 99% plus the added benefits of drastically reduced physical inventory cost.

If you are interested in the technology features and benefits contact your account manager or sales@aicsoftware.com

Please let us hear from you on this Newsletter concept. How can we make it more meaningful to you?

What would you like to hear more about? Please send any comments to Melody Pool, mpool@aicsoftware.com

MS 2000/NT

Centennial announces the release of the AIC Software Solutions for the Microsoft Windows® 2000/NT and Linux software platforms.

This announcement takes Centennial and its suite of ERP Solutions into a multi-platform environment that will allow companies in today's diverse technology world to choose computer solutions that best meet their IT requirements.

Companies running Unix might be interested in the performance characteristics and the low cost approach of implementing Linux.

Centennial announces the release of its AIC Trade Show scanning module to streamline order entry processes at trade shows. For many companies trade shows are critical to generating new sales for their business. Companies go to shows to preview next year's products as well as sell 'off the shelf' goods. Yet, in many instances it takes weeks after the show to manually enter the orders.

Utilizing the new Symbol 1740 scanner, a breakthrough RF wireless computer designed by Symbol running the Palm OS®, the user can rapidly enter orders directly into the AIC order data base through the Internet or company Intranet.

The online, real time capabilities of the AIC Software allow orders to be entered, credit checked, and pick tickets to be generated immediately for 'at once' orders. In addition, an order acknowledgment can be generated back to the customer while they are still in the booth.

Centennial is an authorized systems integrator for Symbol Technologies.