From Modest Beginnings to Industry Leader: Machitech’s Growth Journey with Genius ERP

Machitech, situated an hour west of Quebec City in Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, started as a modest operation with a dedicated team of 40 employees manufacturing 30 machines annually. Today, the company has transformed into an industry leader in CNC cutting technology, boasting 250 employees and an impressive output of over 300 machines a year. This rapid expansion, a testament to their hard work and determination, has also introduced some significant challenges.

As operations scaled, managing production became much more complex. Relying on manual processes like using Excel for purchase orders and tracking part numbers led to frequent errors and inefficiencies, which threatened to slow their progress.

“When we didn’t have any production software, we had to manually do a purchase order, transferring all the part numbers, all the properties, using Excel and other kinds of software,” said Jean-François Giguère, Engineering Director at Machitech. “It was a manual task, [and] when you say manual, mistakes can happen.”

Needed: An ERP System to Manage Rapid Growth

Without an ERP system, Machitech struggled to ensure data accuracy and maintain smooth workflows across their seven facilities. Manual processes resulted in significant inefficiencies, making it difficult to coordinate production effectively. The growing complexity of their operations meant that managing inventory, tracking bills of materials (BOMs), and optimizing production schedules became more challenging. The overreliance on manual methods not only slowed down operations but also increased the risk of errors, directly impacting their ability to meet customer demands efficiently.

A Solution Tailored for Machitech’s Growth

Genius ERP’s comprehensive solution has played a vital role in supporting Machitech’s growth. By streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency, Genius ERP has helped Machitech maintain their competitive edge, ensuring that their operations run smoothly and effectively as they continue to expand.

With Genius ERP, information now flows efficiently from CAD designs to the production floor, ensuring every part is correctly accounted for and that production runs smoothly. “Genius really helps with synchronizing the item numbers, the bill of materials, and the account information between our seven facilities and divisions,” says Simon Croteau, Marketing Director at Machitech. “Using Genius, we have efficient information flow from the CAD to production software,” adds Jean-François Giguère, Engineering Director.

This seamless transition of data from design to production has significantly enhanced Machitech’s workflows. As a result, they can efficiently manage their resources, reduce production time, and keep quality high. Because of this, Machitech can now produce over 250 cutting tables in a year.

Accurate Cost Tracking and Inventory Management

The improved ability to monitor and coordinate information allows Machitech to track costs more accurately, from materials to production time. Having a detailed breakdown of job costs helps them develop better pricing strategies: “We are able to track all costs, from the materials, from the production, from the time. That gives us a better overview of our job costs and also a better way to price our equipment,” says Simon.

Purchasing processes are now automated, and inventory management has significantly improved with the Genius ERP. Machitech can easily scan items in and out, maintaining an accurate and up-to-date inventory system. “Purchasing and inventory have really improved since we now have QR codes on all of our items,” says Simon.

Optimizing Operations with Genius ERP

By partnering with Genius ERP, a software solution tailored for custom manufacturers, Machitech has optimized their operations. Over the past 12 years, Machtich has expanded from 12,000 square feet of manufacturing space to over 125,000 square feet. Their production capacity has also increased significantly, from one machine a month to five machines a week. Genius ERP has been crucial in supporting their continued growth and commitment to customer satisfaction.

Genius has become an integral part of Machitech’s success story, ensuring their production processes are as efficient and accurate as possible. “Working with Genius is working with an ERP that’s built for manufacturing. And that’s really what we needed,” says Simon.

Check out our complete case study to learn more about how Genius ERP has supported Machitech’s growth.