Jackson County Circuit Court Meets Its Fund Accounting and Purchasing Needs

“The business practice concept of Quality Function Deployment refers to tying product and service design decisions directly to customer wants and needs. Mitchell Humphrey is the only company that I have ever come across that truly practices this principle.” - Paul Parker, Director of Court Services

The 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, is a State trial court where issues involving Missouri law are litigated. The Circuit Court has 19 Circuit Judges, nine Associate Circuit Judges, five Family Court Division Commissioners, one Drug Court Commissioner, and two Probate Division Commissioners.

In 2002, after over 15 years on a DOS-based Inventory and Purchasing system with limited financial management functionality, the Circuit Court decided to find a more robust Windows-based solution.

“We really needed help. Our fund accounting tracking and reporting requirements are significant and very complex, and our system was poorly equipped to meet our needs,” explained Paul Parker, Director of Court Services.

In addition, the Circuit Court was looking for a system that would enhance its ability to effectively manage its warehousing efforts via improved inventory control, order entry, and reporting.

After contacting a number of other solution vendors and viewing demonstrations from several of those vendors, the Circuit Court visited the Mitchell Humphrey website and contacted the company to arrange a demonstration of its FMS II system.

“We were extremely impressed not only with the FMS II system’s abilities to accommodate our needs, but also with the people we met,” Paul said, “All of us who viewed the demonstration felt very comfortable that we were dealing with a quality team that was ready, willing and able to deliver what we needed.”

As is often customary with government agencies, the Circuit Court followed up its initial contact efforts with the distribution of an RFP to approximately twelve vendors. Upon receipt and review of RFP responses, it was clear that Mitchell Humphrey was far and away the best option.

“Mitchell Humphrey met all of the RFP requirements. But, even more importantly, they had a 25+ year history that told us we were in the good hands of a very stable company,” Paul continued, “Plus, the functionality they were offering coupled with exceptional pricing made the FMS II system a great value.”

The Circuit Court acquired the FMS II General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Purchasing, Inventory, and Fixed Assets solutions to run on the Windows NT platform.

“I’ve been implementing software systems for over 35 years, and the FMS II implementation was one of the smoothest I’ve ever been involved in. The Mitchell Humphrey consultants working with us provided exceptional support and guidance,” said Paul.

Today, the Circuit Court is taking full advantage of the improved performance and efficiency associated with their FMS II system.

They are tracking and reporting on multiple funding categories including interest, bond, anti-drug sales tax, and grant funds. Accounts payable management has improved dramatically. Inventory control efforts have been streamlined and made more accurate. And, the organization has experienced significant time, effort, and cost reductions in its purchasing processes.

“The Workflow tool in the FMS II Purchasing system has really been a dream. I am saving at least ten hours a week versus my previous manual PO review and approval process. Plus, the twenty hours a week my administrative assistant used to spend entering PO information have been eliminated. By my calculations, we’re saving $40,000 to $50,000 a year in labor costs just between the two of us,” Paul explained.

Paul, an adjunct college professor who teaches courses on Total Quality Management in his spare time, concluded with a reference to a business practice principle known as Quality Function Deployment (QFD).

“The business practice principle of Quality Function Deployment refers to tying product and service design decisions directly to customer wants and needs,” Paul explained, “Mitchell Humphrey is the only company that I have ever come across that truly practices this principle.”