COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SYSPRO, a developer of best-of-breed, award-winning enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for on-premise and cloud-based utilization, today revealed plaudits given to SYSPRO by Ali Salehi, Columbia Manufacturing Sr. Vice President, upon receipt of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environment Affairs Green Seal Award. The award is the newest in a long list presented to the leading manufacturer of school furniture for outstanding sustainability practices. Noted Salehi, “With a corporate history dating back to 1877, Columbia Manufacturing is acutely aware of our impact on the community in which we live and those communities we serve. Our commitment to sustainability through recycling and conservation is mirrored in the products we make, the software we utilize and the fundamental core values of our company.” Salehi lavished praise on SYSPRO ERP software for such functionalities as material resource planning, forecasting and purchasing, which enable Columbia to obtain the data needed to enhance operational efficiencies and institute the practices which have made the company an outstanding example of environmental protection.
Salehi cites the ways SYSPRO software functionality has been instrumental to the establishment of Columbia’s green practices. “This is a very cyclical business. The schools get out in May and June, and they want their products in the very short window of July 1 through Labor Day. Therefore, we get a huge demand in an 8 – 12 week period. SYSPRO functionality, however, expedites material resource planning and purchasing while SYSPRO forecasting, enables, as it were, our ability to ‘see the future’ so we can regulate our purchase of chemicals, water usage, electricity and all the items related to our manufacturing of school furniture.
“For example,” he says, “SYSPRO data contributed to our plating operation’s water usage reduction -- from 150,000 gallons per day to 3,000 gallons per day -- also reducing chrome usage by 93% and nickel purchases by 75%.” Columbia’s environmental safeguards also include the recycling of all waste steel, corrugation, wood and trash. The latter goes to a plant, where it’s converted into fuel cells for power plants.
Salehi points out that Columbia has been utilizing SYSPRO ERP software since 2004, selected on the recommendation of a search committee tasked with seeking a replacement to the company’s incumbent, outdated ERP system. SYSPRO was the choice from a field of 15 candidates. “We found SYSPRO to be the most adaptive to the nature of our business and unsurpassed for flexibility, ease of use and training,” says Salehi, adding, “Today, we could not operate without SYSPRO.”
The following is a list of Columbia’s environmental achievements, many of which were facilitated utilizing SYSPRO ERP software:
- Elimination of 100% of all V.O.C.'s with a painting operation that is 100% powder coating.
- Reduction of water usage from 150,000 gallons/day to 3,000 gallons/day.
- Using 100% recycled wood flour in hard plastic seats, backs and tops.
- Using up to 25% recycled post industrial products in soft plastic components.
- Recycling 100% of excess wood products and pallets.
- Recycling 100% cardboard and paper products.
- Recycling 100% of scrap steel.
- Recycled wood and paper products are converted to fuel cell cubes replacing coal in power generator plants.
About Columbia Manufacturing
Columbia Manufacturing, Inc., is a privately owned company located at One Cycle Street, Westfield, Massachusetts. Columbia, originally founded in 1877 by Colonel Albert Pope, established itself as the premier bicycle manufacturer of America’s First Bicycle. As a way to diversify its product line and to help keep the factory busy in the slow periods, Columbia started manufacturing school furniture in 1952 and today is considered to be the manufacturer of the finest school furniture in America.
Columbia’s facility sits on 36 acres with the original factory as its core. Over the years it has expanded and currently has approximately 300,000 square feet of usable manufacturing space.
For more information: call: (413) 562-3664 or go to: www.columbiamfginc.com
About SYSPRO
SYSPRO software is an award-winning, best-of-breed Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution for on-premise and cloud-based utilization. Scalable for rapid growth, SYSPRO is acknowledged by industry analysts to be among the finest, best-in-class enterprise-resource planning solutions in the world. Formed in 1978, SYSPRO has earned the trust of more than 14,500 companies globally for its suite of visionary software that enhances the competitive thrust of small/mid-sized manufacturers and distributors. The company’s adherence to developing technology based on the needs of customers is among the reasons why SYSPRO enjoys one of the highest customer retention rates in the industry.
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For more information, visit: www.syspro.com or call: Stanley Goodrich at 714/437-1000
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