Early in 2021, Janome Sewing Machine Co. Ltd. (JSM) will celebrate its 100th year as a manufacturer of sewing machines. And, barring some unexpected market upheaval, the company will mark its centennial as the largest sewing machine maker in the world.
JSM produces more than 1.6 million household sewing machines annually at several manufacturing plants in Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. The company offers about 280 different models, ranging from mini units to those for industrial applications. Beginner and professional sewers alike prefer JSM machines because they combine affordability and high performance, with all models meeting the ISO 9014 quality standard.
End-users also like the machines’ intuitive operation, reliability and versatility, as well as JSM’s reputation as an innovator. For example, JSM was the first in the world to produce a programmable household sewing machine (the Memory 7 in 1979), and the first to make a programmable household embroidery machine (the Memory Craft 8000 in 1990).
Several years ago, JSM consolidated three separate subsidiaries—Janome America, Jamac and Elna—under the Janome America Inc. (JAI) banner. Other divisions of the global company include Janome Canada, Janome Australia and those in eight more countries throughout Asia, Europe and South America.
The JAI consolidation proved successful thanks in large part to the implementation of Aptean Apprise enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. According to company management, the software has enabled JAI to increase productivity by simplifying and quickening transactions with trading partners throughout the Americas. Equally important, JAI does this with a single database and hasn’t needed to increase its IT staff.
Several years before the consolidation, Janome America separately deployed Apprise software and found that it greatly improved business efficiency and cost effectiveness. This success caught the notice of managers at Janome Canada and Janome Australia, and both divisions implemented the software by the late 1990s. They still use Apprise to streamline their end-to-end operations.
Since the consolidation, the Jamac division has been dissolved, but the credit and collections operations of the other two divisions have been successfully streamlined. Apprise software provides full visibility into credit limits and credit holds, enabling a small staff to accurately manage several thousand orders a month for nearly 1,000 customers. Automation throughout the system helps to speed processes that would normally require additional steps and transaction time.
Besides sewing machines, JAI sells parts and accessories to hundreds of brick-and-mortar retailers, as well as those that operate strictly online. Many of the latter require their suppliers to comply with electronic data interchange (EDI) standards.
Apprise has an EDI Solutions feature that helped JAI land deals with large retailers Overstock.com and Target.com. Besides managing EDI, the software monitors all transactions on a daily basis. This eliminates the need for a separate in-house EDI program, saving JAI even more money.
Another key software function is the online Customer Portal that helps JAI improve the efficiency of automated processes on the plant floor and in the warehouse. The portal increases purchasing and inventory data accuracy, resulting in more timely shipments and happier customers.
In addition, the portal lets dealers log onto the JAI extranet, place an order and view its status at any time of day or night. This helps the company manage customer expectations through a reliable online order entry processing system. The success of the portal has also eliminated the need for an extra sales assistant to handle JAI’s growing order rates.
For more information on ERP software, call 855-411-2783 or visit www.aptean.com.
