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Makita® Chooses Open Sky Group to Upgrade its JDA WMS and WLM Footprint

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Makita® Chooses Open Sky Group to Upgrade its JDA WMS and WLM Footprint

Disciplined agility approach enables rapid upgrade and fewer modifications for faster ROI and maintenance savings

Open Sky Group today announces that Makita® USA, Inc. (Makita), a global manufacturer of industrial power tools, pneumatics, and power equipment, selected Open Sky Group to manage the upgrade of JDA Warehouse Management and JDA Warehouse Labor Management to the newest versions at four US-based distribution centers. Open Sky Group, a global specialist in JDA software solutions, offers a unique, disciplined agility upgrade approach that enables rapid implementation for a faster return on investment. The upgrade project also involves process improvement, training, and multiple integrations to Makita’s ERP, JDA Parcel Handler, and Logistyx, a multi-carrier parcel management solution.

Makita® had been running JDA solutions for nearly ten years and wanted to take advantage of new functionality, enhanced configurability, web-based interface, and real-time dashboards available in the newest versions of JDA Warehouse Management and JDA Warehouse Labor Management. Open Sky Group will work with Makita to roll out the supply chain software upgrades beginning with a facility in Georgia and continuing across California, Illinois, and Texas.

“The upgrade isn’t only an opportunity to benefit from faster and better technologies from JDA, it’s also an opportunity for us to improve our processes and reconfigure the architecture while extending the value we get from our solution investments and ensuring continuity. We like the revisioned, intuitive, user experience in the newest versions of JDA Warehouse Management and we’re looking forward to the increased visibility through the dashboards and reporting with JDA Warehouse Labor Management,” explains Gerald McElwee, Director of IT for Makita.

“Leveraging JDA’s partner network to find a solution provider with the right skills and experience with the newest versions was the next logical step,” continued McElwee. “We chose Open Sky Group as our upgrade partner because of their extensive experience with the newest versions of JDA software, strong technical expertise, and rapid upgrade methodology.”

Jason Yantiss, VP of Client Services, Open Sky Group says, “The newest versions of JDA Warehouse Management and JDA Warehouse Labor Management provide more flexibility through configurable workflows and personalization capabilities, allowing us to accommodate some of Makita’s unique processes without modifying the software. Our low-mods approach and thorough knowledge of the newest versions’ capabilities are also driving a large maintenance cost-savings for our clients through fewer modifications.”

Open Sky Group’s methodology of disciplined agility and rapid implementation spurred the ability to deliver 44 full implementations in 2017, 25 of which were upgrades to JDA Warehouse Management and JDA Warehouse Labor Management. As a gold-level JDA implementation partner, Open Sky Group is committed to gaining expertise in the newest versions of JDA software, ensuring a better fit, smoother upgrade and implementation, and fewer modification to the software for Makita and all of its clients.

Additional Resources:
Discover more about Open Sky Group’s 44 full WMS and Labor implementations in 2017

ABOUT MAKITA
Makita® is a worldwide manufacturer of industrial power tools, pneumatics and power equipment, and offers a wide range of industrial accessories. Makita® U.S.A., Inc. is located in Mirada, California, and operates an extensive distribution network throughout the U.S. Call 800/4-MAKITA or visit makitatools.com.

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Jeremy Hudson

Vice President of Client Services

Jeremy’s focus is on the products and services clients need to stay competitive. Open Sky Group’s mission is to deliver technology-enabled solutions that allow our customers to achieve more while having the flexibility to adapt to change. Jeremy lives the core values and mission by bringing the best experience possible to our clients. He is an essential member of implementation teams, working alongside clients, and encouraging them to use innovation and best practices instead of customizations for success.

Jason Yantiss

Vice President of Client Services

Jason provides leadership to a variety of teams focused on implementation and integration. With 27+ years of experience holding operational and technical management roles in transportation, billing, and warehousing across a vast array of industry verticals, Jason is adept at driving multiple complex projects, understanding customer needs at all levels of the operation and providing viable solutions. Jason’s resume of 150+ implementation projects include Warehouse, Labor, Transportation, Yard Management and multiple AR/AP Freight Pay and Customer Billing systems. 

Eric McPherson

Vice President of Client Services

Mac works to oversee implementation and integration projects. A former Marine officer and military police officer, he brings over 27 years of supply chain experience, including 11 years at Blue Yonder in both delivery and service sales. Mac is a dedicated, team-oriented professional with a background in business management, professional services, customer service, and supply chain technology. His specialties include sales support, supply chain execution systems, project management, fulfillment operations, distribution operations, and GSA contracts.

Shannon Caflisch

Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Shannon is responsible for the strategy and management of all sales, business development, and marketing programs. With over 25 years of sales experience and 15 years focused in the supply chain space, Shannon focuses on building strong relationships with clients and partners and strives to deliver the right software solutions to help conquer supply chain challenges. Shannon believes in learning by listening to understand clients’ goals, struggles, and what is important to their business to build lasting, successful relationships.

Alan Prillaman

Senior Vice President of Client Services

As Senior VP of Client Services, Alan oversees all consulting services and account management at Open Sky Group. Possessing over 30 years of combined industry and consulting experience, Alan leverages his unique background in IT, logistics, quality management systems, manufacturing and distribution operations, and facility and strategic account management to provide clients with creative resolutions to complex challenges. His core philosophy and passion are to deliver tangible value for and establish long-term trusted partnerships with our clients.

Mike Noble

Senior Vice President of Technology

As Senior Vice President of Technology, Mike leads Open Sky Group’s Managed Services, Software Services, Infrastructure Services, and Information Technology teams bringing 35+ years of experience in Supply Chain Execution and Information Technology. Mike and his teams ensure we maintain the highest levels of customer service in a secure and reliable environment, constantly reviewing and evaluating new technologies, their appropriateness and applicability so we can safely and securely transact our own business – and help our clients accomplish the same.

Chad Kramlich

CEO

Joining Open Sky Group in 2015, Chad, served as Chief Revenue Officer for three years prior to his appointment to CEO in 2022. With over 25 years of experience delivering results for high-growth software and consulting organizations, Chad is leveraging his background in building efficient and effective implementation teams, establishing high-impact services operations, achieving revenue growth, and deepening executive-level client relations to help propel Open Sky Group into a very successful future.

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