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Inovaxe's supply-chain management and inventory control tools consist of three related products: the INOCART handling system, INOKIT kitting software and INOSOURCE procurement program. They combine business intelligence software with material handling equipment to bridge gaps in traditional MRP/accounting software.

INOCART and INOKIT, for kitting and reloading SMT lines, is a material handling solution that permits numerous package types to be stored in a secure, controlled manner, whether on reels, tubes, feeders or PCBs. The cart and software are said to improve inventory accuracy. Each individual package is given a unique bar-coded location, which is the basis for managing inventory and kitting functions.

INOCART is a mobile bonded stockroom that can be moved throughout the plant. It eliminates the need for caged, bonded stockrooms and permits inventory storage wherever material is actually needed. It comes in sizes of one, two and three bays wide, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,296 packages. It can accept material directly from on the dock, eliminating labor and movement to other stockrooms after receipt. It can be used on the line, permitting material to be loaded directly to the SMT line, eliminating job kitting and staging.

INOKIT software uses a "one package/one location" approach to minimize machine setup, teardown and reloading. It increases SMT machine utilization accuracy and reduces unplanned material shortages by improving inventory accuracy. Users can run a specific MRP scenario based on specified criteria: across all customers or a single customer; across multiple kit selections or a single kit. The customer decides which time frames and time buckets to view, and "what if" scenarios are based on the BoM. By generating kit statuses on-the-fly, users can determine minimum builds and understand excess inventory, material shortages, inventory on hand and RoHS compliance.

The INOSOURCE procurement program pools the corporate purchasing activities of several electronics manufacturers into a large aggregate that enables greater purchasing power while reducing procurement labor costs. All procurement needs are combined under a single umbrella, in accordance with participants' AVLs. It can be used to procure an entire line or manufactured items. It permits access to a network of offshore manufacturers and suppliers. IT can also validate the BoM cost of the customer's current product, and negotiate cost reductions on a piece-part basis.

The equipment and software are available from Inovaxe, inovaxe.com.

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