A new industry task force will provide heat treating companies with educational resources and peer guidance as they evaluate enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems amid recent consolidation among software providers serving the industry. The initiative is intended to help companies assess shop management systems based on their individual operational requirements rather than recommend a particular software platform.
The Metal Treating Institute (MTI) announced the formation of its ERP Task Force as its Summer Board Meeting on July 21. The member-led group was established following Steelhead Technologies’ acquisitions of Cornerstone Systems, Inc., provider of Visual Shop by CSI, and Throughput Consulting, Inc., provider of Bluestreak and Bright AM. MTI said the acquisitions have prompted heat treaters to evaluate their long-term ERP strategies and better understand their options within the changing software landscape.
ERP systems can support production scheduling, inventory, client orders, quality documentation, accounting, compliance, and reporting across heat treating operations. Selecting, implementing, or transitioning between systems can affect productivity, operational efficiency, customer service, and profitability. The task force will include member companies with ERP implementation experience and heat treating industry expertise.
“Technology is transforming every aspect of our industry, and ERP systems are becoming increasingly critical to operating efficient, data-driven businesses,” said Deidra Minerd, operations manager at Euclid Heat Treating and 2026 president of MTI. “The recent acquisition of Visual Shop and Bluestreak has created understandable questions throughout our membership.”
“Rather than allowing companies to navigate these decisions alone, MTI is bringing Members together to learn from one another, share experiences, access options and make better-informed decisions,” Minerd added.
Tom Morrison, CEO of MTI, emphasized that the task force will remain vendor-neutral.
“The ERP Task Force is not intended to recommend one software platform over another,” Morrison said. “Instead, its mission is to provide unbiased education and practical guidance so Members can evaluate the solutions that best align with their individual business needs, growth objectives, and operational requirements.”
The task force will begin providing educational resources, peer discussions, and additional programming over the coming months. MTI said it will communicate additional details to its membership as the initiative develops.
Press release is available in its original form here.
