Customer stories


SIP Corporation

Specialized manufacturer of grinding equipment discovers new ease in database development with FileMaker Pro 8

Specialized equipment for a specialized clientele – SIP Corporation makes it their mission. The Simplex Ideal Peerless reel grinder is standard equipment at fine golf courses nationwide like Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida, ensuring a keen cutting edge on the mowers used to keep the greens in trim. Specialized databases are an important part of the behind-the-scenes equipment at SIP headquarters – databases performing more efficiently than ever thanks to the enhancements found in FileMaker Pro 8.


Business Challenge

Based in Tampa, Florida, SIP Corporation manufactures a full range of specialized reel grinders under the Simplex Ideal Peerless mark, providing effective sharpening equipment to suit every course and every demand. The grinders are sold through an international dealer network serviced by three regional sales managers – all of which is achieved with a small, dedicated workforce. "We have to manufacture a broad range of complicated machines using what large companies call vertical integration and just-in-time inventory," comments company president Mark Pilger. "We need to know what costs are and where they are, so we can identify those areas where we can most easily reduce our costs and stay competitive with larger companies. We also need to be able to effectively market our products to a fairly small but sophisticated market."

SIP Corporation learned the value of FileMaker Pro nearly a decade ago – starting out with FileMaker Pro 3 and moving through each successive upgrade since. "FileMaker Pro was the first relational database that could handle multilevel bills of material without any complicated programming," Mark notes. And, he says, that advantage continues – with important new enhancements in the new FileMaker Pro 8.


Successful Solution

Two important FileMaker Pro databases make up the system at SIP Corporation. The first and largest database, is a high-powered inventory management application, which handles purchasing, invoicing, and labor-tracking throughout the manufacturing process. Over 24 discrete files are combined to make up this system, containing hundreds of thousands of individual records.

The second database is more specialized. It contains full product data, illustrations, and even QuickTime movie demonstration files, all of which are drawn upon to create customized multimedia sales brochures, generated on compact disc for distribution through dealers.


Customer Benefits

After almost a decade of efficient, reliable service at SIP Corporation, the daily benefits of FileMaker Pro can almost be taken for granted – easy access to vital operating data, a user-friendly interface, rapid report generation, even simple file sharing. But with the introduction of FileMaker Pro 8, SIP users are discovering a new world of benefits.

Perhaps the most important of these is the improved ease of development, as the company's database system evolves to meet the needs of an ever-expanding operation. Mark's original database, grew rapidly with the passing years – adding enhanced security features, smoother data entry, and greater functionality. But eventually he decided to begin a full rebuild from-scratch to take full advantage of all FileMaker Pro's new features. "The ability to duplicate scripts, tables and fields has saved me countless hours of development time. I can now deliver custom databases in half the time it would normally take.”

Mark admits he is only beginning to explore the full scope of the capabilities of FileMaker Pro 8, and he relishes the opportunity to bring this powerful application into daily use, emphasizing, "FileMaker Pro is an integral part of our business."


"The ability to duplicate scripts, tables and fields has saved me countless hours of development time. I can now deliver custom databases in half the time it would normally take."

Mark Pilger, President, SIP Corporation



Contact information

Contact Info for Customer:

Mark Pilger
President
SIP Corporation
813-884-8300
mcp@sipgrinder.com
http://www.sipgrinder.com


Filemaker Contact:

Kevin Mallon
Public Relations Manager
FileMaker Inc.
408-987-7227
kevin_mallon@filemaker.com
http://www.filemaker.com


Overview
  • Manufacturer of grinding apparatus used in the sharpening of precision mowing equipment
  • Approximately 20 employees
Industry
  • Information Technology
  • Manufacturing
Solutions
  • FileMaker Pro 8 databases provide detailed inventory and cost-accounting services, and also power sales brochure production.
Benefits
  • Essential information on vendor accounts, sales, and current inventory is readily available.
  • Product information database allows easy creation of customized, eye-catching multimedia promotional materials.
  • Improved ease-of-operation in FileMaker Pro 8 allows development of new database functions in a fraction of the time required in previous versions.