Before enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions became available, large manufacturing entities and smaller job shops alike struggled with efficiency. From the front office to warehouse operations and the distribution section, all functions and departments within a manufacturing enterprise once ran on individual systems and used separate software packages.
Reliance on distinct and often autonomous systems made it cumbersome, if not difficult, for the various sections to coordinate efforts and develop a smooth operational process. Lost orders, misunderstood production and customer demands and less than efficient inventory control practices were some of the failures resulting from inconsistencies in organization and a lack of synchronization between departments.
ERP Solutions Break Down the Barriers
Times have changed since the advent of ERP software solutions. ERP manufacturing software and job shop software have been on the scene for several decades. After having gone through some initial growing pains, these comprehensive facility management software packages have evolved significantly and are now widely used in the manufacturing field.
ERP software facilitates the flow of information from first contact with a customer to the delivery of the finished product. Ordering, inventory, accounting and billing, production floor endeavors and product distribution are among the areas within a manufacturing operation that are managed with precision and expediency when ERP solutions are implemented.
Scalability and flexibility are also advantageous features of ERP software. The more robust packages are designed to accommodate a manufacturing entity’s growth by adjusting to fluctuations in size and production.
In addition to other “hidden” costs, the man hours and production time that were once lost to disorganization and inefficiencies between departments have for the most part been addressed by ERP solutions. These solutions can be customized to meet the demands of any manufacturing operation, allowing it to achieve the highest possible level of productivity for its efforts.
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This blog is written and published by Shoptech Software Corporation.