Infor Drives Customized Manufacturing Operations at Kiva Systems

ATLANTA – Nov. 23, 2009 – Infor, the leading provider of business software for mid-market customers, today announced that Kiva Systems, a developer of mobile robotic solutions for warehouse automation, has deployed Infor ERP SyteLine to manage production operations and meet amplified demand for its robots. Leading retailers and manufacturers like Staples, Walgreens, and Zappos use Kiva’s breakthrough material handling system to streamline and automate their order fulfillment processes. ERP SyteLine, a dynamic enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed for companies in the discrete manufacturing industry, enables the company to increase productivity, streamline production and reduce inventory and related costs for the parts used to build its robots and automation systems. Infor channel partner Merittech, a full service manufacturing and technology consulting firm, helped Kiva Systems implement ERP SyteLine in just 11 weeks.

"Due to increased demand, Kiva Systems required an ERP system to help manage our production operations, including planning and scheduling, inventory management, production control, and order management," said Richard Thomley, director of finance, Kiva Systems. "Infor ERP SyteLine is the ideal solution for us because its flexibility and robust functionality enable us to plan production that meets our rapid growth without excess inventory and cost."

Kiva Systems customizes its products using build-to-order manufacturing techniques, which require real-time knowledge of in-stock parts, in-process orders and current production capacity. ERP SyteLine helps shorten time to market with forecasting and advanced planning and scheduling capabilities, which enable Kiva Systems to reduce cycle times and bolster customer service. Materials and inventory management functionality in ERP SyteLine helps the company keep inventories low while avoiding shortages, enabling Kiva Systems to satisfy customer demands, minimize costs and outpace competitors reliant on overstocked warehouses.

"Any discrete manufacturing company can offer its customers build-to-order products if it keeps enough inventory on hand, but that simply is not feasible for some of the largest of operations, much less a mid-market manufacturer," said Kevin Prouty, director of discrete industry solution marketing, Infor. "Infor ERP SyteLine provides companies like Kiva Systems visibility into warehousing and sales and operations planning to keep the factory as full as possible while maintaining low inventory levels."

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