Choosing the right manufacturing ERP software is tough. There are hundreds of options, the technical jargon is confusing and a mistake can be costly. However, selecting software doesn't require in-depth technological knowledge. You simply need to roll up your sleeves and run a disciplined selection process. In this brief guide, we review ten best practices for selecting manufacturing enterprise software. Afterwards, you'll be ready to start your software search in earnest. At that point, visit our manufacturing software buyer's guide to review and compare systems side-by-side.
BEST PRACTICES:
Ten Best Practices for Selecting
Manufacturing SoftwareIntroduction to Manufacturing Software Selection
Choosing the right manufacturing ERP software is tough. There are hundreds of options,
the technical jargon is confusing and a mistake can be costly. However, selecting
software doesn't require in-depth technological knowledge. You simply need to roll up
your sleeves and run a disciplined selection process. In this brief guide, we review ten
best practices for selecting manufacturing enterprise software. Afterwards, you'll be
ready to start your software search in earnest. At that point, visit our manufacturing
software buyer's guide to review and compare systems side-by-side.
Ten best practices we'll cover:
1 Take ownership of selection process 6 Ensure strong support and maintenance
2 Determine your needs 7 Pay close attention to vendor viability
3 Get the right software for your industry 8 Be realistic about your budget
4 Integrate the enterprise over time 9 Understand your deployment options
5 Assess ease-of-use carefully 10 Plan your platform technology needsTake Ownership of the Selection Process
1
Your manufacturing software will impact most
every aspect of your business, so this is not a TAKING OWNERSHIP
decision that should be delegated entirely to a
junior staffer or the IT department.
Build your evaluation team
This process demands the management talent,
process expertise and perspective of business Set a timetable and deadlines
users, in addition to IT. What if your IT staff
selected a system based on an underlying Detail the key tasks and steps
database they like, but failed to recognize that
the system accounts for inventory differently Prioritize your requirements
than you do?
Make the final call
Take ownership of the selection process to
avoid buying the wrong software.Determine Your Needs
2
Too many buyers let the software salesmen
drive the process and determine their EXAMPLE ROLLOUT PLAN
requirements. Only you know how best to run
your business and where you need to
automate for the greatest return on 1 Deploy production planning and
investment. Therefore, it's critical to map out scheduling / MRP modules
your core business processes and feature 2 Develop material planning and requirements. production schedule workflows
Optimize production with MES - Do you simply need production planning and 3 manufacturing execution systems
scheduling (MRP), or integrated accounting, Integrate accounting and job customer relationship management (CRM) and 4 costinga manufacturing execution system (MES)?
Build an exhaustive list of features and then 5 Integrate to CRM and sales order entry systemsprioritize them based on what will give you the
most bang for your buck. Don't be afraid to
phase in components over time.Get the Right Software for Your Industry
3
Most enterprise resource planning (ERP) At the same time, specialty vendors may
products are designed to serve a range of be challenged to generate enough
manufacturers. Others are for specific revenue to support the wide range of
modes and industries. There are benefits ongoing development and infrastructure
and drawbacks to each approach. required by client demand. Ask these
vendors how they will they invest in new
The narrow focus of a specialty ERP development and maintain support.
vendor allows them to design software
around the needs of manufacturers within Large, broadly-focused vendors may have
their target market. For example, more resources and broader reach, but
chemical manufacturing software will are not always specialized in your
have functionality for tracking formulas industry. Ask the larger, more generic
and batches of items for traceability vendors how they will meet your unique
issues. This results in a system that more requirements and request references
closely maps to how their users operate. from customers within your industry. The
best vendors will have well-developed
The best vendors will have well- functionality for your industry.<... [download for more]
