In today’s business world, companies are driven by the need to make quick, well-informed decisions.  All levels of the organization rely on high quality, readily available data. A good ERP system can provide the data needed to make those decisions and optimize operations, sales, and supply chain functions and maximize efficiency, growth, and profitability.  The selection of an ERP system is a substantial and…

It’s safe to say that ERP projects don’t always go as planned. Whether it’s scope creep, changing business requirements, or lack of buy-in, specific actions are needed when a project gets off track.  Most issues with ERP projects are not caused by the software’s functionality. So, where do you start?   The Five W’s; Who,…

Today, ERP systems integrate all manufacturing and business processes, from production and inventory management to accounting and finance. When properly implemented, an ERP system can encompass every facet of the organization. This gives management the ability to see what is happening in “real time” across the entire organization.    Management can leverage information from virtually every department to make more informed decisions. The ERP System provides seamless integration across…

A new ERP  solution  can be the inspiration for sustainable improvements and long term success. Many organizations are considering new ERP solutions to transform their inefficient business processes, improve operations, scale for growth, meet customer requirements and save or reallocate funds. Today, your organization may suffer from a lack of access to data. ERP solutions integrate back office processes with…

The manufacturing world is transforming and your business is too! It’s important to stay ahead of the technology curve to meet your company’s needs and goals for the future by aligning your business and ERP strategies. PowerPlex, the annual Plex Manufacturing Cloud User Conference, brings together more than 1000 manufacturing professionals to learn how these…

When you hear the term “ERP systems,” production, inventory and quality may come to mind. Few of us would consider financial records or variances because we don’t tend to make the connection between an ERP system and the benefits offered to the company’s financial management system. While an ERP system helps improve departmental productivity and…

Having led numerous deployment projects as an ERP consultant, I work with organizations to optimize the use of their software and make their business processes more efficient. I’m constantly shocked by the lack of importance placed upon the procurement function within many of these organizations. In my multitude of discussions with purchasing department employees, I…

Do you feel you get the job done, but your processes are not without some aches and pains? Does your organization struggle with a lack of control with new part introductions? Have you been wanting, just not sure where to start, to implement robust cycle counting of inventory? Maybe it takes far to long for…

Do you feel as though the production floor is your worst enemy in the mission for inventory accuracy? This leading cause of frustration and stress around inventory management often comes from a lack of investment and standards on production floors. Inaccurate inventory impacts the ability to deliver customers their parts, borrow money for capital and…

MRP – Opening the Black Box Material Requirements Planning can seem like a mystery on how it does its magic behind the scenes. Let’s consider how you can help it work more efficiently and understand why it’s giving you the data it does. MRP is based on “The Big Three.” No, not the “Big Three” auto…

We can generally sort Manufacturing Business processes into three groups: Make to Order, Assemble to Order, and Make to Stock.  Make to Order is also known as custom build. Assemble to Order is used in repetitive manufacturing. And Make to Stock covers mass production of end products. Let’s look at each one and see where…

The Birth of Manufacturing Thousands of years ago, when someone needed something, they had to build it themselves. Through the generations, some people began to be recognized for their skills in building and they were asked to build things for other people. A business was born. Eventually, these new businesses got very busy and, in order…