Case Story: Mayco Colors

Mayco Colors: Artistic Inspiration Powered by Vicinity Software with Dynamics 365 Business Central

Company Overview

Mayco Colors, a family-owned company based in Hilliard, Ohio, celebrates its 70th year as a leading manufacturer of ceramic glazes, pottery supplies, and acrylic stains for the art and craft industry. They distribute their high-quality products worldwide, enabling artistic expression for hobbyists and professionals alike.

Challenges Faced by Mayco Colors

Prior to implementing Vicinity Software with Dynamics 365 Business Central, Mayco Colors faced several limitations:

Outdated DOS-based software: Their legacy system offered minimal functionality and lacked vital support.
Manual MRP: Inventory management relied on time-consuming manual processes, making it difficult to maintain optimal stock levels.
Limited reporting: Extracting insights from the system was cumbersome, hindering data-driven decision-making.

Why Mayco Colors Chose Vicinity Software

Mayco Colors partnered with Vicinity Software, a Dynamics 365 BC add-on specializing in production planning and inventory control for process manufacturers. This integrated solution addressed their pain points:

Industry-Specific MRP Customization: A core challenge for Mayco Colors was managing inventory for various sized containers of the same color. Vicinity customized the MRP process to combine multiple end-item requirements (e.g., 12 oz, 16 oz, 2-liter) into single, optimized batches based on a 90-day forecast. This reduced manufacturing frequency and ensured a three-month supply for all sizes after each production run.
SONAR Reporting: Mayco Colors developed a powerful report called “SONAR,” which provides prioritized insights into upcoming stockouts. This report combines “mix” and “fill” needs by formula, including all related end items (including private labels). SONAR is a vital tool for production planning and ensures the company is running efficiently.
Seamless Integration: Vicinity Software integrates seamlessly with Dynamics BC, ensuring a unified platform for managing financials, operations, and inventory.
Expert Implementation: Vicinity’s implementation team played a crucial role in understanding Mayco Colors’ unique business processes and customizing the software to their specific needs.

Benefits Achieved

Since implementing Vicinity Software with Dynamics 365 Business Central, Mayco Colors has achieved significant improvements:

Reduced Manufacturing Frequency: By combining production runs based on a 90-day forecast, Mayco Colors has optimized their manufacturing process, leading to increased efficiency and cost savings.
Improved Inventory Management: SONAR reporting provides real-time insights, enabling them to maintain optimal stock levels and avoid stockouts.
Enhanced Decision-Making: Data-driven reporting empowers Mayco Colors to make informed decisions about production planning and resource allocation.
Stronger Partner Relationships: The ongoing support from Vicinity’s dedicated team ensures Mayco Colors can continuously adapt and optimize their system as their business grows.

“The biggest benefit of using Vicinity Software is being able to set up SONAR. It’s constantly evolving. We have the support from Vicinity to just keep it going, keep it changing and making it better and being able to handle a lot more information than what we ever were with anything else.”
Joyce Bruce, Plant Accounting Manager, Mayco Colors

Why Mayco Colors Recommends Vicinity Software with Dynamics 365 Business Central

Enhanced Functionality: The combined solution offers robust production planning, inventory control, and reporting capabilities.
Customization: Vicinity’s team tailors the software to meet Mayco Colors’ specific requirements, addressing their unique industry needs.
Expert Support: Vicinity’s ongoing support ensures Mayco Colors can leverage the system’s full potential and adapt it to its evolving needs.

Future Plans

Mayco Colors is actively collaborating with Vicinity Software to further enhance their solution:

Automated Scheduling: The goal is to achieve fully automated production scheduling, where prioritized work orders are automatically generated based on real-time data.
Capacity Planning: Integrating capacity planning with scheduling will enable Mayco Colors to anticipate potential bottlenecks and proactively adjust processes to ensure smooth production flow.

“Coming from a consulting background, I often advise potential Vicinity clients that the software is powerful, but implementation is crucial. It’s like receiving unassembled furniture – you need expertise to configure it for your specific business processes.
Vicinity’s implementation team excels at understanding your needs and tailoring the solution for success. That’s the real value proposition.”
Kevin brennan, director of it, Mayco Colors

Conclusion

This partnership exemplifies the power of innovative solutions and dedicated support. Vicinity’s ability to customize the MRP process for Mayco Colors’ unique needs, combined with the insightful SONAR reporting system, has streamlined operations and ensured efficient inventory management.

As Joyce, Plant Accounting Manager at Mayco Colors, highlights, the ongoing collaboration with Vicinity Software allows them to continuously evolve and adapt their system. This future-proof approach ensures Mayco Colors can meet the ever-changing demands of the art and craft industry.