* "What if" physical properties analysis
* Automatic reformulation based on target physical property values and cos
* Comparative properties analysis
* Standard physical properties
* Unlimited custom physical properties definitions
* Search formulas based on physical properties such as VOC, bulking factor, percent pigment, pigment-to-binder ratio, etc. and more
* Vendor quality management
* EDI
* Material Requirements Planning
* Lot tracking by lot number, bin number, expiration date
* Full AP integration
* QC test results entered upon receipt
* Contract management
* Support for formulation and batch size adjustments for ingredient potency
* Monitor Key Performance Indicators for quality variations, price variations, margin variations

Rapid Technological Change

Pigment and color houses, resin suppliers, additive, solvent, and specialty chemical contributors, as well as equipment and application manufacturers are continuing to challenge conventional formulations and manufacturing techniques with new PVC concepts, solubility parameters, and color theory, to name but a few technology drivers. As we break down the rigid barriers of high solids, waterborne, radiation, and powder, it's rich laboratory and formulation development features help our customers fine-tune and adapt these technologies to today's market requirements and pricing objectives. Once those formulations have been developed the software's premier capabilities in production, material planning, and finance assist paint and coatings manufacturers to move these products to market quickly and with minimum wasted motion. Highlights of some of the features that help Sage PFW ERP customers deal with changing coatings technologies:

Rapid Turnaround of Customer Orders

Sage PFW software is specifically designed to allow you to not only to be faster and more accurate in operations but also to be able to react flexibly to customer needs:

"One-stop" order entry providing same screen access to:

* Customer history
* Contract data
* Custom pricing tables
* Production data
* Inventory data
* Substitution data
* Option to launch batch orders from order entry

Advanced material planning features :

* Material shortage analysis wizard
* Seven different methods of automated batch sizing
* Automatic unit of measurement for formulation and batches
* "Backflush" material requisitioning
* "After-the-fact" purchase order processing for expedited purchases
* Option for formulation adjustments on batch ticket
* Automated Material Safety Data Sheet maintenance and printing

Industry Consolidation

The worldwide coatings market is in a process of consolidation. Though growth opportunities are still developing with technology switches driven by environmental considerations, and growth in mature markets is expected to remain inline with the overall economic growth, large companies are increasingly pressuring mid-market companies by combining with competitors. As the provider of Sage PFW, the world's most widely used PC-based process manufacturing solution, Sage Software understands that paint and coating companies need more from an ERP vendor than just a list of features but they also need a business partner that can help them deal with being first on the firing line of industrial consolidation. With over 2.7 million customers worldwide, Sage provides paint and coating manufactures not only world-class products but also world class support, training, financial stability, and technical expertise upon which to grow your business for years to come.