Kvichak Marine Industries Earns 2007 Summit Award at Consona Customer Conference

Company Uses Encompix® ERP to Double in Size; Wins Transformation Award
  

ORLANDO, INDIANAPOLIS and SEATTLE, Oct. 16, 2007—Consona Corporation (Consona), a worldwide leader in providing customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and services for the enterprise, announced at its premier customer conference, Consona Connect, that Kvichak Marine Industries Inc. (Kvichak), a Seattle-based manufacturer of aluminum boats and Encompix ERP customer, is the 2007 recipient of the software provider’s Transformation Award.

The Transformation Award, part of Consona’s annual Summit Awards, honors a customer that has been able to either reinvent its business or achieve a strong return on investment in a relatively short period of time. Recipients of the award submit both qualitative and quantitative data that illustrate how the solution has impacted the customer’s business model or overall business performance. Award recipients display significant business improvements and changes, such as unprecedented customer satisfaction levels, the introduction of new products and services, or increased sales.

After struggling for years to force-fit into an “ordinary” manufacturing system, Kvichak knew it needed to find an ERP solution designed with engineer-to-order, project-based operations in mind. The company was searching for a system that would accommodate the purchase of projects with long lead times, offer highly integrated ERP and CAD functionality, and efficiently handle multi-company tracking.

Once Kvichak selected Encompix ERP, the team embarked on a six-month implementation that included all core ERP functionality, plus an engineering integration with AutoCAD. Since go-live, the company has:

• Tripled its engineering department without a corresponding increase in production control.
• Doubled the quantity of materials purchased with only a 25 percent increase in purchasing resources.
• Reduced its monthly accounting close process from four weeks to seven days.
• Shortened its billing process from weeks to days.
• Improved cash flow and productivity levels by executing material and labor scheduling “just in time.”

“From the time Kvichak considered using an ERP system to the present, we have gone from a small company, using multiple software solutions and outside accounting services, to a company with multiple subsidiaries in multiple locations,” said Leo Schowengerdt, assistant chief engineer for Kvichak. “Through the use of Encompix software, we have been able to administer a company that has doubled in size without having to double the number of administrators. In short, every department in the company uses the software and add-on products to improve how we do business.”

“We are thrilled to honor Kvichak with a Summit Award for some absolutely tremendous achievements," said Jeff Tognoni, CEO of Consona. "Kvichak sets a standard for the commitment it takes to gain maximum return on a business system investment. The growth and success this company has achieved with our support reminds all of us at Consona why we're in business."

About Consona Corporation
Consona Corporation (Consona, formerly known as M2M Holdings Inc.) is a worldwide leader in providing customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and services for the enterprise. Consona is dedicated to becoming a valued business partner by helping each and every customer continuously improve business processes over time. Toward this mission, Consona invests in the people, processes, technology and tools needed to provide its customers with a unique combination of customer care; product fit; a broad range of consulting, IT and business services; and industry expertise. Consona serves more than 4,500 customers worldwide and across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, financial services, health care, high tech, and local government. Battery Ventures and Thoma Cressey Bravo jointly own Consona. For further information, visit www.consona.com, e-mail info@consona.com, or call (888) 8 CONSONA.

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