Main Challenges
Over the years Integrity Integration Resources had developed a home-grown proprietary system to track time. However, the program wasn't able to ensure resource utilization, or track each project's progress or determine whether or not a project was on budget. As a result, if a problem suddenly popped up, it could catch project managers by surprise.
- Lacked the ability to integrate their time tracking program with their accounting system, causing production problems
- Had difficulties accurately tracking multiple project schedules from start to finish
- Lacked an effective way to manage resource workloads
Equally important, the system couldn't integrate with the company's accounting system. "Our accounting system gave us all the parts required for each project," says the director of engineering. "However, when a customer called and asked if parts had been delivered, we couldn't find the answer in our existing system. Instead we had to go down to the shop and check, which wasn't very efficient or cost effective." "If we wanted to know a project's status, we had to call various engineers and ask them how they were progressing. If they needed help, we called around to find the resources to help them. And when a box was ready to ship to a client, we had to send employees to make sure the order was complete. There was a lot of running around." To gain greater control over the entire manufacturing process, Integrity Integration Resources began investigating project management programs.