Manufacturer of Cloth Towel Dispensers

Background
The firm, located in Utica, NY, began operations in 1936, producing cloth roll towel cabinets and towel processing equipment for the industrial laundry and linen supply markets.

After WWII, paper towels began replacing cloth towels for hand drying in the United States. This loss of market share continued year after year up to the 1990s. However, the past seven years has shown an increased demand for more environmentally friendly products such as reusable cloth over waste producing paper. The increased cost of waste disposal is another factor that is casting a more favorable light on cloth towels. In the late 1980s, the firm replaced its old metal cabinet with a new plastic dispenser, which represented the first design change in well over 30 years.  At certification the firm had 22 employees and sales of $2 million.

Assistance Provided
The NYS TAAC completed a diagnostic review and an adjustment proposal that identified the need for improvement to the firm's computerized manufacturing and accounting systems. Sales revenue expansion had already been addressed in earlier technical assistance. The NYS TAAC and the firm hired a consultant to develop an integrated Management Information System (MIS) that would run over a local area network.

The first phase of the project involved the evaluation and review of current systems and future needs. The consultant was then able to identify required hardware and software based on these findings. Both the firm and the NYS TAAC agreed this phase was very successful. The consultant was able to lead management to purchase the exact needs at minimal cost.

Once the firm purchased the recommended hardware and standard software, the consultant spent his time on the complete implementation, installation, modification/customization, and training of essential personnel. The important component of this phase was the custom modification and enhancements. To reduce the up-front cost of software, a minimal system (including source code) was selected that met the core requirements of the firm. Extensive modifications and enhancements were then completed to ensure a successful implementation. All source code was then made available to the firm in the event modifications are needed in the future.
 
Project Results
In less than six months the firm has a system that is exactly designed for its business; and, with minimal training, personnel are able to understand and use the system. This project, along with a completed marketing project, has given the firm the necessary tools to be competitive in the existing marketplace.