Katana gives System76 the real-time overview they need to manage production scheduling and scale their manufacturing operations effectively. With the help of Katana, their team spends 50% less time on admin while boosting production efficiency by 80%.
We knew we needed something more than just a spreadsheet but we didn't like the idea of paying a crazy amount for a huge system that we would not fully use. Katana was simplistic and answered what we needed without a ton of fluff or other elements that we did not need.
System76 is a computer manufacturer based in Denver, Colorado, specializing in Linux-based laptops, desktops, and servers. The company is an advocate for free and open-source software, offering either Ubuntu or their own Ubuntu-based Linux distribution, Pop!_OS, as the default operating system.
Widely regarded as the gold standard in Linux-based computing, System76 offers a unique combination of purpose-engineered hardware and software optimized for its machines. This and a focus on customizability make System76 highly regarded among developers and technology professionals.
Before Katana, System76 took the usual route of using spreadsheets to manage their manufacturing business. While spreadsheets are an excellent tool for and micro-manufacturers, once the company grows and introduces new products, materials, and employees, following all the moving parts in a spreadsheet becomes time-consuming and error-prone.
Like any rapidly growing tech manufacturer, System76 experienced difficulties following the stock movement throughout the production process and scheduling shop floor tasks effectively. Plus, the time spent on manual spreadsheet updates made it challenging to focus on what mattered. They decided to look for a software tool that would make it easier to:
Like many Katana users, System76 outgrew spreadsheets once they started scaling, and what was once a great tool become too complex to manage. So they began looking for a manufacturing ERP that would handle the complexities of computer manufacturing.
Many ERP solutions on the market were too costly and difficult to implement, and lower-cost alternatives only offered stock management and lack manufacturing modules. So when System76 came across Katana, their Director of Production Logistics, Sarah Zinger, was relieved that Katana provided everything they needed and more without the hefty costs.
We knew we needed something more than just a spreadsheet but we didn’t like the idea of paying a crazy amount for a huge system that we would not fully use […] Having a system track inventory and what stage it is in has been incredibly helpful. It also has helped our team have a more clear delineation of the order of operations for each product in our catalog.
Since switching to Katana, System76 got the visibility they needed in a platform that was both easy to use and easy to integrate with the other services they used. They were able to track stock movements throughout the entire production process from components to finished product and prioritize operations using Katana’s Shop Floor App and bill of materials (BOM) features.
With the help of Katana, their team was able to:
Electronics and high tech manufacturers use Katana to align their sales and production with one easy-to-use platform. Katana keeps track of demand to automatically adjust your production schedule according to resources and deadlines. And features like batch tracking help electronics manufacturers stay compliant and manage quality assurance processes with ease.
Learn more about Katana’s features and how they help manufacturers get a live look at their business.
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