Welcome to www.erp-software-solutions.com . We hope you will find ERP Software Solutions to be a valuable resource. Please drop us a line if you have any suggestions for us and we appreciate your visit.
Managing a successful business can be almost impossible without the correct tools in place to help your business succeed. The most important tool is software. Enterprise resource planning, also known as ERP is a business management software system that puts together all factors of a business and enables it to be more effective. It is a vital tool that will ensure a better bottom line and a more efficient work environment.
ERP includes planning, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. It is an extreme help with inventory control, order tracking, customer service, finance and even human resources (to name a few). Since the ERP method has become increasingly popular, different software applications have come to light to help many businesses in need. There are several different variations. It has been found that the best value is tailored software. Tailored software written for .NET is better, runs faster and more hacker resistant. It is also easier to install, change, maintain, scale and runs in real time applications. In addition, tailored software can integrate financial and order information, standardize and speed up the manufacturing processes and even reduce inventory. ERP software can be developed as stand alone modules or a complex package.
With all that said, ERP software plays a lead role in managing a successful business. It is so powerful that it will improve your order fulfillment processes, customer service, insight into financial processes, manufacturing processes and much more. Once this software is implemented, many businesses wonder why they went so long without it. ERP is a critical investment for almost any business.
Here are a couple of new blogs I ran into recently. The first is called SaaS ERP and it’s a nice ERP site. The second is called Paperless Manufacturing Systems and it’s obviously probably only worth checking out if your interested in reporting systems for manufacturing and industrial solution. Both of these blogs are worth checking out if you have the time.
The first one is called SaaS ERP. SaaS stands for Software as a service and basically it means that you pay as you go instead of paying your software fee all at once. Most SaaS systems bill their customers monthly and it can be a nice way to get the power of an ERP system without all the upfront expense. On the downside most of the companies that profess to have an SaaS erp solution come up short when it comes to functionality that can truly be adapted to a wide variety of business segments. So it definitely pays to do your homework.
The second site is called PaperlessMfg and I think they are doing a nice job. The blog is relatively new but the articles are well written and it reminds me of some of the stuff that I’ve researched. They offer articles and reviews of manufacturing technology and hardware systems as well as software solutions. The have reviews of canned software systems as well as tailored systems and they seem to be pretty thorough.
I found this article on ERP Sites that you might want to check out if you get the chance. It has links to some good sites that might be worth your time. The sites have info on agile systems which I think will be getting much more attention in the coming years. Agile systems are systems that are highly configurable and can be implemented in a short amount of time.
In the past if you were thinking of creating a system that had a degree of specialization in it there would be two basic options. You could build the system in house or you could hire a company to design the system for you and they would work to create a set of specifications and then work with your team to create a system. Perhaps the biggest drawback to this type of development is that you would most likely invest a large amount of time and human effort in the project and it would soon be out of date with emergent technology.
Agile systems beneficial in that, they reduce the cycle time in systems design, implementation and rollout. Because many of the new agile platforms are browser based they rollout to their end users very quickly. In addition many of the newer agile systems have capabilities to dramatically change the interface and even the underlying data structures of the applications rapidly. This can go far beyond the customization capabilities offered in previous solutions. Tuppas software is a good example of a system that can be implemented rapidly.
When manufactures research new systems they can purchase to help out their organization they look at multiple different faucets before actually stepping forward with a demonstration or testing a system. I came across this article that was very helpful in describing the various different types of systems that can be used for software systems from accounting, to scheduling, all the way to ERP systems. It would be beneficial to take a few minutes and glance it over. Anyone researching a system would benefit from it greatly.
In general most companies are trying to improve their bottom line and using a software system to better assist is a great idea. There are three basic types of systems that can be purchased at the current time – canned, customized and tailored. First there is canned, sometimes better known as out-of-the-box. These systems can be implemented reasonably fast and for a much less expensive. Although these are beneficial the system will not have the ability change and be suited specifically for that organization. In addition, there are multiple extra screens employees will have to work around causing the potential for lost time and money.
From a customized system any manufacture will enjoy the benefit of having the entire system designed specifically for them which will result in maximum efficiency. Unfortunately, these systems require nearly 12 months to develop and implement and do not have the ability to be upgraded or changed easily.
I was speaking to a company during a phone conversation yesterday explaining the products we offer and of course with the economic crisis we are in right now the first question was how much does it cost? I’m sure those would have been the first words out of my mouth too considering the way everyone is watching what they spend. I explained the products and gave a general price. To no avail the customer was more interested in a specific price. He then proceeded to tell me how he had an offer for an entire system, accounting, scheduling, job tracking and so forth for the price we estimated 2 modules at. Then I started thinking…
The system our kind client is referring to is a canned software system (better known to some as an out-of-the-box system). For a few thousand dollars any company can purchase a system that will “work” for them but will it offer the exact processes they are looking for? I would take a guess and say no. Canned software systems can be purchased fairly cheap however, if the company requires any sort of customization or upgrades they must pay to have them done. Don’t get me wrong this may work for some companies and if the system is perfect for them that’s great! In general canned software places many road blocks in front of its employees in terms of usability and functionality. There is a large potential that there will be extra screens and menus that may not pertain to the company that is utilizing the software. These added screens cause wasted time and procedures that should be fairly simple become complicated.
My suggestion to our potential client and to all of you is to look into tailored (not customized) software. These systems are fast tracked and tailored. Unlike a canned system the screens and menus are from a basic template and then designed for your needs and only the functionality that your company will require. Though they may cost a little more than a canned system they will save you money in the long run. Tailored software takes approximately 6-8 weeks to design. They can be easily upgraded and changed and IT personnel at your company can even learn how to extend and modify the system. Computer software is continuously growing and changing and with a tailored system your software will change and grow with your company keeping you competitive in your market and running as effectively as possible. Unfortunately, with a canned system you will have to keep re-purchasing a system each time an upgrade is available which can potentially set your organization back and affect your bottom line.
Companies are searching for the most optimum ways to improve their manufacturing structure and become as agile and efficient as possible. I came across this article on Tuppas Software’s blog that is very well written and has a lot of information about artificial intelligence and also explains the capabilities they have with producing these systems. The article explains why it is a practical application for any one in the manufacturing environment to utilize a form of artificial intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI has the ability to recognize various patters and tasks that are not capable of being devised by human minds. While computers have yet to produce the way human minds can, they do have the ability to mimic them closely.
AI can be applied to a multitude of systems with-in manufacturing by using genetic algorithms. These rule based algorithms take into account a number of constraints which users can pre-define. These constraints are then taken into account while the system programmatically arranges thousands of sequences to design a schedule that will have the most optimum functionality to the users.
When talking to any manufacture you will realize that even though they are all different in their own unique way they are similar in many of them also. For starters, companies want the most efficient scheduling system possible. Some manufactures systems are fairly easy where they can use spreadsheets to develop their daily schedule. Additionally, there are companies with more complex systems that should be utilizing more advanced scheduling software.
The needs and requirements will of course vary from manufacture to manufacture however most companies are concerned with timelines and making sure deliveries are made on-time. Thanks to the diversity of scheduling software companies can arrange their production schedule based on factors such as due dates, change over, raw materials and labor load leveling. However, some companies require their schedule to be organized based on multiple constraints at the same time. A few select vendors specialize in scheduling applications that have unique characteristics like this. Take a look at this article that talks about what to look for in a vendor. There are links to vendors who have the capability of producing systems like these.
Some unique processes these select few vendors specialize in is artificial intelligence (AI). AI will take all of the constraints into consideration at the start of the scheduling process. From there the constraints are mixed into thousands of possible scenarios to produce a schedule that has the most potential value to the customer. This final schedule is based upon the pre-defined constrains. AI is a complicated system to design and only industry experts have the capability of creating a system that will have the functionality required in addition to the capability of creating the finest possible schedule. Make sure to take a look at this web site it will help you find a company that can produce the correct AI for your organization.
Thin client technology offers a great a deal of flexibility when implemented as production scheduling software. With a thin client solution the software is designed to utilize a limited amount of computer resources. This software is browser based which means it is often compatible between different browsers and operating systems. Browser based, also known as web based, runs from a browser such as Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, etc., allowing the software to be even more versatile. When thin client production software is utilized users can access real time data from anywhere at anytime. Companies are also presented with the option of receiving e-mail alerts on any jobs running behind schedule or problems that may be occurring.
The software is installed on a central server at one of your facilities or can be hosted externally by a hosting company. By installing thin client software at a central location, employees and managers at sites around the world can access the same software allowing each member of your team to stay connected and on the same path. Once this software is installed on the central server, each individual computer that is connected to the server will have the ability of accessing the program that was installed.
With thin client software there is a reduction in the amount of hardware that is required for operation and upgrades are completed more efficiently because only the main server requires an upgrade. Companies will have the opportunity to run more efficiently with this browser-based software and can utilize better data analysis. Because of the ease in instillation and maintenance there is a reduction in the cost associated with these systems.
In the majority of manufacturing situations where Job Tracking Software would be a useful addition to the management tools being used, it’s almost impossible to use a “canned” or off-the-shelf software package. Each manufacturing facility within an industry, and the very culture within that particular facility, will certainly be unique. Even among facilities within a certain corporation, no two facilities will be operated the same, and the people operating each plant will have their own regional differences as well. For these reasons, custom-tailored Job Tracking Software for these facilities will likely need to be modified from one facility to another.
Something to consider is this: Even when an individual relocates from one manufacturing plant to another within a given corporation, there’s a learning curve that individual needs to climb once they start work at the new facility. So, when the time comes to have Job Tracking Software (or any kind of software for that matter) developed for a facility, the learning curve for the software developers will be considerably higher and steeper than a relocating individual will need to climb.
There are some key pieces of information the Job Tracking Software developers will need to have when developing for your facility. The process steps necessary to manufacture a given finished project are one of these lists of information. But sometimes the details of this list are lacking. Process steps do need to include rest and cooling times for heating or pressing operations. They also need to include quality inspections and other administrative functions.
If you need a new medium for buying or selling software, BigLittleTown can help. We have complied extensive directories of businesses in our database, each with a specific, unique and customized profile. You have the ability to search for companies in your local area or across the globe using our unique ‘Big’ and ‘Little’ Town searches. Tons of software vendors have their own profiles on which you can view applications and products specific to their business. You can search and compare many software options you may have in order to select which one may be the best suited for you.
In addition, if you are a business owner in need of free advertisement to a wide range of customer browsers, you can create your own business profile. On your profile you can choose from hundreds of applications to display that best fit your specific company needs. You can add a calendar of events, a discussion board, a shopping cart, or even games for your customers to see and participate in. Potential partners or investors can also search your profile and this is a great way for business partners in your area to find you.
Our website is designed with the customer and the business in mind. When the two come together we can create a more efficient and productive community of commerce. By making a small effort to shop locally with BigLittleTown, you can save yourself and your environment tons by not making extensive trips to find things you had no idea were right in your area. For the business minded, environmentally friendly, or smart person, BigLittleTown is a great tool for you.
.
Systems/Resources
Software Articles
Flexible ERP Software Find out how to find a flexible ERP software for your business.