Making the switch to ProShop - who has advice?

[superbeau]

After reviewing the notes on my previous thread about ERP options, talking offline to a few people, and watching some demos... we are going to make the switch from JobBoss^2 to ProShop. The final selling point for me was when I asked about other local shops that use ProShop. They sent me a list of references and I contacted two similar shops within 10 minutes of me. One of them invited me over the next day and were very generous to show me how they previously used EPICOR and had made the switch to ProShop. Their workflow was 95% paperless and it was super impressive to see two PC monitors at each machine in their shop. One screen had the part print, all labeled with bubbles corresponding to notes, and the other screen was split between that employee's ProShop schedule and this shop's Excel-based tool data tracker. The owners kept raving about how great it is an how they were so glad they switched. I have never talked to a JobBoss user with this kind of enthusiasm! I talked to others who had a similar setup with the screens and mini-PC's connected by WiFi. The graphics on the software looked a little... tired... but as long as the functionality is there, and I can truly go paperless, then we're in.

Ok, that all being said, I would greatly appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, feedback, advice, etc. from those who have made the jump into ProShop. If you've done it and are willing to share your tips and tricks and experiences, it would be a huge help. I know this is going to be a big project so I'll take all the help you're willing to offer!

Thanks in advance...

 

[cj.abraham]

They will pair you with an implementation specialist they believe will work best with you. Take the training seriously. At first it will be like drinking water through a fire hose because ProShop is wider than it is deep, you need to know a little of everything to see how it all ties together. The implementation will be successful if you do all of the tasks their way first (They have an extremely thorough wiki with videos for just about everything).

 

[superbeau]

The implementation will be successful if you do all of the tasks their way first.

Thank you for the advice! I will definitely follow their instructions to get started. Did you find that you had to do a lot of tweaking or work-arounds after the implementation was complete?

 

[96Jack]

I can't recommend ProShop enough. We switched from JobBoss in 2018 and it's been a game changer for us especially on the scheduling side of things. For reference we are smaller shop, 15 employees & 11 machines.

If you do any aerospace work or plan on it in the future I highly recommend their "Flying start package". It's made audits extremely easy, and every auditor I've worked with was extremely impressed with ProShop.

I do agree that the software looks a bit "tired", but they are constantly releasing updates and improving this.

My biggest suggestion is take your time and be thorough. Initially setting up all your repeat-parts in proshop and is going to be quite a bit of work, but after you do it once you won't have to do it again.

 

[superbeau]

My biggest suggestion is take your time and be thorough. Initially setting up all your repeat-parts in proshop and is going to be quite a bit of work, but after you do it once you won't have to do it again.

Thank you for the feedback! That is super helpful. What type of computers did you deploy into the shop, and did you put one at every machine?

 

[cj.abraham]

Thank you for the advice! I will definitely follow their instructions to get started. Did you find that you had to do a lot of tweaking or work-arounds after the implementation was complete?

It's not that workarounds are needed, it's that there might be a specific way ProShop wants certain things handled. For example, there is a way blanket PO's ought to be done in ProShop, so do it their way.

 

[superbeau]

It's not that workarounds are needed, it's that there might be a specific way ProShop wants certain things handled. For example, there is a way blanket PO's ought to be done in ProShop, so do it their way.

Good point, thank you!

 

[RX Industries]

We use Minix fanless mini PC and two Specture(?) 24” monitors at every machine. Cheap and works great. Mice get beat up, so we spend very little money on them.

 

[superbeau]

We use Minix fanless mini PC and two Specture(?) 24” monitors at every machine. Cheap and works great. Mice get beat up, so we spend very little money on them.

That's very helpful, thank you @RX Industries !

 

[nmachine]

WHat is a rough cost on this if I may ask. We moved away from jobboss a few months back and currently looking for something different.

 

[superbeau]

If you go with the high end options it's about $20k upfront, including their ISO/AS quality management system. Then figure about another $3-5k to get PC terminals at every machine, more WiFi routers, label printers, rolling PC stands, etc. depending on the size of your shop. After that it's comparable to JobBoss from a monthly basis.

 

[cmsi_kpg333]

I'll back what CJ said. DO NOT try to buck the ProShop system. If what you are doing now isn't working, why would you want to try and convert Proshop back to your old way. Use Proshop the way it was intended. We tried to do things our own way early on and then eventually found ourselves switching things to the Proshop way. These guys have actual experience in machine shops and built the software from within a shop. Get on the forum, ask questions. plenty of support on there as well.

The help center is FULL of knowledge. Do not take it for granted and click on all of those help icons when you want to know how something works in the system.

 

[NikoB43]

One pitfall I noticed when ProShop was being implemented at the shop where I used to work involved the rollout for... more seasoned machinists on the floor. If you have technology resistant employees entering data and navigating the system it may be helpful to prepare click by click walkthrough sheets that they can have at their station.
The system is not overly complicated but the user interface can be intimidating to those who do not utilize computers beyond email communication.
Otherwise I really like ProShop and find it to be an excellent way to tie your entire process together and begin data driven management. Just remember: Garbage in, garbage out when it comes to aggregating and analyzing data.