TR Inox, a company specializing in Marine Metal Fabrication for the marine industry, has chosen Azerouno’s Concept management software to optimize its production process. A digitization path that has enabled the company to reduce waste, increase competitiveness and respond more quickly to the needs of shipyards.
Efficiently managing production in a complex and highly customized industry such as marine metalwork requires not only technical expertise, but also Digital Manufacturing Solutions capable of optimizing every phase of work, from quotation to delivery. When the number of orders grows, along with the variety of custom-made components – it becomes essential to have a management system capable of supporting the organization in a comprehensive and flexible manner.
This is precisely the path taken by TR Inox, a company active since 2002 and specialized in Sheet Metal Production for the marine sector.
From small boats to large yachts
TR Inox has over more than 20 years of operation and is specialized in the manufacture of stainless-steel tanks and aluminum brackets, as well as a wide range of deck steel work: pulpits, bollards, fairleads, and other exterior fittings.
To support this growth, the company has invested not only in a fleet of state-of-the-art machinery – including fiber laser cutters for sheets and tubes, bending presses, robotic welding cells, CNC milling machines, and automatic pickling and electropolishing systems – but also in Custom ERP Software capable of integrating and coordinating the entire production process.
A software designed to work with sheet metal and tube
In 2021, the company chose Concept, the ERP developed by Azerouno, as its core management tool.
“We already had a management software in place, but it was limited, used by only a few people, and was not able to support the growth and organizational complexity we were facing,” says Alessandro Fedele, Operations and Technical Office manager.
The choice matured after a careful evaluation, during which different software was compared through dedicated demos: Concept turned out to be the best suited to meet the specific needs of a specialized carpentry company like TR Inox. “The software was designed precisely for those who work with Sheet Metal Production, who know the issues and how to optimize workflows,” points out Fedele.
The transition to Concept
The introduction of Concept was not just about replacing a management system but initiated a real complete overhaul of the company’s information system.
“We asked Azerouno which CAD/CAM software would be compatible and fully integrable with the ERP, in order to create a well-organized and pre-established interconnection,” explains Alessandro Fedele. “A few names were suggested to us, and from there we started building the entire software ecosystem around Concept. We took the same approach for the administrative software: we started with Concept and, step by step, we populated the entire software park that we use in the company today.”
A gradual and continuous implementation
The adoption of Concept in the company has been and continues to be, a gradual process. Over time, various modules and add-ons have been integrated and the software has been adapted to actual operational needs.
The platform today manages the document side—from order entry to the issuance of Bills of Lading and invoices—as well as interfacing with CAD/CAM software for flat laser cutting, with the goal of extending integration to tube cutting as well. Added to this are administrative and quality management, as well as Concept/MES for production, time tracking and warehouse management.
“It is a process of continuous evolution, partly because Azerouno is never standing still and is always extremely responsive to changes and innovations. It always offers us new versions of Concept/ERP with extremely interesting features to optimize our work.”
A solution for every need
More specifically, TR Inox has adopted Concept/ERP, the flagship of the Concept suite that allows it to effectively organize and manage all areas of work: from quotations to logistics, from production to after-sales.
It has then flanked a series of strategic modules such as CAD/CAM integration, the Quality module for managing non-conformities, machine maintenance, and test reports, the 3D CAD Interface module for importing BOMs from 3D models, and the Tube and Profile Warehouse module for managing stock of bars and tubular materials. The Planning module for workload management was also implemented. Completing the platform, TR Inox integrated packing list management via mobile devices.
Support and customization
The support provided by Azerouno proved to be one of the key elements, both in the start-up phase and in day-to-day management.
“The support is quick and very concrete. Even in case of specific requests, such as changes on prints or flow optimizations, they have always supported us in a very short time.”
Added to this is the willingness to develop tailored solutions: each customization request is evaluated together with the development team, which proposes solutions compatible with the system architecture. “They have never limited themselves to proposing a standard solution but have always tried to understand our way of working in order to best adapt the software to our specific needs,” stresses Alessandro Fedele.
“This approach has allowed us to integrate Concept effectively into our organization. And it is not just a matter of software, but also of people. Our sales contact person is very present, ready to provide us with assistance, advice, customized solutions. A few months ago, we had one of their consultants in the company, and having explained to him our needs at the production flow level, he not only optimized the software, but, thanks to his IT skills, also provided us with complementary solutions that facilitated us a lot. This also makes a difference.”
Azerouno also supported TR Inox with dedicated training. “The training was continuous and very practical, structured to accompany both the technical department and the administration step by step. It was not just theoretical lectures, but operational shadowing, so that each department was truly autonomous in the daily use of the software.”
Tailored solutions for carpentry
According to TR Inox, one of Concept’s strengths lies in its architecture, specifically designed from the outset to meet the needs of Marine Metal Fabrication companies. “The typical challenges faced by those working with sheet metal and tubes – such as scrap management or complex BOMs – are well understood by those who developed Concept and have already been addressed effectively,” stresses Alessandro Fedele.
The adoption of Concept has brought concrete results, both in terms of production control and quality of service offered to customers.
With its traceability system, barcode integration, and automatic issuance of documentation such as Bills of Lading and packing lists, TR Inox can ensure orderly, transparent, and accurate management of its products, improving communication with shipyards as well.
“With the old management system we couldn’t get the overall workflow under control, the data was fragmented. Thanks to Concept we now have a clear, real-time overview of everything that happens in the company, from orders to production, and this has improved our competitiveness and the level of service for customers,” concludes Alessandro Fedele.
Software Usability
Concept also stands out for its high software usability, which allows operators intuitive access to the necessary functions, reducing learning time and limiting the possibility of error.
This combination of reliability, accuracy, serviceability and usability has been a determining factor for TR Inox in maintaining high quality standards and meeting the timelines required by the marine market, which is increasingly oriented toward customized and Smart Factory Marine solutions.
