Kewill Micross Plc’s manufacturing application development company Kewill Micross has decided it’s high time it updated its manufacturing control system, and has finally released its first Windows version. The company first launched the Micross product in 1980 and it has seen little change since then. It has, however, seen relative success -Kewill claims it is the most popular product of its kind in the UK. Micross for Windows is a 32-bit system running on Windows 95 and NT, and incorporates an open database, open database communication, object relational embedding and dynamic data exchange. The company believes that a familiar Windows interface will provide users with a simple, easy-to-use application, and has paid particular attention to graphical operation. The sales ordering screen looks like an invoice, making it easily recognizable, as does the purchase ordering screen, the only difference being that it is pink. The user can click on a particular area on the ‘invoice’ to access separate Windows, enabling the input or alteration of data. The product took around four years to develop, but managing director John Reader said it was an essential progression. He said, If we don’t accept the new opportunity, then we’re dead. Kewill has identified the importance of the Internet and corporate Intranets in the future, but said it will not commit to Java as a way of establishing Internet integration because, according to Reader, it may not be the answer. Looks like, once again, the company could end up years behind the field in its choice of technology, unless it knows something about Java that no-one else does. Reader believes that 10- 20% of product sales in the first year will come from existing users looking to upgrade. The company will continue to support and implement the existing Micross product, but said that it will be offering incentives to users, urging them to upgrade to Micross for Windows.
