ERP Manufacturing

Manufacturing Process Software

Manufacturing process software modules typically describe software program suites and products designed to facilitate productivity and efficiency on process manufacturing shop floors. To gain a better understanding of manufacturing process software functionalities, it helps to take a look at what makes process manufacturing models different from two of the other most common factory floor designs, product manufacturing and JIT manufacturing models.

As opposed to product and JIT systems, process systems are those that combine ingredients to make batches of product that cannot be reassembled once they have been combined. Some types of items that are typically produced with the help of manufacturing process software include paint, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and pet food. Product manufacturing models, by comparison, are designed to assemble component parts on a shop floor into a completed product that can be sold individually or in sets. Product manufacturing can take place as separate pre-assembled components are delivered to a central area and assembled in the same area. Product manufacturing may also happen as component parts are added to a whole while in motion, as on an assembly line. JIT manufacturing firms are usually variations on the product model whereby component parts are ordered and assembled by individual request, so that raw materials do not exceed the demand for finished products.

Each of these manufacturing models stands to benefit from increases in efficiency and productivity brought about by custom software products designed to run on an integrated ERP infrastructure. Manufacturing process software product suites, for example, can often help businesses deal with batch tracking and bi-directional lot tracking, recipe changes, recall management, and ingredient adjustments. Integrated ERP software systems can also help shop floors control scheduling and coordinate back office functions like accounting, human resources and payroll. These software systems can also facilitate communication and data sharing between diverse departments like marketing and research and development.

A well run process manufacturing firm needs to maintain tight control over ordering, shipping, warehousing and scheduling. In the early days of enterprise resource planning solution technology, manufacturing process software suites were usually only available to firms that had the highest technology budgets and the highest tolerance for financial risk. These firms were usually limited to huge fortune five hundred level enterprises. But at this point, established developers have begun customizing their products to meet the needs of smaller business clients. These smaller clients also often have access to hosting solutions and software service providers that can allow small business clients to run applications without incurring the cost and difficulty of server ownership and maintenance. The ability to expand manufacturing capabilities while sidestepping software system infrastructure costs can revolutionize efficiency and increase revenue streams for process manufacturing firms across a wide variety of products.

Written by :

tracey boxer