DriveWorks CPQ software helps Maglin Site Furniture operate efficiently and win more business
DriveWorks enables Maglin Site Furniture to accurately configure custom products, calculate pricing, and automatically create documents and data for sales and manufacturing.
In September 2024, automation experts from DriveWorks and Javelin (part of the TriMech Group of companies) hosted in-person events in three locations in Ontario, Canada. Attendees of the “CPQ DriveWorks Automation and Innovation Summits” heard about advancements in technology designed to streamline processes and increase profitability for Maglin Site Furniture.
A robust CPQ (configure, price, quote) system is an essential tool for manufacturers offering a variety of configurable product options, such as heavy machinery, high tech, textiles, or furniture.
DriveWorks enables users to accurately configure custom products, calculate pricing, and automatically create documents and data for sales and manufacturing. And its rules-based SOLIDWORKS® automation eliminates errors and time-consuming design changes.
Client success
Javelin client Maglin Site Furniture has more than 35 years of experience in creating extraordinary furniture for public gathering spaces. Since 2016, its team has witnessed the DriveWorks CPQ platform’s transformative effects on its operations – some anticipated and others unexpected.
At the summits, Maglin presenters Nathasha Cherian, Product Configuration Specialist; Aaron Dawson, Director of Manufacturing; and Chung Kim, Engineering Systems Manager explained that with support from Javelin, Maglin continues to advance how it uses DriveWorks and to unlock new advantages.
Complex, built-to-order manufacturing
Maglin works with landscape architects and site contractors and provides custom outdoor site furniture, including benches, tables and seating, waste containers, bike racks, panels, planters, and sunshades.
The team uses DriveWorks to help manage design and manufacturing of its modular products, which consist of dozens of elements that can be customized for aesthetic and functional purposes.
Easy and transparent for customers
Maglin customers can customize several product lines to their specifications on the company’s website and can clearly visualize what they are about to buy – often without spending any time with the sales team.
DriveWorks software calculates pricing in real-time based on selected configurations, considering material costs, manufacturing complexity, and any relevant discounts or promotions. This ensures accurate pricing and transparency, removes manual calculations, and speeds up the sales cycle.
Maglin wins projects because of excellent user experience and fast service. Most products are ready to ship in six to eight weeks, in about half the time offered by competitors.
From challenges to solutions
1. Far less time spent on approval drawings
A built-to-order environment makes the customer approval stage a critical step in avoiding delays and waste.
Before using DriveWorks to power an online product configurator, Maglin designers spent weeks creating drawings to suit customer selections. The Ogden product line, with its various seat and back types, color options, and slat directions, has a total of 82,560 possible configurations! After creating layout drawings for approval, designers spent additional time going back and forth with the customer to refine the drawings.
Today, customers or sales representatives generate drawings automatically when they configure the product to their wishes. Both simplified dummy models and appealing customer-facing layouts are generated.
What previously took two weeks now takes only 20 minutes, and customers and salespeople can even edit their own layouts without interacting with the engineering team. That team can now focus on creative pursuits and developing new products, rather than on minor design adjustments.
2. Correct details in production drawings
Maglin designers once used a master SOLIDWORKS model, created manually for the Ogden series, but human error sometimes led to small discrepancies in details like hole size and location or material thickness. Today, DriveWorks pulls the information directly from the database, avoiding errors and delays.
Overall, DriveWorks Autopilot has cut production drawing processing time in half, while all the necessary checkpoints remain in place.
3. Smoother integration of SOLIDWORKS data into the ERP system
Entering engineering and manufacturing data (such as the BOM) into the ERP system used to be a cumbersome process with room for error. Now that process is semi-automated. Only 11 manual-entry fields remain, while DriveWorks fills about 200 fields automatically.
Deeper understanding of shipping and storage needs
DriveWorks is linked to Maglin’s freight partner’s database, so even shipping details are generated automatically.
The Pixel product line consists of building blocks that can be mixed and stacked. When model numbers and quantities are entered, the configurator calculates the number of boxes needed. Add the destination postal code in the shipper’s system, and you get the shipping price instantly.
Ogden benches
Maglin also discovered they can ship three times the number of Ogden benches per container than they once did, increasing the profitability of this product line.
DriveWorks has contributed to better inventory management and a reduced need for warehouse space. Maglin’s space requirements levelled off, even though sales were growing. That’s because materials arrive and go to straight to works in progress – they don’t sit on shelves.
Inspiring a new approach to product development
With DriveWorks providing a solid foundation, Maglin designers can think freely about what can be done with existing and future product lines. They don’t limit their thinking because they can take almost any creative design successfully through to manufacturing – and to a beautiful space near you.
Maglin is online at maglin.com. To learn more about DriveWorks, reach out to our automation experts.
