LeoStella makes aerospace industry breakthrough with Plex Manufacturing Cloud
LeoStella, a state-of-the-art satellite design and manufacturing company, gains enterprise visibility, component traceability and floor shop capabilities through implementation of Plex Manufacturing Cloud.
Client background
Seattle-based LeoStella is a state-of-the-art small satellite design and manufacturing company, revolutionizing constellation construction by building small satellites (smallsats) cost-effectively and at scale. The company was founded to meet the growing demand for efficient satellite design and manufacturing for the growing number of constellations.
The business challenge
The joint venture company, which launched less than a year prior, was looking for an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that would provide structured, comprehensive enterprise visibility, ensure component traceability and exceptional shop floor capabilities. LeoStella executives wanted an ERP system that would offer deep BOM structures, detailed routings and financial flexibility. With growing scalability requirements LeoStella selected the Plex Manufacturing Cloud platform and partnered with Baker Tilly to meet the challenges of this implementation, which included the Plex Manufacturing Cloud’s UX functional enhancements.
The Baker Tilly approach
Baker Tilly leveraged its deep industry process insights throughout the complex implementation of the Plex Manufacturing Cloud. They collaborated with LeoStella executives and core implementation team to road map a Business Process Management (BPM) structure that would provide total visibility into their organization. As a leading and accredited Plex implementation partner with years of experience, including ERP structure analysis, management consulting and client relations, Baker Tilly worked with LeoStella to map their business processes into the Plex Manufacturing Cloud. This included:
- Creating new business processes for the satellite production facility and the entire enterprise
- Deploying the Plex Manufacturing Cloud’s UX environment across the entire organization
- Providing extensive training tailored specifically to LeoStella’s business processes
- Developing a detailed financial and accounting structure that would align with their current and future business models
The business impact
The innovative, on-time and under budget Plex Manufacturing Cloud implementation was successfully rolled out across the entire enterprise at LeoStella. Team members are able to strategically perform their respective operational duties with the assistance of Plex’s data sharing that supports multiple functions interlinked through different business units. Improvements include:
- 95% inventory accuracy across the shop floor generated through Plex’s inventory tracking and management capabilities.
- Cradle to grave serial number traceability
- High visibility quality control plans utilizing Plex’s extensive quality modules.
- Full kitting capabilities and improved BOM visibility through process routing allows engineers to better manage material consumption.
- Increased production efficiency through scan to load work centers that are configured to allow for financial traceability, which provides increased visibility to current and future smallsat production profitability margins.
- Plex generated financial and production reporting capabilities.
Breanna Tuttle, Production Manager, LeoStellaOne of the great things about starting a new company is getting to decide how we will operate and conduct business. With their manufacturing process insights, ERP structure analysis, and creative thinking during collaboration with the LeoStella team, Baker Tilly was a valued partner in setting up our processes and systems so we will have success in our current and future activities.
For more information on this topic, or to learn how Baker Tilly specialists can help, contact our team.