Configure One Becomes Chief Supplier
Diverse manufacturing and construction company selects Configure One to help improve its quote-to-production process

OAK BROOK, IL, December 01, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Configure One , a leading provider of web-based product configurator and electronic catalog software, today announced that Chief Industries, Inc.—a multi-faceted manufacturing and construction company—selected Configure One's Concept Enterprise Product Configurator and Concept E-Catalog after a comprehensive evaluation.

Founded in 1954, as a small construction company, Chief Industries has grown to a diverse family of businesses with operations around the world. The company sought to streamline its quote-to-production process, starting with three divisions, Chief Custom Homes, Chief Custom Products, and Chief Buildings.

"Each division has its own systems for product configuration," said Jay Gnuse, ERP Project Manager. "We were looking for standardization across our business units."

Chief Industries decided to standardize on a single configuration and quotation system that would address the diverse needs of its divisions. The company conducted a comprehensive evaluation process. "We narrowed our list of potential vendors down to four companies," said Gnuse. "After an initial round of demonstrations, we invited the final two vendors to our offices for detailed demonstrations and sales presentations to key decision makers."

According to Gnuse, Configure One was chosen because of its engineering background and experience of working with multiple CAD systems. "At Chief Industries we use various different CAD systems, and the integration to the product configurator was a huge concern. Following our lengthy evaluation process, Configure One stood out from the other vendors because of their extensive engineering background and experience with CAD integration."

In addition to CAD integration, Chief Industries plans to integrate Concept to IFS Applications, Chief Industries' ERP system.

Chief Industries expects to reap significant benefits from implementing Concept, through an integration that shares the IFS Applications databases in real time. "We are looking forward to meeting the needs of our customer by providing a more effective and efficient tool to quote products. We will also expect to automate data entry between estimating and engineering. In addition, integration with SolidWorks will enable us to create drawings faster, and Concept will automate the creation of shop floor routings. Overall, we expect to significantly improve and streamline our entire quote-to-production process."

"We are excited to provide Chief Industries with a single-source product configurator and e-catalog solution to help streamline the entire quote-to-production process," said Jim Letterer, Configure One's director of central region. "The divisions of Chief Industries design and manufacture completely different products, and for Configure One to be selected as the configuration solution for the entire corporation is a testament to Concept's flexibility."

Press Release Contact Information:

Ron Mouw
Configure One
Vice President
900 Jorie Boulevard, Suite 190
Oak Brook, Illinois
USA 60523
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Fax: 630-368-9951
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