Computing on the Floor and Out the Door - A manufacturer of packaging materials needed a universal platform to handle both fixed and mobile applications

摘要

Innovative Packaging Corp., based in Milwaukee, is a successful manufacturer of packaging materials. It produces a range of sheet stocks and specialty products that serve the finished packaging and converter industries in the North Central U.S. The company occupies a 150,000-square foot facility with inside rail access and 13 active shipping and receiving docks. Over its 12 years of operations, the manufacturer has supported its growth with a mix of technologies designed to meet material management needs. However, these technologies were sourced from a number of hardware and software vendors and ran under multiple operating systems, requiring support for both in-house and third-party software applications. Moreover, some of the older hardware platforms were not only becoming obsolete, they were also beginning to fail with greater frequency. These deployments included system installations at fixed locations as well as on Innovative's fleet of propane-powered lift trucks.