The process of qualifying potential manufacturing enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors is a critical phase in the ERP implementation process. It is essential to ask vendors the right questions as you evaluate them and their expertise in providing cutting-edge service.

Does the proposed solution support the style of manufacturing? 

Manufacturing is not a homogenous environment. It includes everything from job shop systems and cell-type organizations, to complex automated systems and robotics. Manufacturers exist in a variety of industries (e.g. automotive, medical, food processing), and there are hundreds of different processes that are employed by these industries (e.g. stamping, forging, assembly). Selected solutions must fulfill each combination of manufacturing style, process and the industry's unique set of requirements 

For example, companies that create highly-complex machinery that depends on precision for accuracy will not use the same ERP as organizations that use high-speed automated equipment to create thousands of small pieces every hour. It would be impossible to optimize a single ERP to suit the specific needs of both of those businesses.

Supporting the style of manufacturing means supporting the employees who help create that style. When evaluating ERP ask for system demonstrations or reference visits which allow plant workers to judge ease of use. If workers will not or cannot use the software the return on investment will be compromised.

Can non-programmers develop new business processes in the system?

Programming difficult-to-use systems can cost hundreds of dollars per hour. It is important to vet ERP solutions to find out which ones support point-and-click or drag-and-drop interfaces that allow advanced (non-programming) users to create new processes without writing code. If a vendor does not support this type of development find out the precise operation involved in creating new screens or reports. Will you required to consult a third-party or does the vendor offer growth services?

Does the system support the extended enterprise?

Manufacturing is not an isolated process. Suppliers and customers, located around the globe, often require direct access to data from the enterprise. Business management software should be able to quickly and securely expose transactions to customers and suppliers, without the need to install extra software on the trading partner's end. The interface should also be user-friendly so that customers and suppliers do not need training to understand how to use it.

Many ERP solutions offer web browser portals that allow access to reporting and data, or simple included clients, such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV's SharePoint. This simplifies the procedure, and makes it unnecessary to build a separate point of access, considerably shortening deployment time.

How is the software licensed?

Avoid vendors who offer licensing on a per-user basis. While this might keep the price low, many companies find out after deployment that ERP can only be fully functional when a lot more employees use it. Manufacturers tend to fall into this trap more often than most, because they are not used to so many people using a software and therefore underestimate the number of users.

Flexible licensing models will allow deployment throughout the business and will allow you to add users and remove them as need be. There are a number of flexible licensing options available with Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a worthwhile solution for manufacturing companies. The versatile ERP software offers industry-specific optimization and a variety of features that can be tailor-fitted to your business's needs. To learn more, contact Accent Software today.