Case studies

How Patton Engineering transformed operational visibility with STRUMIS steel fabrication software

Written by STRUMIS Team | Mar 2, 2026 2:56:12 PM

For Patton Engineering, a structural steel fabrication company based in New Zealand, growth required more than skilled fabrication. It required full operational visibility, integrated systems, and real-time production control.

As project demands increased, leadership recognised that manual processes and disconnected tools were limiting efficiency and accountability. To modernise operations and integrate the entire business lifecycle, Patton Engineering implemented STRUMIS, a steel fabrication management system purpose-built for the structural steel industry.

The challenge: scaling without integration

Before STRUMIS, Patton Engineering relied on:

  • Paper-based time sheets
  • Manual data entry
  • Limited cross-department visibility
  • Fragmented systems for quoting and job tracking

While these processes had supported the business historically, they restricted real-time insight and made it difficult to track assemblies throughout fabrication, painting, and site erection.

Leadership conducted a global search for a management information system capable of supporting a growing structural steel operation. Most software providers required significant operational change.

STRUMIS took a different approach.

Instead of forcing process restructuring, STRUMIS aligned with Patton Engineering’s existing workflows, configuring the system to match how the business already operated.

The solution: a fully integrated steel fabrication management system

Patton Engineering committed to implementing STRUMIS across the entire organisation. The objective was to create a single, integrated platform connecting every stage of production.

STRUMIS now supports:

  • Estimating and quoting
  • Project management
  • Purchasing and invoicing
  • Processing and drill line operations
  • Fabrication tracking
  • Site erection visibility
  • Digital time sheeting

This end-to-end integration provides real-time fabrication job tracking from initial estimate through to steel installation on site.

Digital time sheeting: improving labour accuracy and cost control

Manual time cards were replaced with digital time capture through STRUMIS workshop devices.

Fabricators now:

  • Select the job or assembly
  • Press start when work begins
  • Press stop when complete
  • Submit hours electronically

Foremen approve time digitally before it flows directly into the office system.

This process eliminates manual re-entry, strengthens job costing accuracy, and improves production reporting. For steel fabricators, accurate labour tracking directly impacts margin control and estimating precision.

Advanced steel traceability and compliance control

Patton Engineering is implementing structured steel labelling driven by STRUMIS data.

Each piece of steel can include:

  • Project reference
  • Assembly information
  • Purchase order data
  • Heat numbers
  • Size and specification
  • Compliance details

All information originates from STRUMIS, creating a reliable digital audit trail and supporting material genealogy across the fabrication lifecycle.

Real-time shop floor production tracking

Processing and drill line operations are integrated with STRUMIS through connected fabrication floor devices.

This enables:

  • Live fabrication progress tracking
  • Visibility into painting and erection stages
  • Tonnage monitoring
  • Alignment with payment claims

For management, this level of production control provides operational clarity and supports faster decision-making.

The results: visibility, accountability, and strategic control

Since implementing STRUMIS steel fabrication software in New Zealand, Patton Engineering has achieved:

  • Complete lifecycle visibility across projects
  • Increased accountability through shared operational insight
  • Automated labour capture and reduced administrative workload
  • Improved integration between office and workshop teams
  • Stronger production manageability

The company now operates with a unified structural steel ERP environment that supports efficiency, transparency, and long-term growth.

A strategic partnership

A key element of the implementation has been the ongoing partnership with STRUMIS. On-site training, direct access to support, and collaborative problem-solving have ensured solutions are delivered quickly and effectively.

For Patton Engineering, STRUMIS is not simply a software vendor. It is a long-term operational partner.

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