2015 Indiana Manufacturing Survey Results

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Katz, Sapper & Miller has released the findings of its annual survey of Indiana manufacturers. Co-sponsored by Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, Conexus Indiana and the Indiana Manufacturers Association, the yearly survey gathers information on the state's manufacturing enterprises and the overall health of the sector. 

This year's outlook is less optimistic than 2014: 38 percent of manufacturers listed their financial performance as "healthy" while 27 percent responded with "challenged." However, there are many opportunities for Hoosier manufacturers to continue to improve. The executive summary highlights the need to continue investing in advanced technologies. 

Manufacturers have two priorities: skilled workers and advanced technologies.

Modernization
The report finds that Indiana manufacturers have two main priorities for modernization: finding and developing technically-skilled workers, and investing in more advanced facilities and information technology systems. As the manufacturing industry modernizes, it's increasingly more important to hire talent with advanced technical skills, to use new information systems and adopt advanced management philosophies. Respondents highlighted the need for increased automation to reduce human error, trim waste from the workflow and boost productivity — in essence, working smarter instead of harder. 

Focus on quality
The survey notes that the majority of enterprises believe it's most important to concentrate on providing superior quality products and service, rather than lower prices. Added Jason Patch, Katz, Sapper & Miller's Manufacturing & Distribution Services Group chair, "Indiana can't just be the lowest-cost state — we have to deliver higher value in terms of workers, supply chain capabilities and more."

The right manufacturing software is important, because it can implement industry best practices to limit waste and improve both product quality and order fulfillment. 

Accent Software, Inc. supports Indiana manufacturers with manufacturing software systems that streamline processes, facilitate automation and boost productivity. Based in Indianapolis, Accent understands the challenges of Indiana's manufacturing sector and can set up an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that will promote efficiency and success. 

Your inventory management checklist

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Managing inventory well is crucial in the manufacturing industry. If you can't keep up with demand, you'll be working overtime to make your customers happy. If you overshoot and make more products than necessary, you'll have wasted resources sitting in the warehouse. Understanding these best practices and implementing inventory management software will keep your enterprise on the right track. 

Forecasting
The ERP Software Blog identifies important factors to consider when predicting your demand. Learn what trends are affecting your suppliers, since they're directly connected to your product. Consider seasonal factors: do you sell more products at a certain time of year? Are there lulls in sales at other times? Review historical sales activity, for a 2- to 5-year period. Also, remember any constraints such as storage space that could limit your output. 

Automating
The right inventory management system will let you automate many tasks. This will eliminate human error, speed up processes and free your team for more important work. TLC Group points out that the automation tools provided by an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system lets your team keep track of inventory in real-time, avoid overstock and prepare for any unexpected events. 

Automation can help your inventory management team run more efficiently. Automation can help your inventory management team run more efficiently.

Changing models
Inventory management is not a one size fits all type of solution. If it's difficult to keep up with certain products, or if your current model is causing inefficiencies, you could consider different inventory management models. The inventory management module of an ERP system lets you review your entire supply chain to help you develop the right solution for your vendors, your team and your customers. 

The right system can streamline processes to make sure your operation is producing the right amount of inventory for your needs. Accent Software is a full-service software consulting company that can help you implement the right system to boost your efficiency. We have industry-specific add-ons that are tailored to the needs of your enterprise. Contact us to learn more.

3 signs you need ERP for manufacturing

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Manufacturers have been using enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for the past 25 years, according to Mark Humphlett of Diginomica. ERP systems help manufacturing companies manage the entire supply chain and integrate it with accounting, inventory, human resources and every other department. If your company is not using ERP software, you may be dealing with some of these issues highlighted below. 

Defective goods
If a finished product does not meet quality standards, you have to spend valuable time and resources repairing or replacing the item. Implementing an ERP system also implements up to date industry best practices, optimizing your workflow and eliminating waste. An ERP system can also help eliminate problems in your workflow that lead to idle machines, another type of waste. 

Business management software can optimize your workflow. Business management software can optimize your workflow.

Inventory problems
Are you producing too much, with an overflowing warehouse that's exceeded customer demand? Or are you having trouble keeping up with customer orders? Whether you have too much inventory or not enough, the right manufacturing software can make sure your production matches demand, and help you find the balance between too much inventory and too little. 

Missing deadlines
In order to retain customers, it's crucial for SMBs to ship their products on time. An ERP system such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV provides the solutions that let manufacturers spend less time on administrative tasks so they can focus on optimizing shipments and delivering to customers. Using mobile apps provided by an ERP system, you can connect every step from customer engagement to fulfillment. Manufacturing software systems allow every department to share accurate data in real-time. 

Are you experiencing any of these issues? At Accent Software, we understand that manufacturing enterprises need to be agile and innovative. We can deploy Microsoft Dynamics NAV, train your team, and offer ongoing support tailored to your enterprise's unique needs. 

Manufacturing helps Indiana reach top 10 for business

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Forbes recently unveiled its 2015 Best States for Business Rankings, and Indiana ranks at number eight in the country. This is the first time the Hoosier State has reached the top 10 in the Forbes rankings. On their profile, Forbes cites the manufacturing industry as the main reason for Indiana's successful business climate. Kris Turner of the Indianapolis Star reports that Indiana is a leader in the "manufacturing rebound," as 17 percent of the population works in manufacturing.

A more technical role
Indiana manufacturers rely on a highly skilled work force to lead the way. After all, manufacturing has become a far more technical job over the years, and it's becoming increasingly more automated, according to US Steel CEO Mario Longhi. Whether it's in aerospace, pharmaceuticals, electronics or other industries, successful manufacturing companies develop complex systems to manage resources and optimize the supply chain. 

Manufacturing requires many technical skills. Manufacturing requires many technical skills.

The right software for the job
By taking advantage of business management software, Indiana manufacturers can automate administrative tasks, eliminate waste and optimize their workflows to maximize performance. Using an ERP system such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV ensures a small business can manage inventory, share information across departments and deliver products on time. Manufacturing has long been an industry that embraced innovation, and Indiana manufacturers are no exception. 

At Accent Software, we understand manufacturing companies play an integral role in Indiana's economy. Implementing the right manufacturing software can help your team work more efficiently, adapt faster and foster innovation. Accent Software trains and supports your manufacturing team so they can make the most of Microsoft Dynamics NAV and see a major difference. 

3 non-value added tasks that business management software eliminates

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A non-value added task is one that generates no return on investment. These activities do not benefit the customer or the company directly— they can even have a negative return. With this in mind, why do so many employees have to waste their time with them every day? Their companies are not using an ERP system, so they are not automating processes, integrating data or optimizing their workflow. Whether its in manufacturing, inventory or accounting, these non-value added activities waste employee's time and slow down production. 

Tracking down documents
One of the more complicated aspects of cost accounting is charging every task accurately. If that's not done correctly, employees may have to search stacks of invoices or purchase orders to find the right one. ERP systems automate the invoicing process so records are transparent, searchable and easy to track. The automated system processes invoice and purchase orders automatically and eliminates human error. By using the right cost accounting software, your records will be accurate and it will be easy to extract any information you need. 

Wasting production resources
Whether it's a defective product or an idle machine, a workflow that is not optimal is wasting resources. Manufacturing business software allows you to view of the full supply chain, assess each task in real-time and better prepare for capacity and labor requirements. A properly deployed ERP system can apply industry best practices to your workflow so you're running as efficiently as possible. 

Cost accounting software saves time and money.  Cost accounting software saves time and money.

Translating between departments
If each department is keeping its own records in its own system, assessing data from multiple groups can be challenging and wasteful. Maintaining a central database for all information makes sure that the data is relevant and the same standards are applied throughout the company. This minimizes the risk for silos to block information flow between departments, which results in duplicate information. 

As Alyssa Kadansky of Inddist.com, a manufacturing and industrial distribution magazine, notes "Cost savings is a guaranteed benefit of an automated ERP solution."

In order to compete with larger competitors, small businesses need to cut costs and eliminate non-value added activities. Implementing an ERP system like Microsoft Dynamics NAV can help eliminate wasteful tasks, and let your business reach its full potential. Accent Software has been implementing and servicing Dynamics NAV for 15 years. Contact us to learn more about how we can help. 

The importance of centralized data for your business management system

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An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can improve communication and decision-making throughout a company by acting as a central information hub and helping you streamline necessary processes. Let's take a look at some of the ways business management software can have a big impact on your workflow: 

Everyone on the same page

In an environment without an ERP system, each department often has its own separate records and databases. Employees upload data and generate reports when they need to with different groups, but the need to confirm data integrity in the event of duplicate data creates extra work and headaches for everyone involved. With a legacy system, each group may have a "gatekeeper" for their data, yet these gatekeepers often get overwhelmed with requests for information. Allowing everyone access to the same centralized data empowers employees, cuts down on administrative tasks and maintains data integrity throughout the company. 

Clear communication

Without ERP software, users often have to pore over duplicate data and fill out spreadsheets in order to communicate information clearly. This can get extremely time-consuming for small businesses, where being able to act quickly is essential. With ERP software, employees can quickly generate reports that are customized for their needs, directly from the system. Using these easily modified reports allows for quicker, clearer communication between teams, and it ensures decision-makers get the right information.

Having the right information is crucial to decision-making. Having the right information is crucial to decision-making.

No guess work

Data integrity and clear reporting allows enterprise leaders to make clear, appropriate decisions. As Mark Humphlett of Forging Magazine says, "Modern ERP solutions go a long way to guide and shape the way users make decisions." ERP systems allow decision-makers to access relevant information and apply it within historical context. The result is clearer communications across teams and better decisions from the top.

ERP implementation experts Accent Software can ensure you'll have the best system in place for your data to make sure your team is working with the right information. Contact us to learn more about how we can help. 

Has your ERP solution become a legacy application?

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In most cases, the goal of enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform deployment is to replace legacy systems for doing business. "Legacy systems" is a term used to describe processes that served a purpose at one time, but have become clunky and hard to get away from as technology evolves. Think of offline spreadsheets, paper forms, scanning devices and other tools your company uses to complete critical tasks like payroll, inventory and more. 

It's important to remember that at one time, your legacy systems were cutting edge. Similarly, an ERP solution can devolve into a legacy system if it's not designed to keep up with the changing and evolving standards. That's why it's important to work with a provider who can ensure that your ERP platform doesn't turn into a legacy application in a couple of years. According to research firm Gartner, many ERP systems currently deployed at enterprises will be rendered obsolete by 2016. 

"The need for agility and responsiveness has led highly customized ERP implementations to an impasse, creating a subset of legacy ERP installations that must be dealt with constructively," said Andy Kyte, vice president and Gartner Fellow. "Early ERP adopters, particularly large enterprises in energy, manufacturing and distribution industries, are paying the penalty of a decade or more of excessive customization."

Not all enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions are created equal. At Accent, the Microsoft Dynamics NAV system we deploy for our partners is routinely updated and innovated so that clients aren't left in the dust as new technologies emerge. It's also expandable to meet present and future business needs. Contact us today to learn more about how to implement an ERP system that's built to last. 

How reliable is your production scheduling?

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Manufacturing operations sink or swim by the integrity of their production scheduling. This is the foundation of customer and partner relationships: making good on promises that goods can and will be delivered at a predetermined time. 

Legacy systems require a great deal of manual input and task completion to ensure that production meets those objectives. This presents room for human error that can be solved through automation. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system delivers those results. 

"Currently, in a competitive manufacturing environment, companies face a number of challenges such as achieving high efficiency, customer satisfaction, reliable delivery dates, high quality of products or services, and quick response to customer demands," writes C. Carl Pegels in his book, Proven Solutions for Improving Supply Chain Performance. "Recently, to help improve their efficiency, firms have adopted ERP solutions."

ERP has filled a need in the marketplace for a streamlined production scheduling solution. Because your company's reputation and relationships with partners depend on consistency and reliability, old manual systems can't keep up with growing demand. 

For businesses that plan to grow, absorb more business and expand geographically, an ERP system is critical to ensuring that quality isn't lost along the production chain. By reducing the room for error, ERP systems give decision makers a scheduling model they can trust. It also frees up enterprise bandwidth to be used on more important tasks like strategic planning. 

At Accent, we've helped clients select, deploy and maintain flexible ERP solutions that fit their business needs. Contact us today to learn more about the benefit of implementing a platform for better resource planning. Our selection of business management software will help take your enterprise to the next level. 

ERP benefits for manufacturing enterprises

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A study by George Mason University highlighted some of the manufacturing benefits of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system like those we deploy at Accent Software. Here are some of their key findings:

  • Inventory management. The study highlighted the advantages for inventory turnover rate data, as well as the management of overall inventory. Due to these advantages, manufacturing and marketing employees are more prepared to manage inventory. Legacy MIS systems, the authors found, could not provide the same quality of information to decision makers. 
  • Product line change. Often, manufacturing enterprises rely on customer forecasts to identify demand in the marketplace, which could differ from reality. ERP systems give users a more reliable and timely set of data to assist in changing inventory. Users also enjoy better intelligence on which to base estimation or order commitment dates. 
  • Timely delivery. Because data sets are fully integrated in an ERP platform, information like inventory, orders, works in process and production schedules are more easily updated and accessed. This helps speed up organization processes for better partner satisfaction. 
  • Information sharing. "One major benefit of ERP systems is the integration and availability of information to employees," explains the study. "Departments such as manufacturing and marketing will receive consistent data to reflect business processes and transactions across functional areas. The information sharing is very difficult to achieve before ERP implementation when information systems are implemented just for one business function at a time creating so called islands of automation."
  • Knowledge sharing. Not to be confused with information sharing, this finding addresses collaboration in managerial decision making. With a fuller view of the entire enterprise, executives have stronger knowledge sets upon which to base their decisions. 

As a trusted Microsoft partner, Accent Software helps you define your ERP strategy, working with you to design and implement the manufacturing business software that is best suited to your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our solutions.  

7 benefits of ERP

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With the number of complexities that go into running a successful manufacturing company, streamlining processes can go a long way to improving your bottom line. A good manufacturing ERP software solution can help integrate individual department functions into one application. Here are seven benefits of an ERP solution:

  • Scalability. Adding new systems and functionality? ERP software is scalable, meaning the software needed to support new business ventures can easily be integrated into the existing platform.
  • Reporting. Accurate reporting has a huge impact on creating efficiencies in the workplace. ERP offers quick, easy and accurate reports that will help keep your workplace productive.
  • Savings. An ERP solution helps reduces costs in a number of ways. The software itself integrates the functionally of what would otherwise require investment in numerous other systems, costing more in licensing. In the course of your business operations, ERP helps manage workflow and resources, eliminating delays and reducing operational costs.
  • Analytics. The high-quality data that ERP provides allows for easier analysis of operations, enabling you to make better business decisions.
  • Supply chain. ERP offers improved inventory solutions, such as procurement, inventory management and demand forecasting, allowing for better management of all aspects of the supply chain. 
  • CRM. Quicker turnaround is one of the best ways to keep your customers happy. ERP gives you the ability to greatly improve your customer relation management by bettering your entire business process.
  • Simplicity. Reduced complexity is one of the strongest reasons to deploy an ERP system. ERP's improved workflows reduce will reduce inefficiencies across all aspects of your manufacturing business.

These are but a few of the many benefits an ERP system offers. At Accent Software, we can help you find an ERP solution that supports all the various aspects your manufacturing business.