lmprove efficiency through integratedmanagement so

fNVENTORY management is espelcially challenging to companies with multiple facilities and diverse product lines. Integrating accurate inventory counts into a company's business information systems can provide the responsiveness and strategic advantage that helps wood products companies succeed.

One company that has turned information to its advantage is Hampton Affiliates, a group of vertically integrated companies in the Pacific Northwest. Domestic and international sales are located at its corporate office in Portland, Or. Their five sawmills in Washington and Oregon produce almost I billion bd. ft. of timber, dimensional and stud lumber. Wholesale operations push their total volume over 1.5 billion bd. ft. annually. Ten distribution locations from Seattle to San Diego sell softwood and hardwood lumber, engineered wood products and doors and windows to local markets.

Hampton has seen tremendous growth recently, increasing sales from about $200 million in 1994 to nearly $800 million in 2000.

Steve Zika. c.f.o.. faces the challenge of managing the financial operations of all their divisions and facili- ties. Hampton recently installed Lumber Track from Progressive Solutions, Richmond, B.C., to upgrade their inventory control system. The system combines the information technology (IT) needs of multiple facilities and a diverse product line under a single computer system umbrella.

"Progressive Solutions provides one software environment for our 200 users, from sawmill production and wholesale, to our remanufacturing and distribution operations," Zika says. "Total integration and instant access to information speeds everything from placing an order to invoicing upon shipment."

He explains that inventory is reported as production comes off the responsiveness and helps tum inventory quicker. Sales history, which is a critical component to customer service, is greatly enhanced." instant access to information speeds everything from placing an order to invoicing upon shipment." bandsaws, and is available to all their sales people. Customer service is enhanced because sales people have information at their fingertips and can confirm inventory quantities, order status, and delivery dates on the spot.

Mike Phillips heads up the Hampton Lumber Sales division, one of the largest wholesale lumber companies in the country. "We needed improved inventory management, so that traders could have real-time inventory information," Phillips recalls. "Every salesperson at each of our locations now has very, very good real-time inventory information on both mill and wholesale inventories. They know about new inventory right out of the mill, which improves customer

Hampton chose Progressive Solutions from 30 potential suppliers, including enterprise resource planning giants SAP and JD Edwards, foregoing these general-purpose systems in favor of a solution focused on the forestry industry. Zika says, "The software is designed with an in-depth knowledge of what's important to our industry, things like product attributes and freight issues."

With an extremely diverse product line, a fleet of over 800 railcars and a reputation for customer service, Hampton needed a software supplier that understood its business.

The system, Phillips explains, "has helped us grow efficiently. It used to take four or five people to process invoices. Now the software creates an invoice almost automatically when product is shipped."

Zika explains that Hampton is trying to grow through acquisition, without adding sales or administration staff at the corporate office. The strategy seems to be working. In 1999, Hampton's revenue grew by 367o, while the number of sales and sales support employees went up only slightly, demonstrating Hampton's improved efficiency and effectiveness.

EIOR as long as dealers. wholesalers I-' and manufacturers have offered product catalogs, they've known their limitations. Print catalogs wear, tear and can be lost. Worse, they often are expensive to print and distribute, and quickly grow dated.

An "electronic catalog," conversely, can be constantly, instantaneously updated and distributed, can't be lost and need never become outdated. Plus, introducing an e-catalog is becoming easier and more affordable-by linking your in-store software system to your Web site. With only one database to maintain, compaines can provide their customers with an up-to-theminute inventory listing.

CCI Triad's new iNet "Web enables" the in-store point-of-sale system, then provides a secure, full-time connection to the Internet. Pro customers can log onto the Web site to search for items, check availability or