Manufacturing IT Support in Massachusetts

What IT challenges do manufacturers and distributors face?

Most manufacturing IT problems come from systems that don’t talk to each other and downtime that stops production.

The challenges we see most often are:

• Integrating ERP and inventory systems
• Barcoding and automation
• Production uptime and equipment monitoring
• Data backup and disaster recovery

We help manufacturers and distributors automate operations, protect supply chain data, and connect systems from the shop floor to the boardroom.

How do you connect ERP, inventory and accounting?

We integrate them directly, so an order entered once flows through inventory and into accounting without anyone re-keying it.

Our ERP integration work connects QuickBooks, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics GP and custom systems. For distributors on Fishbowl Inventory, we build add-ons that pull orders in from shopping carts such as BigCommerce and show open orders and inventory in a web browser for remote staff. See our QuickBooks and Fishbowl customization page.

Lot tracking is a common need. We have moved a Boston medical supply company’s lists, special pricing and transactions into Fishbowl and QuickBooks, with components and finished kits tracked by lot number.

Can you help with barcoding and inventory automation?

Yes. Barcoding and inventory automation with real-time data capture is one of our core manufacturing solutions.

We supply mobile computers and barcode scanners running Android, Windows or iOS, along with rugged notebooks, tablets and mobile printers, plus the apps for inventory, asset tracking and field service. Scans feed your inventory and ERP data as they happen, instead of from a clipboard at the end of the shift.

How do you keep plant and warehouse systems running?

With on-site and remote IT management aimed at continuous uptime, and a network built for the building it lives in.

Plants and warehouses are hard on networks: long cable runs, metal racking that blocks Wi-Fi, and scanners and floor PCs that all need a solid connection. Our business network setup covers cabling, Wi-Fi, switches and firewalls.

For the servers behind your ERP, our server repair and maintenance service diagnoses failing hardware and keeps systems patched. Backups are verified, with quarterly test restores, and our backup and disaster recovery service plans what happens if a server fails or ransomware hits. Manufacturing is one of the region’s most targeted industries for ransomware.

Do you support AS/400 and other legacy systems?

Yes. Many manufacturers still run on an IBM AS/400 or IBM i system, or on custom software written decades ago, and we support both.

Our AS/400 and IBM i support keeps the system healthy, and we can update, migrate or integrate it without disrupting the business. Our roots include supporting legacy systems from the Wang era through Niakwa, so we are comfortable with software others won’t touch. Keep what works, and modernize what doesn’t.

What storage and backup options fit a manufacturer?

For most manufacturers, that means hybrid cloud plus IBM FlashSystem, for storage and backups that can grow with you.

IBM FlashSystem keeps production, inventory and logistics data quick to reach and resilient. Safeguarded Copy keeps immutable snapshots that ransomware cannot change, so orders and operations data can be restored from a clean copy. As an authorized IBM reseller we deploy it alongside hybrid cloud for offsite copies. Learn more about IBM FlashSystem or our wider IBM services.

Why choose a Massachusetts IT company for manufacturing?

Because plant problems are physical, and a local team can get to the floor.

Systems Analysis is a family-run company at 335 Auburn Street in Newton, at the crossroads of Route 128 and the Mass Pike. We have helped Boston and New England manufacturers modernize their systems since 1978, and the same team handles your network, servers and accounting software.