NIOXIN Research Laboratories

In 2000, NIOXIN Research Laboratories, in suburban Atlanta, replaced its MAS90 software system with IFS Applications. With the help of consultants from an accounting firm, IT Director Steve Lundeen and an interdisciplinary team from the company’s finance, manufacturing, and executive staffs selected IFS Applications over Oracle Applications and solutions from Ross Systems and SCT.

Greater agility with mixed-mode manufacturing

Flexibility was important to NIOXIN, as the company operates in multiple manufacturing modes. 

“We do everything out of this single facility—compounding and blending, filling of bottles, packaging, and distribution,” Lundeen said. “So we are both a process and a discrete manufacturer, and needed to find a package that met both of our manufacturing needs.” 

Discrete manufacturing refers to the manufacture of tactile items that can be seen and felt, including equipment, computer and electronic products or industrial and electrical equipment. NIOXIN is considered a discrete manufacturer because it produces bottles of hair care products. Yet it is also a process manufacturer because it creates products by mixing, separating, or performing chemical reactions. Examples of process manufacturers include companies in the food, chemical and oil industries.

Better informed business decisions

Once IFS Applications was in place, NIOXIN management was able to access information on its manufacturing and marketing processes to better manage its business. 

“We now had a lot more information we were then allowed to build upon for business intelligence initiatives,” Lundeen said. “Previously, we were not doing anything with the mounds and mounds of data. We have not done much on the manufacturing side yet, but we have used the information on the customer and market side, gathering information on what is selling and determining the right market and product mix. To do this, we do use the IFS Demand Planning and Business Performance modules quite heavily.”

Facts about NIOXIN Research Laboratories, Inc.

NIOXIN Research Laboratories provides a solution for thin-looking hair for the millions who battle this problem. Nioxin researchers have developed the most advanced, natural-based system to improve the appearance of fine and thinning hair — Nioxin® Thinning Hair Systems. Nioxin has evolved from a from a small niche-category business to become the industry leader in fine and thin-looking hair care. Nioxin products are now sold in professional salons by licensed beauty professionals throughout the United States and in 21 other countries.

Benefits

• Mixed-mode manufacturing capabilities for greater agility  
• Real-time information for better-informed business decisions  
• More effective sales and marketing