The must-have features of ERP software for manufacturing organizations
- 11/01/2024
When choosing ERP-solution there is a lot to consider, and what to choose is dependent on your company. In a manufacturing company, there are multiple reasons for choosing a manufacturing focused ERP-solution, below you'll find 5 of these reasons.
Support the agility of your business
As a manufacturer, you require digital solutions that not only complement your well-established processes but also accommodate the inevitable changes you encounter continuously. Opting for a manufacturing-ready ERP solution is not the same as selecting standard ERP software. It is, however, creating a highly configurable ERP eco-system, capable of evolving alongside your company’s growth, expansion, or shifting production requirements. In essence, your ERP solution should possess the flexibility to adapt to the increasing complexity your company embraces while staying attuned to evolving customer demands.
Gather insights and information
The most crucial value proposition of ERP systems is the ability to gather information that helps manufacturers make clever decisions and make the most of the resources available. Though every manufacturing process is complex and unique, ERP software integrated with several data sources (e.g. through a tool like 9A Smart Insights) can secure real-time reporting and optimum transparency. At the end of the day, this is what provides the basis for analysis and knowledge about the production process. For example, cost and sales prices can be adjusted based on the insights gathered. Based on these insights, you can secure growth and save time.
Add value to unique products
Another capability that ERP systems must possess is the ability to enable your company to create products with extraordinary value. Creating a tailor-made solution that can deliver unique products is becoming more and more common. This demands that ERP systems incorporate a range of supplementary solutions and modules, enabling the transition from mass production to individual, one-of-a-kind items. Consequently, the ERP solution should be able to manage the intricacies of this process, and the ERP provider must demonstrate competence in delivering subsequent services that cater to this complexity.
Connect software with real-life practice
Obviously, ERP software must be able to control your manufacturing practices. However, it is equally important that your ERP solution is configured by practitioners with a strong knowledge within your industry. With a manufacturer-ready ERP solution like 9A Advanced Manufacturing, 80% of the solution consists of standard programming which doesn’t take industry specifics into account. However, the last 20% is the pivotal glue that links software theory with manufacturing practice. In short, the ERP system must be adapted to real-life manufacturing, making the processes optimally coherent.
Make use of AI
As a part of being able to control your business and monitor whether your processes are efficient enough, ERP systems must be able to benefit from Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is formidable at seeing patterns. Implemented in the ERP system it can play a role in avoiding errors and utilizing capacity better. With proper data fed to the ERP, AI will be able to enrich the system in numerous ways. As a manufacturer, you can prepare for the use of AI by avoiding multiple system suppliers. Instead, you should choose a platform that already contains AI - either out of the box or as connections - or maybe even look for an ERP provider that has a road map for implementing AI.
Have you unleashed the power of AI in your manufacturing company?
Manufacturing processes often generate large volumes of data, which when using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to gain insights and trends in these data, can lead to significant optimizations. This is just one example of how you can leverage AI in your manufacturing company.
