ERP Manufacturing

Discrete Manufacturing ERP

One sure way to waste a whole lotta money is to choose a manufacturing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution that doesn’t fit your manufacturing business.  All too often companies choose manufacturing ERP solutions that don’t make them more efficient or better their business in any way.  With so many manufacturing ERP solutions on the market, it is very difficult to decide which one is best for your business.  However, the more you read, the more knowledge you gain, and the better you know your business, the more likely you are to find the right solution.

Manufacturers may fall into several categories, but there are three main types as far as ERP solutions go.  The first type is the process manufacturer.  This type of manufacturer processes formulas, liquid blends like paint, food substances, and the like.  These manufacturers put together a product based on formulations.  Most manufacturers do not fall into this type.  The second type is the discrete manufacturer.  This type of manufacturer might be a car manufacturer because they put products together from parts.  The third type of manufacturer does both process and discrete manufacturing.  This manufacturer would need ERP functionality to perform both types of manufacturing.

Discrete manufacturing ERP solutions are offered by many ERP vendors. Discrete manufacturing ERP solutions enable you to manage your inventory, manage your production, and your manufacturing floor.  The goal of a discrete manufacturing ERP solution is to provide excellent tracking capabilities for all good, easy order entry capabilities, automate purchasing make sourcing efficient, provide accurate quotes, lower inventory and products costs, keep your floor or assembly line in tip-top shape and optimize your overall end-to-end manufacturing system.

Today’s economy is compliance driven.  Product must meet government regulations, safety regulations, and whatever compliances are attached to the product you manufacture.  Of course if you are an international manufacturer and you have manufacturing plants in other countries, then you have to be in compliance with each country.  Meeting all these demands can be difficult without a discrete manufacturing ERP solution that has regulatory compliances built in.  There are typically three compliances built-in to a discrete manufacturing ERP solution do the following; make sure you meet international compliances (including ISO and CSA), make sure you meet industry compliances, and make sure you meet company compliances.  One might think of compliances as a type of quality control to protect you as a manufacturer and the product you manufacturer.

Written by :

tracey boxer