The Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association in 2006 connected with more than 130 manufacturing stakeholders at organizations across the country and asked these production professionals to cite the key performance indicators they use most in their operations. More than 70 percent of respondents attested to utilizing "on-time-delivery-to-customer-request" and "on-time-delivery-to-commit" metrics – two performance measures dependent on effective scheduling.

These figures encapsulate the priorities of modern manufacturing organizations, most of which carefully plan production activities to meet the ever-growing demands of the post-Amazon customer. When adopting new enterprise resource planning technology, these firms must therefore pinpoint vendors that offer solutions equipped with ample scheduling components. What might these be? Here are some of the key scheduling features every ERP solution should have:

Special project management
Market segmentation continues to intensify. Every day, new groups and subgroups of consumers form, forcing manufacturers to take on smaller, more unique jobs. Consequently, many ERP software providers are rolling out products that take this development into account by facilitating one-off project design and management, according to TechTarget. These scheduling modules allow production stakeholders to allocate the required resources toward orders for niche customers and schedule these specialized jobs to move forward, even as larger projects take place in the background. Special project management tools also come equipped with partitioned accounting tools so chief financial officers and other accounting personnel can easily track the costs that come along with one-off assignments.

Finite and infinite scheduling
Manufacturers leverage two central scheduling methodologies: finite and infinite. The first strategy, sometimes called finite capacity scheduling, involves developing production workflows that reflect the amount of work that can be completed depending on preestablished timelines and the availability of finite resources, such as shop-floor equipment with mechanical limitations, TechTarget reported. Operational stakeholders utilizing this methodology often leverage decision support modules within ERP software to create ideal finite scheduling strategies. The second approach entails scheduling work based on the inventory of infinite resources such as staff, according to IT Toolbox. Theoretically, production leaders could schedule personnel to work around the clock, making physical employees an ever-available commodity. 

The best ERP solutions offer scheduling features that can address both of these models and build production calendars based on both finite and infinite resources. Most organizations develop schedules that include a mix of both asset types and should therefore be able to depend on their backend technology to understand the difference between the two and schedule productions workloads accordingly.

Purchasing and procurement
No matter the amount of man or machine power a manufacturer may possess, no work gets completed unless there are physical raw materials on hand. Of course, these components do not just materialize out of thin air – procurement professionals must work with external suppliers to get essential products through the door and onto the line in time to meet existing ship dates. Specialized ERP scheduling modules often buttress this bit of logistical strategy, giving procurement teams the power to coordinate supplier schedules with internal production targets, according to IT Toolbox. And, in most cases, these features also support internal resource issuance processes, ensuring that operational leaders use available materials effectively so as not to create compound scheduling issues.

Manufacturing firms navigating the ERP market would be wise to focus on systems that offer these key scheduling features. Here at Accent Software, we deploy ERP solutions that come equipped with such central components. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, giving industrial businesses the power to streamline their backend systems, boost productivity and bolster their bottom lines. Reach out to learn more about how our offerings can revolutionize your enterprise, from the back office to the shop floor.