Manufacturing & Distribution

Director

Transformation

Enterprise Systems 

Enterprise Systems Evaluation and Selection

Enterprise Systems Implementation

Enterprise Systems Optimization

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Connected Devices

NetSuite

Server Video Food service equipment manufacturer Server Products Inc. manufactures more than 1,000 innovative warmers, servers and dispensers for condiments, sauces, salad dressings and hot toppings. The family-owned business has grown to more than 135 employees in its 120,000 square-foot facility in Richfield, Wis., serving some 1,200 customers worldwide.  Server Products’ ERP system hadn’t been replaced since the Millennium. The system had become so outdated, unstable and customized that it could no longer be upgraded. The company decided to purchase and install a new ERP system and chose Baker Tilly to assist with the selection and implementation process. They replaced the outdated and unstable ERP system with IFS Applications ERP system, enabling real-time planning and inventory analysis, timely discrepancy resolution, and more.

Food & Beverage

Server Products implements IFS applications ERP system with Baker Tilly

Client background Food service equipment manufacturer Server Products Inc. has been creating innovative warmers, servers and dispensers for condiments, sauces and toppings since 1949. The family-owned business has grown to more than 135 employees in its 120,000 square-foot facility in Richfield, Wis., serving some 1,200 customers worldwide. The company continues its mission to manufacture the highest quality and most cost-effective products in the industry, and to expand its position in the global marketplace by continually improving its products, equipment, processes and resources.
The business challenge For more than two decades, Server Products had relied on its homegrown databases to track quality-related issues with its products. In 2017, business leaders knew that the old method of quality management (QM), with disparate data and manual processes, couldn’t keep pace with mature QM processes required in the digital-first era. When a product discrepancy arose, the quality technician would be called to the production floor, the discrepancy would be confirmed by searching through manual documents, and then the technician would hand-carry the issue through the company, consulting with various departments, until it could be resolved. The issue and resolution were recorded in a database, never to be cross-referenced again.  The company had just completed a major implementation of the IFS Applications ERP system in June 2018, the centerpiece of its digital modernization. With the system in place, Server could now add the IFS Advanced Quality module to streamline, document and escalate inquiries in a mature system that could add value and lower risk for business processes in the entire organization. But could Server do it alone? The subject matter experts that were identified for the Advanced Quality implementation were not a part of the original core team that implemented IFS, so Server Products turned to the expertise of trusted partner Baker Tilly, which had guided them through the previous IFS project, for implementation help.
The Baker Tilly approach Baker Tilly helped the Server team define and follow a strict implementation process that would be critical to the project’s success. Together the team added new capabilities to Server’s quality operations and replaced an outdated legacy system. Baker Tilly conducted training and provided on-site support. Most notably, Baker Tilly helped Server navigate one of the most critical steps in a module implementation – the testing process and development of effective test scripts. The new module went live on August 26, 2019, seven weeks ahead of schedule. On the first day, the Server team simulated a problem with one of its product components to make sure the system worked correctly. They ran the issue through its Materials Review Board function and escalated the problem to the Non-Conformance Report (NCR) function for third-party product inquiries. They also conducted a finished goods audit in the system, a unique piece they had set up themselves. “Everything was working well from the first day. All the testing we did helped make sure that it worked like it was supposed to,” McMahon says.
The business impact  The Advanced Quality module now allows Server to streamline documentation and communication, eliminate the manual handoffs, and elevate issues for resolution in a timely manner. Now when a product discrepancy arises, all of the component inquiries -- the notifications, research, communication and resolution – can be done in one system. Among the many other benefits of the Advanced Quality module: Seamless escalation of third-party component issues to NCR and the Corrective/Preventative Actions (CAPA) functions Quality Management System auditing -- the ability to plan and track product compliance audits in IFS, and track the corrective and preventive actions. The ability to gather and analyze data, once on disparate systems, to generate reports and track product quality improvements. For more information on this topic, or to learn how Baker Tilly specialists can help, contact our team.

Server Products completes IFS Advanced Quality module implementation 7 weeks early

Client background Food service equipment manufacturer Server Products Inc. began in the basement of an old flour mill in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, in 1949. Today, Server manufactures more than 1,000 innovative warmers, servers and dispensers for condiments, sauces, salad dressings and hot toppings.  The family-owned business has grown to more than 135 employees in its 120,000 square-foot facility in Richfield, Wis., serving some 1,200 customers worldwide. The business challenge Server Products’ ERP system hadn’t been replaced since the Millennium. The system had become so outdated, unstable and customized that it could no longer be upgraded. Processes had not been well documented, and managers couldn’t educate workers on how to use the system properly.  The company decided to purchase and install a new ERP system, but it had never gone through such a pervasive implementation that could potentially overwhelm workers – many of whom had been with the company for decades and were accustom to manual processes. What’s more, a younger management team had little experience carrying out such projects. Server realized that it needed to leverage the expertise of a trusted partner who could help them select the right solution and lead them through the implementation.  Server Products chose Baker Tilly for its clear process approach to selection and implementation. They viewed the ERP implementation as all-encompassing, not just standing up the ERP system and walking away. Baker Tilly would evaluate the entire business and make sure that everything worked in the ERP, as well as with any integrated systems.
The Baker Tilly approach After several requirements-gathering sessions with Server executives and employees, Baker Tilly performed an ERP market analysis and came back with five ERP applications that met Server’s requirements. Its structured, fact-based approach leveraged data, not feelings or bias, to help Server whittled down the selection to two vendors, who were invited in for demos.  Baker Tilly recommended that the vendors perform a demo of Server’s specific requirements, instead of a traditional sales pitch, to ensure the application met their requirements and that process owners could actually see the Server business processes come to life in the applications. Server ultimately chose IFS Applications ERP system.  Baker Tilly took the lead on the ERP implementation with a methodical approach that helped redefine business processes that use industry best practices, leveraging many of the best practices already built into the IFS solution as guiding principles.  Throughout the engagement, Baker Tilly led Server through the critical change management process, including coaching, communication and training. First, Baker Tilly helped Server choose a core team for the project and a steering committee, and then helped coach the groups on their responsibilities. The team drafted consistent communication about the project that was sent to Server employees, and set up training sessions and training rooms where employees could practice on the system before its rollout. 
The business impact The new ERP system went live in June 2018. During the rollout, Baker Tilly staff arrived at the facility at 6 a.m. each day with the Server workers – walking the floor, taking shifts, helping anybody who had questions, and working the weekend to ensure that existing data was transferred properly into the new system. Server operations returned to full speed within a week and a half of go live.  Among the many business benefits of the new ERP system:  Shop floor planning is now done in real time in the ERP system. Planning time has been cut in half.  Receiving and purchase order discrepancies that wouldn’t be found for 30 days are now discovered within 24 hours.  Logistics and shipping daily workflows that were done on paper are now electronic.  Real-time analysis of inventory transaction histories help resolve issues with inaccurate inventory.  Download the case study >  For more information on this topic, or to learn how Baker Tilly specialists can help, contact our team.

Food service manufacturer Server Products Inc., replaced outdated and unstable ERP system with IFS Applications ERP system, enabling real-time planning and inventory analysis, timely discrepancy resolution, and more.

Change management and process expertise are keys to ERP success at Server Products

We work alongside our clients and teach them all facets of their IFS implementation so they fully understand and can take complete ownership at the end of the engagement with confidence. 

With fully integrated change management and project and program management capabilities, we bring a proven methodology that combines “tried and true” implementation principles with flexible techniques for successful implementations. We focus on the business process rather than a simple functional installation; our approach to an ERP implementation is a differentiator in the market. 

Packaged-Enabled Process Re-Engineering and Software Configuration

Manage Integration / Third Party Applications

Support Inexperienced Functional Core Team

Support Capacity Constrained or Inexperienced IT Staff

"By the end of the implementation, people here at Server, regarded Baker Tilly as family. The dedication they showed to the project...not just to deliver IFS, but to keep our best interests in mind, from a business and even personal perspective, showed through in may ways. This solidified the promise they made during our interview of them...that they would be by our side the whole way through."

Robby Burmeister, IT Director at Server Products

Baker Tilly provides a full complement of resources and capabilities, and an approach to IFS Applications implementations that is transformational. Baker Tilly specializes in a package enabled process approach resulting in market leading digital transformation.

Baker Tilly provides a full complement of resources and capabilities, and an approach to IFS Applications implementations that is transformational. Baker Tilly specializes in a package enabled process approach resulting in market leading digital transformation.

Plex services partners, IFS consulting and implementation partner, IFS system implementation partner, IFS partners, IFS Applications implementation consultants, IFS Packaged-Enabled Process Re-Engineering and Software implementation, process manufacturing ERP consulting

We bring insight across the supply chain to improve efficiencies, reduce risk and offer solutions as market disruption continues.

Baker Tilly specializes in food and beverage manufacturing and distribution accounting and advisory services, rooted in analytics across the supply chain.

What if your firm turned project management into a strategic competitive advantage over your competitors?

Baker Tilly’s program and project management consultants help companies create their own right-sized operating model for program and project management and transform program management into a strategic competitive advantage.

Structured data from traditional business intelligence systems and unstructured data from big data solutions are helping decision makers better understand why things are happening in their organizations.

Become insights driven with data and analytics.

Analytics are being used to harness vast amounts of internal, external, structured and unstructured data to extract insight for more intelligent decision-making.

The amount of internal and external data available to organizations today presents both tremendous challenge and unprecedented opportunity.

In today’s disruptive technology environment, many organizations struggle with understanding how to modernize their legacy applications.

Our proven IT technology assessment, roadmap and software evaluation services help demystify the complicated technology ecosystem.

Baker Tilly provides a custom-tailored approach to help your organization manage the change associated with any complex transformation, and minimize impacts to your employees.

Our change management specialists work with you to build the right plan to drive adoption and increase the value realized from your technology, process, transformational and structural changes.

IFS

Server Products implements IFS applications ERP system with Baker Tilly

Server Products completes IFS Advanced Quality module implementation 7 weeks early

Change management and process expertise are keys to ERP success at Server Products

Manufacturing & Distribution

Food & Beverage

Program & Project Management

BI & Management Reporting

Analytics

Big Data

Technology Enablement

Change Management

We work alongside our clients and teach them all facets of their IFS implementation so they fully understand and can take complete ownership at the end of the engagement with confidence.

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