Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
5-A B
LACK
&D
ECKER
CONCEPTS
IN ACTION
B
lack & Decker is one of the world's
largest producers of electric power tools and power tool
accessories; it is among the largest-selling residential lock
manufacturers in the U.S., and is a major manufacturer
of faucets sold in the U.S. It is also the world's
largest producer of certain types of technology-based
industrial fastening systems. The company's brand names
include Black & Decker and DeWalt power tools, Emhart
Teknologies, Kwikset locks and other home security
products, and Price Pfister plumbing fixtures. Based in
Towson, MD, Black & Decker has manufacturing plants
in ten countries and markets its products in over 100
countries around the globe.
One of the major factors in Black & Decker's Power
Tools Division's leadership position is its highly advanced,
database-focused information system that assures a steady
and accurate supply of raw materials to the manufacturing
floor. Using Manugistics' Demand and Supply Planning
software, the system forecasts demand for Black &
Decker's power tools and then generates a raw material
supply plan based on the forecast and on the company's
manufacturing capacity. These results are fed into SAP's
Plant Planning System that takes into account suppliers'
capabilities and lead-time constraints to set up orders for
the raw materials.
Both the Manugistics and SAP software use Ora-
cle databases to keep track of all the data involved in
these processes. Black & Decker runs the system, which
became fully integrated in 1998, on clustered Compaq
Alphas. The databases are also shared by the company's
purchasing, receiving, finance, and accounting depart-
ments, assuring very high degrees of accuracy and speed
throughout the company's operations and procedures.
Included among the major database tables that support
this information system are a material master table, a
vendor master table, a bill-of-materials table (indicating
which parts go into making which other parts), a rout-
ing table (indicating the work stations that the part will
move through during manufacturing), planning, purchase
order, customer, and other tables.
Printed by permission of Black & Decker
Search WWH ::
Custom Search