ERP Process

Process versus Discrete: Which Are You? -  Part two

A discrete manufacturer will not get many benefits out of an ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning solution with process manufacturing functionality and vice versa.  For example, if a process manufacturer makes a food product that is recalled by the FDA, a discrete manufacturing solution may not have the capability to trace and retrieve the lot.  A discrete manufacturing solution probably won’t have the capability to keep a process manufacturer in compliance with regulatory demands.  A discrete manufacturing solution probably won’t have the capability to track research and development, which is important functionality for process manufacturers.  A process manufacturing solution may not have built-in compliances (ISO and CSA) to meet quality control standards for discrete manufacturers.  Selecting the right type of ERP solution based on the type of manufacturer you are, is very important.

The discrete manufacturing industry is much larger than the process manufacturing industry.  For this reason there are many more discrete manufacturing ERP solutions available than there are process solutions.  Even though there are several more discrete manufacturing Enterprise Resource Planning solutions on the market today, the number of process manufacturing ERP solutions is growing.  Some comprehensive process and / or discrete manufacturing ERP solutions suited to different sized manufacturers include:
•    Microsoft Fullscope – Integrates with Microsoft Dynamics AX - process
•    Ross Enterprise - process
•    Infor ERP - process
•    Process Pro - process
•    Oracle Process Manufacturing - process
•    Batchmaster Manufacturing for SAP Business One - process
•    Sage ERP X3 - process
•    SYSPRO ERP – process and discrete
•    PRIMS – process
•    CDC Software – discrete
•    Enterprise 21 – discrete
•    SAP – discrete
•    Oracle – discrete
•    DEACOM – discrete
•    Eci M1 – discrete
•    Epicor – discrete
•    Intuitive ERP – discrete
•    Sage ERP – discrete
•    ShopVue


If your manufacturing business is seeking an Enterprise Resource Planning solution, there are some sure ways to tell if the solution offers discrete functionality, process functionality, or both.  Aside from reading the associated software documentation, a discrete manufacturing solution will offer the following functionality; bill of materials, change ordering, warranty tracking, production scheduling, inventory management, and serial number tracking.  A process ERP solution will offer the following functionality; formula management, recipe management, shelf life tracking, lot traceability, and scalable batch management.  When in doubt, talk with the ERP vendor. 

Written by :

kristine H