Last year I evaluated a number of maintenance management packages, from the big guys to the small frys... Most of them were junk.

I wanted a simple program similar to what you are looking for that did not require tons of work orders and junk to be created to make a simple log entry. That might be fine if you have a large tech crew but is a pain for a small workgroup. Other packages were functionally ok, but slow and cludgy databases.

After countless evaluations and beginning to write my own program in MS Visual Basic 4, I finally stumbled across a package from a small company Symbiotic Systems (http://www.symbioticsystems.com.) I thought the price was a tad high, but then re-evaluated the cost of re-inventing the wheel and decided that might not be so terrible.

Anyway, they've got a fully functional demo for download on their page http://www.symbioticsys.com/maint.htm

Hope this helps,
--Dave Ratte
Mfg/Process Engineer
Superior Circuit Technologies, Inc
Tel (407) 733-7021
Fax (407) 733-7118
http://www.superiorcircuits.com


----------
From:  O'connor,Patrick [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:  Wednesday, September 23, 1998 8:11 AM
To:  [log in to unmask]
Subject:  [TN] Software upgrade question

Hello Technetters -

Here's one of my dilemmas for today.  I'm investigating upgrade options
to our current DOS-based Preventative Maintenance software program used,
among other place, on our SMT lines.  We would like it to include a
spare parts inventory control feature.  Something that will allow for
establishing min/max levels and flag the user when an item needs to be
re-ordered or ideally automatically generate an order.  In other words,
something relatively maintenance free and user friendly.

Although I have not worked with Microsoft Access in quite awhile, I do
not recall early versions providing this feature.  Short of having to
learn a mid-level program like FoxPro I would appreciate any information
or suggestions.

Patrick O'Connor
Manufacturing Engineer - SMD
The Foxboro Company
Tel # (508)549-3503
Fax # (508)549-4036
e-mail: [log in to unmask]

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