Applying MRP with ERP in a modern manufacturing environment
Material Requirements Planning for a modern manufacturing environment Material Requirements Planning (MRP) is software that helps companies estimate the required quantities of raw materials, maintain inventory levels, and ensure manufacturing has all the items needed to make products to satisfy demand. MRP is one of the early inventory management systems and has been widely adopted […]
Optimizing shop floor processes with Manufacturing Operations Management
Today’s manufacturers face many challenges in a business context complicated by factors such as ongoing loadshedding, soaring raw material prices, managing shop floor processes, and a weak economy. Manufacturers already understand that digital technologies are transforming the way the industry operates, particularly in improving efficiencies and driving higher levels of business performance. Technology solutions such […]
The steps to implement quality management in manufacturing
Quality management (QM) ensures products are delivered to a specific quality standard and that processes maintain those standards. It can also help to reduce costs, rework and scrap. To be effective it requires not only investment in time and resources but also support from the top floor to the shop floor. Manufacturers who want to […]
Calculating an ROI for your ERP investment: Trends & insights for manufacturers & distributors
In one of my previous blogs, “The Importance of Building a Business Case for ERP,” we looked at the significance of strategic planning and creating a solid business case before embarking on an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation journey. Building your business case gives you an incredible opportunity to examine your existing operations very closely. […]
Why small businesses should invest in ERP
Large enterprises have long used ERP to manage procurement, planning, and inventory control, but for smaller businesses it often feels like an unnecessary or extravagant investment. In reality, there is a strong case for small manufacturers and distributors to implement ERP because digitizing, streamlining, and automating processes frees up time and reduces operating costs. Providing […]
The importance of building a business case for ERP
Implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is a great place to start digitization of your manufacturing or distribution business to centralize all your data and streamline your operations for greater efficiency. However, various studies indicate that 70-90% of digital transformation initiatives fail. A major reason for this is that organizations jump straight into selecting […]
How to secure your ERP system
Manufacturers rely on their ERP system to connect functions, streamline processes, and provide critical decision-making data. As ransomware and cyberattacks increase, securing this system has become a top business priority, not just an IT concern. Why are ERP systems attacked? ERP systems hold high-value, confidential information. If attackers gain access, they can: Steal personal data […]
How Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Thinking About ERP (TAE) can be used with an ERP system
A movement has been around for a few years called Business Transformation. Twenty years ago, a different action — Business Process Improvement — helped to encourage a concept called the Theory of Constraints (TOC). Finally, fourteen years ago, a book called ‘Thinking about ERP’ was published, which explained how businesses should think about selecting, deploying […]
How do Units of Measure (UOM) work within an ERP system
When you go to a store to buy a soda, you expect to be able to get it in a can or a bottle. But when the store owner buys sodas from a supplier, they order them in packs or boxes. It’s all the same item, a soda, but the units of measure are different. […]
How to make best use of the Bill of Materials (BOM) in your ERP
For a manufacturer, the Bill of Materials (BOM) is the recipe (the ingredients and their amount, with the preparation instructions) that drives the business. The accuracy of the BOM is critical to ensure a profit is made, guide procurement when ordering the items, and prevent having insufficient or wrong inventory. If the BOM is inaccurate, […]