Both the Manugistics and SPA software use Oracle databases to keep track of all the data involved in these processes. Black & Decker runs the system, which became fully integrated in 1998, on clustered Compaq Alphas. The batabases are also shared by the company’s purchasing, receiving, finance, and accounting depart-ments, assuring very high degrees of accuracy and speed throughout the company’s operations and procedures. included among the major database tables that support this information system are a materials master table, a vender master table, a bill-of-materials table
(indicating which parts go into making which other parts), a rout-ing table (indicating the work stations that the part will move through during manufacturing), planning, purchase order, customer, and other tables.