CRM software: what it does, what’s available and where it’s going

If you work in a client-facing job such as marketing, sales, account management, customer service or similar role, you’ll almost certainly be familiar with the term ‘CRM’.

CRM stands for customer relationship management. In the past few years, CRM has moved from being a ‘nice to have’ tool used by large corporations, to an essential component of successful businesses of all sizes. 

CRM is most often used to refer to a range of software applications which help improve business processes, and in particular those directly related to attracting and retaining customers. Depending on the organisation, this includes everything from identifying the most profitable customers to running marketing campaigns, progressing sales enquiries, scheduling service calls or dealing with complaints. More precisely, genuine CRM is a combination of business strategy and business processes brought together by software which, if implemented correctly, can bring significant, tangible benefits to organisations.

Impressive weight reduction helps Mg casting win ‘Best in Class’

A liftgate inner, designed and cast at Meridian Magnesium Products of America, Eaton Rapids, Michigan, has picked up the 2010 ‘Best in Class’ award at the 2010 American Foundry Society and Metal Casting Design and Purchasing Casting Competition.

The single-piece magnesium casting achieved a more than 20% weight reduction over the traditional steel liftgate and integrated six parts into one panel, the largest of its type in the world.

Dr Rajesh S Ransing FICME, Swansea University

With recession just behind us, the focus on reducing the cost of manufacturing couldn’t be clearer. 5-10% rejection rate can no longer be considered as acceptable. For many foundries the goal of process control is to produce defect free castings without incurring capital investment. Most investment casting foundries would either have inclusions, cracks or shrinkage on their radar screen for at least some point in time. MetaCause® research has given numerous opportunities to work closely with investment casting foundries and study production data to optimise the process.

The development of the global castings market means foundries have to manufacture competitively priced castings to compete on an international level. However it is also increasingly important to consider the environmental implications of casting production. A product being manufactured in Japan is being hailed as an option for the reduction of sand waste and the improvement of the working environment.