In 2013, I began developing a fully customized management system in FileMaker for my company, Rimec Srl, which operates in the field of precision mechanics. Today, that system manages — in an integrated and complete way — all areas of the business: administration, production, quality control, maintenance, logistics, and employee access.

Before using FileMaker, I had already built earlier versions of our ERP with Lotus 1-2-3 and later Lotus Approach. Those tools, although limited, taught me a key principle: no off-the-shelf software can fully understand or reflect your internal workflows. Only a flexible, tailored solution can.

🔷 Why FileMaker?

FileMaker (now Claris FileMaker) has been an essential tool for me. It allowed me to design and develop everything myself, without relying on rigid external systems or expensive ERP platforms.

• Intuitive and visual interface, yet powerful and highly customizable.
• Enables creation of advanced automation, even for tedious and repetitive office tasks such as data entry, printing, search filters, and exporting.
• Supports integration with APIs, hardware devices, third-party plugins, and web services.
• Available for Windows, macOS, browsers, and mobile devices (via FileMaker Go for iPhone and iPad).
• Perfect also for less glamorous tasks like document generation and structured data handling.

FileMaker gave me the freedom to build a system that adapts to us, not the other way around.

🧾 Administration – Smart Automation

• Order import from Excel and PDF files.
• Automatic job order creation based on the imported order.
• Auto-generation of article records, if not already present.
• Automated import of technical files: DWG, PDF, STEP.
• One-click barcode label printing for each article.
• DDT (delivery note) and electronic invoicing fully integrated.
• Optimized email handling via the Mailit plugin.
• External system integration via FileMaker Data API.

🏭 Production – Full Control, Even on the Go

• Work phase tracking, manual or automated via CNC and Factory software.
• Arduino integration for legacy machines, sending data directly to FileMaker.
• AI-assisted development used to optimize embedded code for Arduino.
• Factory Connect dashboard: real-time status of machines and production.
• Arduino Connect module to monitor 2 Biglia lathes and 1 Haas machining center.
• Media management (images & videos) linked to each article’s technical record.
• Mobile input via FileMaker Go: track notes, upload photos or videos directly from iPhone/iPad.

📊 Reporting – From Insight to Optimization

• Daily, weekly, and monthly reports for job orders, machine performance, and operators.
• Full analysis of actual vs. estimated time, production volumes, and scrap rates.
• Custom KPIs and exporting options in Excel or PDF.

🛠 Quality, Maintenance, and Access Control

• Measurement instrument tracking, including calibration certificates and deadlines.
• Non-conformity management with photos and corrective actions.
• Machine records for manuals, maintenance, and inspections.
• RFID attendance system built with Arduino, integrated into FileMaker.

🤝 Acknowledgments

I’d like to thank:

• FMGuru – for the advanced FileMaker training courses that helped me structure the system professionally.
• Trizero – for their technical support, especially in the more complex hardware/software integrations.

A custom ERP isn’t just software. It’s a digital reflection of how your business truly works.
Thanks to FileMaker, I’ve been able to automate even the most repetitive tasks and focus on what really matters: efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement.