SAP, Oracle, NetSuite BatchMaster, Epicor, Sage, Microsoft, SysPro…some have become household names and some have not.  However, for those businesses in the process and discrete manufacturing industries, all these names are likely to ring a bell, some more loudly than others and some by almost complete surprise.  All these companies have similarities as well as vast differences between one and other.  Some serve the needs of mega companies as large as themselves and some run parallel in size with the customers they seek to serve.  Whatever the case may be, they all provide ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems for use in the process and discrete manufacturing industries.

ERP Systems

ERP Systems for Process and Discrete Manufacturing 

Manufacturing is the formula-based production of something tangible, a “product” for distribution to the customer. It takes so many of this plus so many of that that this then that is done to and the result is a consistent product to fill the customer’s order.

Process and discrete manufacturing are two types of production that differ in one very important way: process produces items that once manufactured, cannot be undone.  Some experts point out that there is always a liquid component to such goods. Some examples of process manufacturing are:  food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, dyes, printing and paints.

Discrete erp manufacturing produces products that can be broken down in to their component parts.  Toys, automotives and parts, electronics, etc., all are the product of discrete manufacturers. Discrete manufacturing is driven by orders and can include big ticket items like cars.

With so much of the manufacturing falling under these specific categories, software companies of every size have developed tools to meet the needs of both the process and discrete manufacturer.  The software offerings that are available are often dedicated to either process or discrete manufacturing.
ERP Systems designed for process manufacturing concerns include: BatchMaster, Deacom ERP Software, and Microsoft Dynamics AX as SaaS (Software as a Service) and multitenant solutions and traditional on-site systems from Sage (X3 for Process), SAP (SAP Business One) and Syspro 6.1.  BatchMaster enjoys a premier spot among food and beverage manufacturers in the small to mid-sized business sector.  SAP Business One and Syspro are popular process manufacturing ERP systems for those process manufacturers with deeper pockets.

For smaller businesses or those on limited budgets, SaaS and multitenant systems are viable options. SaaS allows smaller companies the functionality of bigger traditional systems with lower capital outlay and multitenant systems offer even tighter budgets the functionality to get the job done.  A multitenant system is one whereby server and storage facilities are shared or leveraged by various clients.

On the discrete manufacturing side of the aisle many of the same players come to the dance with discrete specific ERP systems at the ready. Traditional systems include: SAP again brings a version of SAP Business One. Sage offers X3 for Discrete.  Microsoft has Dynamics NAV and Epicor has Version 9 and ICE 2.0.  To provide a lower priced option to discrete manufacturers, Epicor 9 and ICE 2.0 are also available as SaaS applications. Here, NetSuite jumps into the fray with their own SaaS and multitenant versions for discrete.  

Written by :

warren