Manufacturing Journalist TR Cutler Addresses Engineer-to-Order in the Midwest

Custom and special solutions are the opposite of repetitive or standard manufacturing. ETO firms focus on building relationships with their clients while developing a problem solving organization that earn their clients' respect and preference. ETO manufacturing also brings a great deal of complexity with it, requiring that these firms develop the ability to solve, create, design, detail, purchase materials, and manufacturer equipment at a rapid pace. The best firms use software systems designed for the specific needs of ETO manufacturing to simplify and manage this dynamic process.

In the recent issue of Manufacturing & Technology eJournal, leading manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, profiles “Midwest Manufacturers Turn to ETO Manufacturing for Differentiation and Profitability.”  According to Cutler, “There are a number of reasons that shifting from standard product manufacturing to a blend of standards, custom and specials makes sense for Midwest manufacturers working to hold on to marketshare and margin.”

Customer manufacturing - often referred to as ETO (engineer-to-order) and may also include BTO (build-to-order) and ATO (assemble to order) - is not merely items plucked from a catalogue, it involves unique products built to customer specifications. Additional engineering is often required during the manufacturer of the product.

The technology solutions to simplify the ETO process must have the following:

• Graphical and easy to follow interface

• Screen grids that are adjustable and feature rich

• Project and job structure

• Structured Bill of Materials

• True 2D and 3D integration

• Separate screen for all purchasing activities

• Separate screen for Expediting purchase orders

• Ability to link documents to project and job

• Separate Report Center including built-in reports

• Templates and search wizards to find historical data

• Quality non-conformance system

• Self subscribing email notification system

ETO software helps to grow the manufacturing business without having to hire additional staff. Improved efficiencies are achieved by eliminating clerical work and providing all personnel accurate information in real-time. All departments, when equipped with accurate information, are then free to spend more time refining their skills and getting the job done right.

Ranked as the nation’s leading manufacturing journalist and a contributing editor for more than 300 publications annually, TR Cutler, Inc. President & CEO Thomas R. Cutler, (www.trcutlerinc.com) has been writing extensively about manufacturing for almost ten years.  According to Cutler, “The dynamic stories of manufacturers create a bounty of interesting and important business strategies.” Cutler is a proud member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, and American Society of Business Publication editors.

About TR Cutler, Inc.:

TR Cutler, Inc. was founded by Thomas R. Cutler a decade ago. Cutler maintains extraordinary relationships with clients, journalists, editors, trendsetters, and key business leaders worldwide and has become a key resource for those writing about the manufacturing sector. Cutler founded the Manufacturing Media Consortium™ in the 1999. This extraordinary group of more than 3400 journalists worldwide is writing about trends, data, case studies, profiles, and features in the manufacturing and industrial sector. Cutler has worked with thousands of media outlets to expand manufacturing media coverage.  Cutler has authored more than 2,000 articles for a wide range of manufacturing periodicals, industrial publications, and business journals including most of the leading monthly trade publications.

TR Cutler, Inc.

www.trcutlerinc.com

Thomas Cutler

trcutler@trcutlerinc.com

888-902-0300