What can Sungate do?
Sungate is a consistent further development of the
time-proven fentec industry software for window and
door construction, assembly and the trade from Sungate Systems (former
High Level Software), Germany. It contains modules for elaborating
quotations, sales orders, production and scheduling in addition to
a number of special-purpose modules. The individual modules can be
used independently of each other.
Sungate runs under the operating systems Windows 95/98/ME
Windows NT/2000 and Windows XP and is currently available in English,
Chinese, Norwegian, Greek and German. It can be used as a single-user
or multi-user system in networks running Windows 2000, NT, Novell
or LINUX. It is possible to integrate it with other databases.
Sungate can be used for all profiles, fittings and window
types in the PVC and the aluminium sector and can be tailored individually
to the special needs of the individual user. The "Production Control"
module can be used to automatically control virtually any production
machines and approx. 50 machining modes. Control via lists is also
available as an option. All elements can be assigned to the window
types via module parts lists. This allows comprehensive scheduling
and basic cost estimates even for the smallest units.
Sungate will make your day-to-day work particularly
easy thanks to its user-friendly features.
The full version of Sungate covers virtually all requirements
of a window construction company. The most important program elements
are presented in brief below.
Parameter control
One important strength of Sungate is the comprehensive
control on the basis of parameters. This means that almost all technical
dimensions and assignments are not stored in the program but can be
managed by the user himself in the master data.
This renders the program entirely profile and fitting-independent.
For instance, the user can define his own profiles, switch to a different
profile system, use fittings of various suppliers or assign new security
fittings to individual opening types, to name but a few practical
examples.
Of course, Sungate Systems will be more than willing
to make the basic settings for you if you wish so.
Element types
Sungate allows you to process virtually any conventional
PVC and aluminium element, ranging from tilt-and-turn windows through
sliding windows, balcony doors and lifting-sliding doors to building
entrance doors and house doors. Inclined elements and elements with
semicircular arches are possible, besides rectangular elements.
Using the Free Design function, the user can,
himself, create the element types, which he produces as prototypes,
and use these prototypes when elaborating sales orders.
Opening types, fitting types
The opening types (e.g. left-hung tilt-and-turn, right-hand sash,
left-hung building entrance door/house door) describe the situation
at the sash. They can be extended as required by the user.
They primarily link the element types to the fittings. Fitting groups
are assigned to the individual sash sides as components of the opening
type. On the basis of these groups, the specific fitting articles
can then be determined together with the data from the sales order
(sash rebate dimensions, fitting type).
It is also possible to assign fittings conditionally,
e.g. only for specific security levels or dependent on the fitting
supplier allocated in the sales order.
Production and machine control
The "Production Control" module is the actual
heart of the program and can be used independently of the other modules.
The sales orders can be released for production individually
or in groups. A specific number of elements is combined to form one
lot on the basis of the preset lot size.
The program then automatically determines the required
cutting lengths and cutting angles for all main profiles, ancillary
profiles and reinforcements, if required including a very efficient
best-cut optimisation.
If you work with a fully automatic machining centre,
the program also determines the dimensions for all possible profile
machining operations. Approx. 50 different machining modes can
currently be controlled automatically. A label, with bar
code if required, is printed out for each cut profile and for
the remaining profiles.
The computed data can be either printed out in list
form or transferred automatically to the individual machines (machining
centre, double mitre saw, welding machine or corner cleaning machine
etc.). The data can be transferred online, using diskettes
or with the aid of the bar code on the printed labels.
The following production lists are generated:
- Size cutting list for manual size cutting control
- Size cutting list for reinforcement
- Check-lists for automatic machining
- Welding list
- Production order
Order management -technical
If only the production module is used, the user
need only enter the technical data of the sales order, such as element
type, dimensions, profiles and fitting version. The profile and fitting
data is created once per sales order and can then be adopted in the
items or changed.
The stored prototypes can simply be fetched when
elaborating the quotation/sales order or can be adapted to the special
customer requirements using the Free Design function.
Depending on customer requirements, various security
levels for the fitting can be assigned to the sales order items.
The program thus detects automatically what and how many fitting parts
are required for the element. Fittings or profiles of different
manufacturers can also be used in parallel.
Depending on the production method, various additional
objects can also be assigned to the individual items, such as
broader frames, roller shutter casings, drainage method or attachment
method. These are then used if necessary for controlling the machining
centre.
Either the pure frame dimensions or the element
dimensions including broadening options can be entered. In the
latter case, the frame dimensions are computed automatically from
the deduction dimensions of the connection points.
Quotation and sales order management -commercial
If the commercial module is used, data such as
discount, payment method and agent etc. is transferred from the customer
master to the sales order but can also be changed there.
It is possible to create price lists for Sales
Department and Purchasing Department and assign them to the elements,
glass types or components. There are also surcharges for colours,
special types of glass and sash bars etc. On the basis of this, the
program automatically determines and suggests a price. You can then
change this price if necessary.
Discounts can either be listed on the invoices
or be deducted directly from the price.
You can then check whether all the entries are correct
using the "check list". It contains all relevant
data from the sales order header, differing data of the items and
the frame and sash dimensions.
The quotation, order confirmation and
invoice can be printed out in Microsoft Word. The program
automatically generates a Word document, which can still be revised
before printing. You can also print sketches as an option for
the individual items.
If you so wish, the invoice data can be transferred
to financial accounting depending on your situation.
Finally, the commission module can be used to elaborate
a commission account, separately on the basis of sales and
handling. The commission rate trend can be controlled with special
parameters.
Basic cost estimate
All required components with their purchase prices can
be assigned to the individual window types, opening types and profiles
using the module parts lists.
On the basis of this and other factors such as overheads
etc., the user can determine the actual costs of individual
window types, using the "Basic Cost Estimate" module
and can use this as the basis for his pricing.
Material scheduling
The "Purchase Order Processing" module allows
you to generate purchase order proposals automatically. For
this purpose, a requirements explosion is run for the entered
sales orders, thus determining the precise requirements right down
to the individual screws, if the master data is updated accordingly.
The requirements can be determined sales order-specifically,
e.g. for articles which are more expensive or which are used only
rarely. Other articles can be ordered in stock, e.g. articles
which are used frequently or which have long delivery times.
The requirements for individual sales orders
can be printed out in order to ensure an adequate capacity in stock
before starting production for instance.
The program optionally also includes a full automatic
stock keeping.
A glass purchase order is generated, with glass
dimensions and information on sash bars in the inter-pane space, for
glass required.
Installation order and subcontractor account
The following can be generated for each customer sales
order with the "Installation" module:
- An installation order,
- A truck loading list and
- A subcontractor's account sheet.
Softwarearchitecture
The DOS and 16-bit Windows version of fentec
have now been joined by Sungate, the 32-bit version for the operating
systems Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT/2000 and Windows XP.
It offers a full-graphics Windows GUI and was developed using the
latest software tools.
It is based on the relational database system developed
by
PROGRESS Software Corporation, Massachusetts, USA,
offering a whole number of important advantages:
- High reliability thanks to a Rollback Recovery System
- Fast access times
- Virtually unlimited storage capabilities
- High flexibility in adapting to new requirements
- Full multi-user capability (Client/Server) when used in networks
with Windows 2000, NT, LINUX and Novell
- Supports all popular languages
- Can be linked to virtually all popular databases
- Worldwide PROGRESS
- Regular updates in line with most recent software developments
Summary
With Sungate and
PROGRESS you acquire products which
- Are reliable
- Are flexible
- Are geared to the future and
- Incorporate state-of-the-art software.
We would be very pleased to demonstrate our product to you so that
you can see for yourself.
