Applied Physics Technologies Selects OptiProERP to Help with Expansion

March 30th, 2021 by OptiProERP

Applied Physics Technologies Selects OptiProERP to Help with Expansion

March 30th, 2021 by OptiProERP

APTech Streamlines Operations with Modern ERP to Prep for Expansion into New Product Lines

Applied Physics Technologies selects OptiProERP — A subsidiary of Hitachi, APTech specializes in thermionic and field emission cathodes for microscopes and 3D printers. Its customers include GE and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Laguna Hills, CA – March 30, 2021 – Applied Physics Technologies, a world leader in the design and manufacturing of thermionic and field emission cathodes for microscopes and 3D printers, plans to deploy OptiProERP to streamline operations and expand into new markets, said President and CEO Marcus Straw, Ph. D.

OptiProERP provides a one-stop-shop Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution that gives manufacturers’ complete control of and visibility into business processes from start to finish. As the first OEM partner in SAP’s global PartnerEdge Program, OptiProERP’s industry-specific solution is embedded into SAP Business One’s core ERP and financial modules.

“OptiProERP is an established provider with lots of knowledge, experience and best practices we can leverage, said Straw. We liked that OptiProERP uses SAP, which our parent company uses, albeit an enterprise version, and that OptiProERP has an internal implementation team – no third parties.”
– Marcus Straw, President and CEO, Applied Physics Technologies

A subsidiary of Hitachi based in McMinnville and Hillsboro, Oregon, Applied Physics Technologies (APTech) specializes in thermionic and field emission cathodes, refractory materials and custom device systems. At its manufacturing facility in McMinnville, APTech grows single crystals of refractory metals, LaB6/CeBix, and transition metal carbides, then etches, mounts and assembles cathodes and cathode assemblies.

Unlike its competitors that only offer off-the-shelf cathodes, APTech’s R&D team works closely with partners to create customized and specialized cathodes for specific applications and conditions. Its customers include Thermo Fisher Scientific, parent company Hitachi, and additive manufacturing firms such as GE, which uses APTech’s products to 3D print airplane parts.

The company runs on disconnected and now outdated and unsupported systems including Sage ERP and IQMS as its MRP, causing redundancies and double entry of data. Given its growth, APTech now needed a modern and more complete system.

“Our ERP (Sage) and MRP (IQMS) didn’t talk to another, and we used ways of connecting them that were byzantine, bespoke and handmade,” said Straw. “As a result, we had tons of redundancy, we were entering things twice. That process was full of errors and caused extra work for everyone.”

ERP Selection and Decision

APTech reviewed other ERP systems before selecting OptiProERP with SAP Business One.

“OptiProERP is an established provider with lots of knowledge, experience and best practices we can leverage,” said Straw. “We liked that OptiProERP uses SAP, which our parent company uses, albeit an enterprise version, and that OptiProERP has an internal implementation team – no third parties.”

He also liked the product’s ease of use, scalability, and that it provides the company with a modern manufacturing platform.

Single Platform for Future Growth

After OptiProERP is deployed, Straw looks forward to streamlining processes, the time savings that come when operating within a single system, and the system helping to keep a clear division of staff and new roles as the company grows and adds more employees.

“In order to capture the growth we are expecting and to evolve into a larger company, we need to have systems and applications like OptiProERP in place to help us operate more efficiently,” Straw said.

For more information about Applied Physics Technologies, visit http://a-p-tech.com.

About OptiProERP

OptiProERP is an industry-leading ERP solution for manufacturing and distribution. OptiProERP delivers best-in-class industry functionality embedded into SAP Business One, the market-leading business management platform for small and midsize enterprises. Customers gain an end-to-end business management solution, including financials, accounting, sales, CRM, and industry-specific functionality that fully leverages deep industry expertise of over 20 years dedicated to serving manufacturers and distributors.

OptiProERP is an eWorkplace Manufacturing solution. eWorkplace Manufacturing is SAP’s strategic industry partner for manufacturing and distribution and its first OEM partner as part of SAP’s global PartnerEdge Program. Serving manufacturers and distributors for over 20 years with OptiProERP and BatchMaster as its two ERP solutions, eWorkplace Manufacturing has gained the trust of over 3,000 customers globally.