Fully-integrated job and cost controls allow Wisconsin mold maker to remain competitive

Modern Machine Shop, Feb, 1992

Mike Johnson, President of Scientific Molding Corp. (SMC), Somerset, Wisconsin, is living the advice of Malcolm Forbes, "Success follows doing what you want to do."

Mr. Johnson and two other employees started out in a Houltin, Wisconsin barn. Today, 31 employees are housed in a 19,000 square foot space following a recent addition to the existing headquarters.

SMC's impressive growth seems directly related to their mission statement--"to be the very best source for injection-molded prototypes and short run needs." For big-name clients like Rockwell International, Apple Computers and Bausch and Lomb, they help in the design and development of new components with complete capabilities for manufacturing molds and plastic parts. Their specialities are precision and speedy turnaround and "no technology is too challenging, no project too small." They promise "parts in one to four weeks, quotes within 48 hours and more than eight quality tests." Mr. Johnson feels that few other injection molders can match his company's depth of knowledge and experience.

Mr. Johnson supplies ready answers when asked why and how success has come so quickly. "We keep very close control of our quality and delivery and we employ a staff with impressive capabiities. Also, we believe in utilizing the latest in technology." As an example, the cites the fact that after only a year, SMC purchased the Job Boss Software Control Module, from Job Boss Software Inc., 7701 York Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55435. "After experiencing first-hand the results of that one module, we added all remaining modules in order to fully integrate job and cost controls along with Payroll, Accounts, Payable and General Ledger. Like other similar businesses, we need to hold down costs, speed up quotations and schedule jobs efficiently for on-time delivery."

"Job Boss has helped us by reducing duplication of effort and by adding consistency in job costing. Now we know if a job is profitable or not and precisely when it must be delivered. Also, the system has helped us keep overhead to a minimum," he adds. "Until just recently, we were able to handle the volume of accounting needs with a part-time employee. When it became necessary to hire a full-time controller, we sent him to a Job Boss General Ledger seminar to ascertain a smooth transition." To date, SMC has produced over 5,200 quotations and the estimating function is used by SMC 100 percent of the time. Today, speed is the key to product development. It has become essential to have a quick response time.

Mr. Johnson firmly believes that present-day trends indicate that "we are seeing the beginning of the most competitive industry in the world." In this fast-paced, quick turn-around business, Mr. Johnson wants do what he enjoys doing and he feels that Job Boss has enabled him to achieve this goal.