This thread is an older one but still thought I'd reply. I've used Fabtrol extensively for more than one employer and in two different types of steel fabrication plants. I've also attended more than one Fabtrol training seminar. From my own experience and that of others I've encountered, I've derived the following. All of this applies to the use of Fabtrol in a steel fabrication shop, or shops.
FABTROL IS EXCELLENT FOR:
Bill of Material Management/Sorting/Reporting
Purchasing,tracking purchasing (weak on the accounting side, but great otherwise). Nice P.O.'s and reports. Nice integration with inventory and cut list generation.
Shipping Management.
FABTROL IS FINE FOR:
Structural Inventory management (most inventory management problems are process management related--software will not fix this). Fabtrol lacks accounting type feature, users end up taking a lot of shortcuts that limit the "audit trail. These shortcuts are not from a lack of understanding (by the user) but are rather by-the-book ways to use the software. The inventory management system can actually do more than I believe most shops make it do.
I'm aware of several plants that have successfully featured Fabtrol as the tool that allowed them to meet the material traceability requirements of the AISC. (For AISC certification).
Structural Multing (nesting). Fair computer multing routines, good manual "user-driven" routine. Good integration with purchasing. Nice, grade-specific, customizable structural cut list.
Generating all sorts of useful information that can help with the estimating process. The ability to break a project down and generate useful reports that are sequence, lot, phase, size, cost, location, type, whatever driven is truly impressive.
User management. (controlling who has access to what).
Multi-plant material/shipping/purchasing management.
FABTROL IS BETTER THAN NOTHING FOR:
Managing plate inventory.
Estimating labor. It has useful tools that will help you estimate your labor--but real-world implementation and use of their labor engine is a time consuming, endlessly unsatisfying process. You are always concerned you don't know exactly what Fabtrol is doing with your input. If you are in a repetitive industry that hardly needs a tool like Fabtrol to help you estimate labor--it will probably work fine.
Managing the estimating process (it is still great at providing extensive information and breakdowns of material, type of work, work locations, or whatever--the reports are impressive).
Drawing Management
Bill of material import/export
CNC data management
FABTROL IS NOT AS USEFUL AS A SPIRAL BOUND NOTEBOOK FOR:
Plate multing
Managing/tracking weld certifications and/or procedures. (I don't believe they make any claim to the contrary here).
FABTROL STRENGTHS:
Tech Support
Reports the report options (probably because they were (are?) Foxpro based) have been exceptional since the first time I saw Fabtrol.
The ability to break a project/estimate down in multiple ways. (which contributes to the powerful reporting).
(relatively)Easy to learn
Have been windows based for a long time--so the program is fairly intuitive.
FABTROL WEAKNESSES
Company knowledge of real-world challenges and processes. This might have improved recently (I don't know).
Labor engine implementation.
Inventory audit trails. (Not that I know of any stronger alternative).
Accounting and integration with accounting software. (Not that I know of any stronger alternative that is not accounting software).
FINALLY, REGARDING ESTIMATING
When you check on Fabtrol for estimating, make sure you ask some specific questions of existing customers regarding how they have implemented and currently use the labor engine. It sounds/looks great and powerful in the demo but my sense is that it is rarely put to advanced use in a real-world company/environment. If you do find an advanced user of the labor engine I believe you'll find it's an unusually talented guy in a one or two man estimating department.
JUST ONE MAN'S (somewhat)INFORMED OPINION.
SteelGator
