4 production scheduling features every manufacturing ERP should have
Production scheduling is among the most important components of the manufacturing process. For this reason, firms embarking on the enterprise resource planning implementation journey often devote considerable time to assessing the production scheduling capabilities of potential solutions. This is often easier said than done, as this particular shop floor function encompasses numerous operational variables, from asset maintenance to human capital management.
However, adopters in the manufacturing sector are not doomed to wade through extensive ERP documentation looking for elements that might support production scheduling. There are some must-have platform features that have been proven to bolster this essential activity.
Here are four of those salient ERP features:
Scheduling
The scheduling module is essential to production planning success. While most ERP solutions come equipped with these mission-critical components, functionality varies. As a result, firms should pinpoint platforms with particularly robust scheduling components – most notably, those that facilitate backward and forward shop floor planning, according to IT Toolbox. This functionality allows operational stakeholders to define start and completion times, and develop reliable projections from both ends.
Material requirement planning
This feature enables shop floor leaders to assess the supply and demand for inventoried assets of all kinds using recorded and forecasted sales figures. This information is critically important to personnel involved in production scheduling, which makes MRP an essential ERP feature for modern manufacturing organizations, ERP Focus reported.
Business intelligence
Business intelligence adoption is strong in the manufacturing arena, where around 30 percent of companies have data collection and analysis tools of some kind in place, according to research from Dresner Advisory Services published in Forbes. Production scheduling is among the many functional areas that these innovative solutions support.
With this in mind, manufacturing firms navigating the ERP implementation process should search for platforms that either offer built-in business intelligence tools or integrate with industry-standard third-party options, according to ERP Focus.
Routing
Sequencing is absolutely critical to production scheduling success. Stakeholders at every step in the supply chain must be able to coordinate their respective activities in a manner that keeps the entire organization moving.
Routing components support this sort of large-scale planning, giving personnel in every department the top-down transparency they need to collaborate and ultimately facilitate success, IT Toolbox reported.
Is your organization on the hunt for an ERP solution with these key production scheduling features? Consider connecting with Accent Software.
As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, which allow companies across all sectors to adopt quality ERP software designed to facilitate optimal production scheduling practices.
Contact us today to learn more about our products and services.
4 ways manufacturers can lay the groundwork for ERP implementation success
Success is not a certainty when it comes to enterprise resource planning implementation. In fact, approximately 28 percent of the organizations that pursued ERP implementation last year oversaw projects that ended in complete failure, according to research from Panorama Consulting Solutions.
Having said that, manufacturing firms can avoid this costly outcome by laying the groundwork for success through these four tried-and-true ERP adoption strategies:
1. Collect strong system requirements
Platform requirement collection is an essential component of the implementation process. Here, information technology specialists and other project stakeholders review operational workflows to determine salient system components.
Ideally, manufacturers engaged in this activity should not only consider existing administrative and shop floor practices but also take the opportunity to consider how new ERP technology might support process improvements, CIO reported.
Businesses that take this approach and select software that can grow with the organization often see the most return on investment – recipe for long-term success.
2. Pinpoint specialized solutions
Manufacturing firms have specialized operational needs that many one-size-fits-all ERP providers cannot meet. This is why implementation teams must seek out vendors that can not only deliver system functionalities made for the manufacturing space, but also understand how to effectively integrate new software into shop floor environments, according to CIO.
Firms that ignore this variable tend to put into place ill-fitting ERP software that reduces output and weighs down the bottom line.
3. Cultivate support in the C-suite
While on-the-ground ERP implementation teams have the biggest impact on project success, executives also play an important part. These business leaders can oil the skids for ERP adoption, leveraging their financial authority and organizational clout to help IT staff and project stakeholders from other departments overcome various internal obstacles, Manufacturing.net reported.
This assistance is critical for the vast majority of manufacturing firms experience some pushback during ERP installation. However, those that focus on engaging the C-suite often gain access to top-down solutions to such issues.
4. Train employees to manage change
ERP adoption can transform workplace culture, forcing employees at all levels of the operation to adjust how they approach their everyday tasks. While some professionals take this change in stride, others resist in an attempt to hang on to familiar workflows.
ERP implementation teams must account for both scenarios and roll out exhaustive training programs that not only help staff adjust to new operating methods but also provide guidance on system best practices, according to Deloitte.
By emphasizing change management through instruction, manufacturing firms can reduce internal resistance and get the most out of their ERP technology.
Manufacturers that leverage these ERP implementation best practices can set themselves up for sustainable success.
Accent Software can help manufacturing firms looking to transform their operations and find success via reliable ERP technology. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, which allow businesses in the manufacturing space to put into place best-in-class ERP software designed to facilitate organizational growth.
Connect with us today to learn more about our products and services.
Are designed ERPs right for manufacturing?
Enterprise resource planning implementation best practices dictate that adopters avoid pursuing solutions that require significant customization. An estimated 54 percent of the organizations that installed ERP platforms in 2017 followed these standards, putting into place software containing custom code modifications that encompassed one-quarter or less of the end product, according to researchers from Panorama Consulting Solutions.
The reasoning behind these guiding principles is sound: The more customization, the higher the implementation cost. However, a recent development has forced some to second guess this conventional wisdom.
In recent years, a growing number of businesses navigating the ERP implementation journey have turned toward so-called “designer” solutions, Clause Jepsen, an ERP architect and member of the Forbes Technology Council, explained in a recent article for the publication. These unique products are developed and deployed by internal information technology staff and include customized modules coded by third parties for use in specialized industries. As a result, many of the businesses looking into this technology function in the manufacturing space, where sector-specific ERP features are essential.
With that said, are designer ERP platforms really right for modern manufacturers?
Understanding the low-code revolution
Designer ERP solutions are products of the burgeoning low-code development movement, CIO reported. Programmers or software providers using this methodology leverage specialized platforms that give them the power to create applications and software suites in-house via visual tools instead of hard-coding techniques.
This methodology not only saves time and money but also supports the integration of custom, third-party solution modules that can enhance the user experience and lay the groundwork for further return-on-investment optimization.
In his piece for Forbes, Jepsen even previewed a potential future in which established ERP providers work with independent programmers to cultivate one-off solutions to meet the needs of organizations that require software designed to perform very specific functions.
Designer ERPs in manufacturing
For enterprises in the manufacturing space considering new ERP technology, many of which are also in the midst of digital transformation, this approach sounds pretty appealing. ERP deployment time and potential ROI are major concerns for these firms.
If designer solutions assembled through accelerated low-code development workflows and equipped with industry-specific components can have a positive impact on both of these variables, why not pursue them?
One good reason: an overwhelming lack of proof of concepts. Designer ERP solutions are still in the experimental stage, meaning few companies have even embarked on implementation, much less seen results.
While this methodology might prove fruitful in the future, manufacturers embarking on ERP adoption today should stick with reliable providers with proven records of success. Here at Accent Software, we help organizations in the manufacturing space do just that.
As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, which allow businesses in the manufacturing space to put into place best-in-class ERP software designed to facilitate organizational growth.
Connect with us today to learn more about our products and services.
The problem with manufacturing ERP workarounds
Businesses with declining enterprise software often employ workarounds to circumvent flawed features. In fact, an estimated 84 percent of organizations have at least one of these system bypasses in place, according to research from Aptean.
On the surface, such technical detours may seem harmless. However, workarounds often have an adverse impact on the business – the costs of which could far outweigh the expenses that accompany system upgrade or replacement.
Manufacturing firms with collapsing enterprise resource planning platforms would be wise to explore the consequences of prolonged software bypass usage and juxtapose those repercussions against the potential downsides of an ERP swap.
Here are some common ERP workarounds and how they affect operations.
Spreadsheets
Employees forced to abandon ERP software for the sake of productivity often turn to spreadsheets. Aptean found that these longstanding tabulation tools were go-to solutions for three-quarters of workaround users.
While familiar, spreadsheets used in place of ERP components pose several significant problems, ERP Focus reported.
For one, these standalone software implements interrupt data flow, siloing key operational insights and stymieing production processes. Additionally, shop floor, partner and customer information stored in spreadsheets is far more susceptible to theft than data filed away in the carefully controlled and protected confines of an ERP.
Notebook and paper
Almost 30 percent of the employees who take advantage of software workarounds attest to putting pen to paper, according to Aptean. These traditional tools lay the groundwork for large-scale information mismanagement, resulting in slower operations in the short-term and institutional data loss in the long-term, ERP Software Blog reported.
In today’s fast-moving manufacturing climate, these outcomes can cause significant damage to the organization.
Customized software
Information technology teams sometimes engineer software-based workarounds to assist struggling colleagues. However, these customized ERP modules often catalyze internal disarray.
Employees run into usage issues stemming from bespoke integration code, reducing productivity and compromising shop floor production. On top of this, custom software additions of this kind have been known to lead to further ERP decline, preventing IT teams from installing new updates, according to Aptean.
In the end, these small workarounds and the complications they cause weigh on the bottom line. Manufacturing firms can avoid financial hits of this sort by swapping diminished ERP software for new solutions that meet their core operational needs.
Accent Software can help manufacturers considering this course of action. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, we provide vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, which allow businesses in the manufacturing space to put into place best-in-class ERP software designed to facilitate organizational growth.
Connect with us today to learn more about our products and services.
System selection criteria every manufacturer should consider when switching ERPs
Pinpointing the perfect manufacturing enterprise resource planning solution is no easy task in today’s oversaturated ERP market.
With more than 200 different available platforms, the cross-functional teams responsible for sourcing and implementing manufacturing ERPs have considerable work ahead of them, according to research from Panorama Consulting Solutions.
However, these groups are not doomed to scour the proverbial ERP haystack in vain. ERP implementation teams with strong system selection criteria can sort through potential solutions and identify software that can make a significant impact on the shop floor. Here are three of those critical variables:
1. Operational compatibility
Despite the prevalence of industry-agnostic ERP solutions, customization continues to be commonplace among adopters. In fact, an estimated 82 percent of the businesses that implement ERP software work with vendors to modify their respective systems, Panorama found.
This state of affairs seems to indicate that adopters in the manufacturing space can safely select just about any ERP solution on the market and see success. In reality, this is not the case, Industry Week reported.
“With more than 200 different available ERP platforms, manufacturers have considerable work ahead of them.”
Manufacturing firms must look for vendors with products that meet their core business needs without serious customization. While some code modification is acceptable and even necessary, implementation teams should only consider ERP technology that matches existing internal processes.
2. A track record of success
Manufacturing ERP software alone cannot prompt operational transformation. Vendors must collaborate with adopters to tightly integrate ERP technology into mission-critical shop floor practices and create employee training resources that emphasize system-usage best practices. These and other ancillary implementation activities allow organizations to get the most out of their solutions and lay the foundation for sustainable growth.
Manufacturers navigating the ERP adoption process should keep this in mind and carefully assess vendors on their ability to deliver on larger project goals, CIO reported. How? Client references are ideal, as past or current customers can effectively capture the entire implementation experience, from software installation to post-implementation support.
3. Room for ERP expansion
Businesses in virtually every sector are interested in exploring some of the newer ERP components entering the market, according to research from Cisco.
Artificial intelligence modules, robotic process automation features and internet of things connectors are among these cutting-edge system elements, many of which may soon transform from nice-to-haves into system essentials due to the continued development of Industry 4.0. Manufacturing firms would be wise to take note of these ascendant ERP fixtures and search for systems that can grow with as needed.
In the end, organizations in the manufacturing space that emphasize these system selection criteria can put into place effective ERP technology that facilitates operational transformation.
Here at Accent Software, we help manufacturing firms implement ERP platforms of this kind. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, Accent provides vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, which allow businesses to put into place best-in-class ERP software designed to facilitate organizational growth.
Connect with us today to learn more about our products and services.
3 strategies for finding a manufacturing ERP that fits
Manufacturing enterprise resource planning software features alone cannot catalyze change on the shop floor. These components must square with mission-critical administrative and production processes in order to lay the groundwork for transformation.
Sadly, a significant number of ERP adopters in the manufacturing space disregard the issue of solution fit and put into place products that not only drive up implementation costs due to extensive customization, but also lay the groundwork for system dysfunction down the line, according to Panorama Consulting Solutions.
Manufacturers can avoid both of these issues by focusing on solution fit when navigating the ERP selection process. Here are three strategies firms can use to find manufacturing ERPs that could work with core business functionalities:
Consider system size
ERP platforms vary in scale, depending on intended use. Those designed for manufacturing firms are normally on the robust size as businesses in the industry must track numerous moving operational parts. However, oversized systems can quickly become unwieldy, leading to considerable backend issues that can hurt the bottom line, IT Toolbox reported.
Products that are too small, on the other hand, can fail outright when paired with expansive shop floor workflows. Manufacturers must carefully consider solution size to ensure they avoid both extremes.
Evaluate support services
Powerful software can indeed have an immense impact on manufacturing operations. That said, such systems are only as effective as the vendor support offerings that accompany them.
This reality makes it necessary for firms in the manufacturing arena to vet the employee training and maintenance services that come with potential ERP solutions, according to ERP Software Blog.
Take users into account
ERP implementation success depends on the users who ultimately deploy such platforms in the workplace. Consequently, manufacturers should remember to consider employees and how they navigate the administrative and shop floor spaces when selecting new ERP software.
For example, if an organization supports a large pool of mobile users enrolled in a bring-your-own-device program, its ERP search committee would be wise to focus on solutions with mobile-ready interfaces, CIO reported.
Here at Accent Software, we help manufacturing firms implement ERP technology that fits their respective production processes and therefore sets them on the path to success.
As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, Accent provides vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, which allow businesses to put into place best-in-class ERP software designed to facilitate organizational growth.
Connect with us today to learn more about our products and services.
How will A.I. power the next generation of manufacturing ERP solutions?
Enterprise artificial intelligence technology is rapidly changing how organizations across numerous industries do business.
In 2017, for example, product and service teams at Coca-Cola used the transformative computational tool to assess demand for Cherry Sprite, which the company ultimately launched following the review of favorable customer feedback collected through A.I.-equipped soda fountains, according to Deloitte.
In another instance, the investment banking conglomerate Morgan Stanley took a more operational route, rolling out backend workflows that leveraged A.I. to automate mindless administrative tasks and free up financial advisors so they could more effectively connect with clients.
A large number of businesses are attempting to follow in the footsteps of these early adopters. In fact, enterprises worldwide are expected to spend more than $19 billion on A.I. technology in 2018, analysts for the International Data Corporation found.
However, this development encapsulated merely one facet of the enterprise A.I. revolution. In addition to catalyzing change within individual businesses, this innovation is transforming the entire information technology marketplace. Now, software companies are adjusting their products to more effectively support organizations pursuing A.I. workflows. This includes manufacturing enterprise resource planning providers, many of which are developing redesigned offerings centered on the latest A.I. technology.
But the question remains: How exactly will these soon-to-be-released ERP tools differ from existing iterations?
Data-driven workflow assistance
Establishing streamlined user processes is one of the most difficult aspects of manufacturing ERP implementation. Organizations that fail to create workflows that support employee productivity can suffer serious operational setbacks as workers struggle to incorporate ERP usage into their everyday activities.
The next generation of A.I.-driven ERP technology could reduce the likelihood of such outcomes, IT Toolbox reported. These platforms will leverage complex algorithms to learn user behaviors and generate automated solution optimization strategies that employees can use to seamlessly navigate new backend tools and perform to the best of their abilities.
Automated business intelligence
Traditionally, manufacturers have used ERP systems to pinpoint trends and to spot operational areas in need of improvement. This requires some manual data analysis work, as well as vigilant platform monitoring.
A.I.-infused manufacturing ERPs could make it easier for firms to perform both of these tasks, according to the International Data Group. Algorithms will take over all data mining and analysis work and generate operational suggestions that decision-makers can act on, leading to more responsive shop floor practices and increased opportunity for revenue gain.
Accelerated customer response
Modern ERP solutions buoy customer service operations, helping manufacturers develop quality products, maintain fast-moving and secure logistics channels and provide robust support offerings enriched by historical account context.
However, improvement is possible, especially when it comes to field service deployment, which can be hit or miss depending on the quality of trouble ticket processing workflows.
ERP software equipped with A.I. functionality could address this variation by allowing technicians to take advantage of augmented or virtual reality devices that incorporate system data to speed up root cause identification and repair efforts, IT Toolbox reported.
These are just a few of the ways A.I.-centered ERP platforms could bolster manufacturing operations and lay the groundwork for sector-wide growth. As the technology crystallizes, new use cases and benefits will no doubt materialize.
Here at Accent Software, we help manufacturing firms implement cutting-edge ERP technology designed to support sustained operational productivity.
As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, Accent provides vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, which not only allows businesses to put into place best-in-class ERP software but also enables them to build out A.I. functionality via integration with Azure Cognitive Services.
Connect with us today to learn more about our products and services.
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