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MAC-PAC eXpressWinter 2009Volume 8—Issue 3Link-Belt & Ruskin Migrating from EC to BuyDesignConfiguratorPERSPECTIVES 2010September 20-22Columbus Marriott NWDublin, OHLong-time MAC-PAC users LinkBelt Construction Company(Link-Belt) and The RuskinCompany (Ruskin) are in thefinal stages of migrating fromMAC-PAC Expert Configurator(EC) to BuyDesign Configuratorfor MAC-PAC XE for all of theirrespective productconfiguration functions. Bothcompanies are using TDCI’s ECrules migration tools andservices, and both plan to fullyreplace EC with BuyDesignConfigurator for both OrderEntry and MO generation.For both Link-Belt and Ruskin,the primary reasons for movingfrom EC to BuyDesignConfigurator within MAC-PACare: Utilize BuyDesign’s graphicalrules developmentenvironment, making iteasier to maintain rules andtrain new rules developers. Utilize BuyDesign’s graphicalconfiguration environment;again making it easier totrain order entry personnel. Leverage BuyDesign’s farricher rules capabilities toimprove configurationprocesses and theconfigurator user interfaceover time.Inside this issue:EXTOL & Knovalent2User es 2009Recap5Advisory BoardUpdates5PTFs &Enhancements6Spotlight Tip6 Capture configuration,pricing and manufacturingrules within a platform thatcan be used well into thefuture with MAC-PAC as wellas with other applicationsand ERP systems.“We’re excited about moving tothe BuyDesign rulesdevelopment environment,”says Dan Rau, VP ofEngineering at Ruskin. “Andonce we’ve made the move,we’re looking forward to usingthe new capabilities BuyDesigngives us to make our wholeprocess – from rulesCont. on pg 4 Webster Refining MAC-PAC Usage after Assessment &Return to MaintenanceWebster Industries Inc. is nowpreparing to implement anumber of recommendationsmade as a result of a recentMAC-PAC XE UsageAssessment. The assessmentwas performed by TDCI shortlyafter Webster returned toTDCI’s MAC-PAC XEMaintenance & SupportProgram.“We are very happy with theresults of the usageassessment led by TDCI,” saidAndy Felter, Vice President ofManufacturing. “It gives us anumber of practical steps wecan take to enhance the waywe use MAC-PAC XE, and tobetter align it with the way werun our business today.”The assessment wasperformed in early November.After on-site interviews withpeople from just about everyarea of the company, TDCIproduced a summary ofapproximately 60 observationsalong with specificrecommendations foraddressing each point. Mostrecommendations were forprocedural changes, expandeduse of standard MAC-PAC XEfunctionality, changes to RefCat settings, or application ofavailable PTFs andEnhancements. A fewrecommendations involvedminor modifications TDCI hasalready helped other MAC-PACXE users make. Among otherthings, Webster is nowconsidering the usage of theBusiness Process Manager(BPM) and Repetitive Supply(RS) modules to streamline anumber of different processes.Cont. on pg 4

Page 2EXTOL & Knovalent Help Auto Supplier Implement NewRelease Accounting SystemFor more informationabout MAC-PAC XE,TDCI services, or anyof the companiesreferenced in thisnewsletter, contactShelley Horn atshorn@tdci.com or800-630-6687 x1119TDCI solution partner for EDI,EXTOL International, Inc.(EXTOL), in cooperation withAnn Arbor, Michigan basedKnovalent, Inc. (Knovalent),recently completed animportant project with a longtime MAC-PAC automotiveindustry user and TDCIcustomer. With this project,EXTOL and Knovalent helpedthis MAC-PAC user implement anew automotive releaseaccounting system to replacethat company’s previous Future3 solution.triggered by the company’sneed to move to a neweriSeries platform - the licensefee to make that move with theFuture 3 software would havebeen very expensive. EXTOLand Knovalent were able toprovide the same or bettercapabilities at a lower costwhile providing a solution witha reputation for excellentsupport.The change to theKnovalentAutomotivesolutionwith EXTOLEDI wasKnovalent and EXTOL team toprovide a range of automotivespecific solutions based onAIAG standards, includingautomotive EDI, releaseaccounting, order processing,shipping & invoicing, andvendor EDI.If you are a MAC-PAC user inthe automotive industry andwould like to know more abouthow TDCI, EXTOL andKnovalent can help you meetyour industry-specific needs,contact Shelley Horn at 614781-2325 x1119 orshorn@tdci.com.Join Us at the 2010 MAC-PAC UserInput WorkshopHelp TDCI set MAC-PACenhancement priorities for thecoming year. Plan now toparticipate in the next MAC-PACUser Input Workshop at TDCIheadquarters in Columbus,Ohio on March 11th, 2010. Joinus at this annual event to: Learn about newenhancements nowavailable. Help set priorities forenhancements to bedeveloped in 2010 andbeyond. Provide design input on highpriority enhancements. Interact with other MAC-PACusers.Just about all of theenhancements developed overthe past few years have beendriven by user input workshops.This year’s workshop will focuson items identified in the lastsurvey and through other input,including “comments to closedsales orders”, “groupingcapacity planning bydepartment”, “overlapoperation scheduling”, and anumber of other items affectingvarious MAC-PAC modules.Attendees at past workshopshave always found the day tobe very valuable. So mark yourcalendar now and plan toattend. Watch for an e-mailwith specific registration detailsin January, or contact SharonBinkley at 614-781-2325x1171 or sbinkley@tdci.com.If you would like to discusswhat will be covered at theworkshop, contact Kevin Smithat x1151 or ksmith@tdci.com.

Page 3Companies Seeing Continued Value in MAC-PAC Maintenance ProgramNow more than ever,companies are seeing goodvalue in TDCI’s MAC-PACMaintenance & SupportProgram. With budgets tightand IT resources spread thin,companies are taking evenmore advantage of TDCIknowledge and resourcesavailable to maintenanceprogram customers. In additionto companies that have startedor returned to TDCI’s programin recent years, a largepercentage of companies havelocked in current rates bycommitting to multi-yearagreements.Listen to what these MAC-PACusers have to say:“During this economicdownturn, our MAC-PACMaintenance and Support Planhas proven even morevaluable”, says VickeyClemmons, a Systems Analystfor Imperial Group, L.P. “Ourresources continue to beinvolved with projects outsidetheir traditional responsibilities.We rely on the TDCI team fortheir extensive productknowledge surrounding howtransactions within one area ofthe system impact other areas”.Jose Reyes, IT Group Leader atMarketing DisplaysInternational concurs: “Weappreciate the creativity TDCIhas shown in developing MACPAC Maintenance and Supportprograms. These uniqueofferings make it easier tojustify the costs, particularly inthese challenging economictimes”.Just as a refresher, here’s whatthe MAC-PAC XE Maintenance &Support Program delivers:MAC-PAC Product Support –skilled, knowledgeablepersonnel dedicated toproviding responsive phonesupport to keep your systemrunning smoothly. In addition,a secure web site provides selfservice access to supportservices, Helpful Hints, andmore.Product Fixes andEnhancements – continuousdevelopment of PTFs andEnhancements to MAC-PAC.Over 60 PTFs andEnhancements have beendelivered over the past yearalone. Many Enhancementsare driven by MAC-PAC users inthe annual User InputWorkshop.iSeries Technical Compatibility– platform compatibility testingand upgrades enable you totake advantage of IBM’s ongoing systems enhancements.For instance, over the last fewyears TDCI made multipleenhancements to ensurecompatibility with V5R4 andV6R1.Customer Care Days – up to 2days per year at your site fromour MAC-PAC support team atno charge other than travelexpense. Usethis time toaddress achallengingissue, learn newcapabilities, traina new person,etc.SoftwarePurchase Credits– Apply yourannualmaintenance feeas a credittowards up to50% of thelicense fee forother TDCIsoftwareapplications.Ask for details If you participatein the program, you can alsotake advantage of the MAC-PACExchange program to save onlicense fees if you ever decideto migrate to a new system,and/or the MAC-PAC ManagedServices program if you everhave a need to outsourcemanagement of your MAC-PACor iSeries system on either ashort term or long term basis.If you’re not taking advantageof the MAC-PAC Maintenance &Support program, contactShelley Horn at (614) 7812325 x1119 or shorn@tdci.comto learn what it could be do foryour company.Craig Baltimore, Jeremy Finley &Will Pawlikowski of TDCI’sProduct Support Group

Page 4For more informationabout MAC-PAC XE,TDCI services, or anyof the companiesreferenced in thisnewsletter, contactShelley Horn atshorn@tdci.com or800-630-6687 x1119Link-Belt & Ruskin Migrating from EC to BuyDesignConfigurator (continued )this is a major step in thatdirection.”development through orderentry – more intuitive foreveryone involved.”To request a datasheet onBuyDesign Configurator forMAC-PAC XE, and to discusshow it could help your companymodernize and extend yourcompany’s productconfiguration processes,contact Shelley Horn at 614781-2325 x1119 orshorn@tdci.com.For Link-Belt, the move alsogives them a common productconfigurator for use within theirplanned dealer quoting andordering system which will bebased on BuyDesign ChannelSales.Bruce Kabalen, MarketingCommunications Manager atLink-Belt says: “Utilizing theChannel Sales component inconcert with the BuyDesignConfigurator, will put ourdistributor sales force and oursales management team on thesame page. Are goal iscontinuous improvement andexcellent customer service inall areas of our company, andLink-Belt craneRuskin Air DoorWebster Refining MAC-PAC Usage after Assessment &Return to Maintenance (continued )Speaking about why Websterreturned to the TDCImaintenance & supportprogram, Wanda Heyman, ITManager said: “MAC-PAC iscritical to daily operations hereat Webster. After managing thesystem on our own for awhile,we recognized the value inhaving a partner like TDCI towork with us to support MACPAC, and also to continuallyimprove the way we use it.Since returning to the program,we’ve been pleased with theknowledge and helpful attitudeof the TDCI people, as well aswith the range of PTFs andEnhancements to which wenow have access.”Webster Industries engineersand manufactures powertransmission products,including a wide range of steelchain, conveyor, and relatedproducts. Webster offers itsproducts on a stocked andmake-to-order basis, and hasfacilities in Tiffin OH, MeridianMS, and Tualatin OR.If you would like to discuss howa TDCI-led MAC-PAC XE UsageAssessment might benefit yourcompany, contact Shelley Hornat 614-781-2325 x1119 orshorn@tdci.com.