SignWorks Centralizes Custom Fabrication Operations with NetSuite ERP Implementation

Customer Success Story

Folio3 implemented NetSuite SuiteSuccess ERP with custom extensions to support project-based manufacturing, detailed estimation, work order tracking, progress-based billing, and financial management for SignWorks.

Company

SignWorks

Company Size

501-1000

Industry

Manufacturing

Region

UAE

NetSuite Services

NetSuite SuiteSuccess Implementation

All NetSuite Solutions and Modules

NetSuite Customizations

Application replaced

About SignWorks

New York and Dubai-based custom fabrication company specializing in signage, retail fixtures, and visual merchandising.
Operates approximately 16 shop floors across carpentry, painting, metal, acrylic, electrical, and graphics departments.
Manages end-to-end projects from inquiry through installation, including in-house logistics and fleet operations.

SignWorks & NetSuite ERP

With NetSuite SuiteSuccess ERP implementation, SignWorks:

Replaced basic business software with a single ERP for operations and finance.
Managed project-based manufacturing with detailed BOMs and work order routing.
Handled progress-based billing and deferred revenue recognition within the system.
Connected CRM, estimation, procurement, production, and finance workflows.

Summary

SignWorks operated complex custom fabrication projects using basic business software that could not support detailed estimation, multi-stage production tracking, or advanced financial requirements.

Folio3 implemented NetSuite SuiteSuccess with multiple custom extensions to support BOM-driven estimation, project manufacturing, work order tracking, variation orders, billing rules, and revenue recognition aligned with project progress.

This implementation brought sales, procurement, production, and finance into a single ERP system designed around SignWorks’ custom fabrication operating model.

The Challenges

SignWorks operated without a formal ERP system, relying on basic software that could not support custom fabrication complexity.
Project estimation required breaking work into detailed BOMs covering materials, labor, outsourcing, and shop floor activities, which could not be handled in existing tools.
Quotes often required 100–200 line items derived from estimation data, making manual quoting inefficient and error-prone.
Production tracking required visibility across multiple work order stages and 16 shop floors, which was not available.
Material planning had to support both stocked raw materials and job-specific purchasing with reorder points.
Projects frequently changed scope, requiring variation orders and controlled cost adjustments.
Billing required multiple rules including milestones, advance payments, percentage completion, and fixed bids, which existing systems could not support.
Revenue needed to be recognized based on project progress rather than invoice issuance, which was not possible previously.

Solution

SignWorks partnered with Folio3 to implement NetSuite SuiteSuccess to support project-based custom fabrication operations.

The implementation focused on replacing basic business software with a single ERP system capable of handling estimation, production, billing, and financial management for complex custom projects.

Our implementation centered on:

Implementing NetSuite ERP to manage sales, procurement, production, and finance within a single system.
Building a custom estimation solution to create detailed BOMs covering materials, labor, outsourcing, and overhead.
Generating quotes directly from estimation records with support for large line-item volumes.
Configuring project manufacturing with assembly items and work orders routed across multiple shop floors.
Supporting material planning through reorder points, material requests, and job-based purchasing.
Implementing variation order handling to manage scope changes during project execution.
Configuring progress-based billing rules including advances, milestones, and percentage completion.
Enabling revenue recognition based on project progress rather than invoice timing.

Results

SignWorks now operates on NetSuite ERP, replacing basic business software for project and financial management.
Project estimation is handled through structured BOMs covering materials, labor, outsourcing, and overhead.
Quotes are now generated directly from estimation records, supporting large line-item volumes for custom projects.
Production is now tracked through defined work orders routed across multiple shop floors.
Material planning and procurement are managed through inventory and job-based purchasing workflows.
Project scope changes are handled through controlled variation orders within the system.
Billing is now processed based on defined project rules, including advances, milestones, and percentage completion.
Revenue is recognized based on project progress rather than invoice issuance.