Fabtrol- Steel Fabrication Management Software 1

[alogue]

Does anyone have any experience with Fabtrol or something else comparable?
I am a Project manager of a custom steel fabrication shop of about 85 employees. We do anywhere from 8 to 12 million/year in sales.
I would like to see something that helps with inventory, scheduling, purchasing, estimating and tracking labor.
Is there such a beast at an affordable price? We could probably handle dropping the $100k for fabtrol if we were convinced it would help. Presently we lose $20-30k/year in just inventory alone.
Any input on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

 

[pipewelder1999]

I've used it in a very limited capacity. The fabricator that I was with when I used it did not use all of the capabilities. I had no idea it was priced so high.

I do database programming in welding and fabrication related areas and could provide some simple inventory tracking, purchasing type applications but nothing on the level of fabtrol.

I think fabtrol would be worth the money if you utilize all of the features. I'd think for the potential sale, fabtrol would let you know how they can help.

Have a good day

Gerald Austin

Gerald Austin
Iuka, Mississippi

http://www.weldinginspectionsvcs.com

 

[griffengm]

Alogue,
Have you checked into JobBoss or the Henning programs? I don't think either is priced so high and I beleive JobBoss is modular so that you can add on as needed.

Griffy

 

[alogue]

Thanks for the input. The 100k is our estimate in Canadian dollars for implementation of the whole system, not the software cost alone.
I haven't looked into JobBoss or the Henning programs but I will.\
Thanks again.

 

[steelgator]

This thread is an older one but still thought I'd reply. I've used Fabtrol extensively for more than one employer and in two different types of steel fabrication plants. I've also attended more than one Fabtrol training seminar. From my own experience and that of others I've encountered, I've derived the following. All of this applies to the use of Fabtrol in a steel fabrication shop, or shops.

FABTROL IS EXCELLENT FOR:
Bill of Material Management/Sorting/Reporting

Purchasing,tracking purchasing (weak on the accounting side, but great otherwise). Nice P.O.'s and reports. Nice integration with inventory and cut list generation.

Shipping Management.

FABTROL IS FINE FOR:
Structural Inventory management (most inventory management problems are process management related--software will not fix this). Fabtrol lacks accounting type feature, users end up taking a lot of shortcuts that limit the "audit trail. These shortcuts are not from a lack of understanding (by the user) but are rather by-the-book ways to use the software. The inventory management system can actually do more than I believe most shops make it do.

I'm aware of several plants that have successfully featured Fabtrol as the tool that allowed them to meet the material traceability requirements of the AISC. (For AISC certification).

Structural Multing (nesting). Fair computer multing routines, good manual "user-driven" routine. Good integration with purchasing. Nice, grade-specific, customizable structural cut list.

Generating all sorts of useful information that can help with the estimating process. The ability to break a project down and generate useful reports that are sequence, lot, phase, size, cost, location, type, whatever driven is truly impressive.

User management. (controlling who has access to what).

Multi-plant material/shipping/purchasing management.

FABTROL IS BETTER THAN NOTHING FOR:
Managing plate inventory.

Estimating labor. It has useful tools that will help you estimate your labor--but real-world implementation and use of their labor engine is a time consuming, endlessly unsatisfying process. You are always concerned you don't know exactly what Fabtrol is doing with your input. If you are in a repetitive industry that hardly needs a tool like Fabtrol to help you estimate labor--it will probably work fine.

Managing the estimating process (it is still great at providing extensive information and breakdowns of material, type of work, work locations, or whatever--the reports are impressive).

Drawing Management

Bill of material import/export

CNC data management

FABTROL IS NOT AS USEFUL AS A SPIRAL BOUND NOTEBOOK FOR:
Plate multing

Managing/tracking weld certifications and/or procedures. (I don't believe they make any claim to the contrary here).

FABTROL STRENGTHS:
Tech Support

Reports the report options (probably because they were (are?) Foxpro based) have been exceptional since the first time I saw Fabtrol.

The ability to break a project/estimate down in multiple ways. (which contributes to the powerful reporting).

(relatively)Easy to learn

Have been windows based for a long time--so the program is fairly intuitive.

FABTROL WEAKNESSES
Company knowledge of real-world challenges and processes. This might have improved recently (I don't know).

Labor engine implementation.

Inventory audit trails. (Not that I know of any stronger alternative).

Accounting and integration with accounting software. (Not that I know of any stronger alternative that is not accounting software).

FINALLY, REGARDING ESTIMATING
When you check on Fabtrol for estimating, make sure you ask some specific questions of existing customers regarding how they have implemented and currently use the labor engine. It sounds/looks great and powerful in the demo but my sense is that it is rarely put to advanced use in a real-world company/environment. If you do find an advanced user of the labor engine I believe you'll find it's an unusually talented guy in a one or two man estimating department.

JUST ONE MAN'S (somewhat)INFORMED OPINION.
SteelGator