Mar-Kov Computer Systems > Case Studies > Chinook Seedery: Modernizing Operations and Boosting Profitability with Mar-Kov’s ERP

Chinook Seedery: Modernizing Operations and Boosting Profitability with Mar-Kov’s ERP

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Technology Category
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy - Identity & Authentication Management
  • Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
Applicable Industries
  • Food & Beverage
  • Retail
Applicable Functions
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Sales & Marketing
Use Cases
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Manufacturing Process Simulation
About The Customer
Chinook Seedery is a company founded by Mark Pettyjohn with the aim of providing Americans with the best sunflower seed experience possible. The company was born out of Pettyjohn's desire for a tastier, healthier sunflower seed. However, to keep selling to Chinook’s sunflower seed-afficionados, Mark had to turn his young company into a sustainable business with consistent profits, increased sales, and consistently happy customers. Despite his expertise in creating great sunflower seed snacks, Mark faced challenges in managing his food manufacturing business. The company needed to modernize its operations and improve its business management to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Challenge
Chinook Seedery, a company dedicated to providing the best sunflower seed experience, was facing challenges in managing its food manufacturing business. The company was struggling to maintain consistent profits, increase sales, and keep customers satisfied. The founder, Mark Pettyjohn, had a deep understanding of how to create great sunflower seed snacks, but lacked the necessary knowledge to manage the business side of the operation. The company was in desperate need of real-time, accurate data to base crucial business decisions. Additionally, the company was dealing with issues related to late or incomplete orders, imprecise invoices, and penalties paid to distributors for late orders. These issues were negatively impacting Chinook’s cash flow and customer trust.
The Solution
Chinook Seedery partnered with Kraig Schexnayder, an entrepreneur and systems integrator, and implemented Mar-Kov, an MRP software created by food industry veterans for food manufacturers. Mar-Kov replaced the 1.5 part-time administrators that had manually created and handled every single piece of documentation required to run Chinook. The software was used to run the company more efficiently and cost-effectively. It was used to identify and purchase the raw ingredients required, create production, packaging, order assemblies, and shipping schedules, and handle all related invoicing. Mar-Kov also provided the transparency and visibility needed to efficiently schedule the production of its six flavours, maximizing production and minimizing cleaning time. Furthermore, Mar-Kov recorded every detail pertaining to Chinook’s ingredients, production, and shipping data, ensuring compliance with FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and enabling product tracking in the event of FDA-mandated and voluntary recalls.
Operational Impact
  • The implementation of Mar-Kov’s ERP transformed Chinook Seedery's operations. The software provided a comprehensive solution for managing costs, integrating processes, and ensuring long-term profitability. It also offered a crash course in food manufacturing, helping the company understand the unique challenges and regulations of the industry. With Mar-Kov, Chinook was able to maximize production and minimize cleaning time, thereby increasing revenue and reducing costs. The software also ensured that the company was FDA Food Safety Modernization Act compliant and had the necessary data for product tracking in case of recalls. Furthermore, Mar-Kov freed up the founder to focus on sales, forecasting, and cash flow models, while providing the COO with accurate, current data to manage daily costs and operations. The software also helped the company maintain consistent taste across its six flavours, ensuring customer satisfaction.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Realized almost instant ROI with Mar-Kov’s ERP.
  • Digitized their inventory and traceability, reducing manual work.
  • Generated electronic batch records for all batches, improving efficiency.

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