CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
7 March 2005
Implementation Investments
Leading Engine Heater Manufacturer Gives Supply Chain a Boost With IFS ApplicationsT
IFS announced that Kim Hotstart Manufacturing Co., which manufactures electric engine heaters, has implemented IFS ApplicationsT business software. The Spokane, Washington-based company is using IFS' supply chain management, financial, and document management applications.
"IFS ApplicationsT enables us to reduce order-to-delivery time and enhance customer satisfaction," said Rick Robinson, chief executive officer of Kim Hotstart Manufacturing Co. "It's the integrated, up-to-date platform we need as we move into the future."
Major global companies such as Caterpillar, Cummins, and Detroit Diesel use Kim Hotstart pre-heaters to keep locomotives, emergency generators, and other large, diesel-powered equipment warm, ensuring rapid start-ups, saving fuel, and reducing pollution. The company continues to broaden its global market share. Currently, about 20 percent of Kim Hotstart's business is internationally based, with markets in Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, China, Korea, South America, and Southeast Asia.
"When IFS began 20 years ago, our software was designed for the Scandinavian and European markets, where thinking globally is not a new concept," said IFS North America president Cindy Jaudon. "We built our software from the ground up for companies with global, multisite operations. We look forward to partnering with Kim Hotstart to finding innovative solutions to the challenges they face as they continue to expand their international presence."
Industrial manufacturing is one of IFS' targeted vertical markets. IFS has a broad customer base in the industry, focusing on medium- to large-size manufacturers that need support for complex order-driven and mixed-mode manufacturing across the extended enterprise. With strong support for project management, engineering, constraint-based scheduling, product configuration, and after-sales support, IFS' business solution helps companies improve quality, contain costs, and improve their competitive position in manufacturing industry segments such as machinery, defense, fabricated metal products, and plastic products. Industrial manufacturing companies also benefit from IFS' lifecycle management solution, which goes beyond product lifecycle management (PLM) to provide better integration and management of three critical business areas-products, customers, and resources-throughout their lifecycles.
Existing IFS customers in the industrial manufacturing industry include Deere & Co., Dresser-Rand, Gehl, Star Cutter, Remmele Engineering, and Johnson Pump.
Founded in 1942, Kim Hotstart Manufacturing Co. designs and manufactures electric heaters for engines and related applications such as fuel tanks and hydraulic power units. Kim Hotstart supplies electric heaters in any voltage, from 12 volt DC to 600 volt, single or three phase, or 50 or 60 hertz. The company's products successfully heat engines from 100 CID to very large engines using as much as 2,500 gallons of oil in the oil pan. For more information, visit http://www.kimhotstart.com .
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