ERP Solutions for Manufacturing Sector
Tons of inventory, machines, and processes: this is what makes machinery and equipment manufacturing a challenge. Workflow management of multi-level assemblies can become a tangle of inter-dependencies for machinery manufacturers, but with an ERP inventory tracking, shop floor scheduling, and other MRP functions can easily be managed and adjusted for greater throughput. Machinery and equipment manufacturers can also gain an understanding of the actual costs of each build while becoming a reliable industrial machinery manufacturer for their customers by using key features and functionalities available in an ERP>
Enhancing collaboration across the
manufacturing process
The need for collaboration in manufacturing processes
is key for machinery and equipment manufacturers. Complex BOMs, fabricating
parts and sub-assemblies and making a final assembly using hundreds of parts
with multiple operations and thousands of tasks all add up to a complex
manufacturing process. Without collaboration between departments, and an ERP
system that can facilitate collaboration, machinery and equipment manufacturers
can get lost in the weeds. Often a disconnect typically exists among design,
engineering, operations, and suppliers within a machinery shop. Not
coordinating complex builds and having a lack of visibility throughout an
organization can affect delivery dates and final product quality. But, one of
the key advantages.
ERP software brings to machinery manufacturers is the
ability to integrate multiple sets of data from different applications and
departments across a product’s life cycle. ERPs connect an entire shop,
allowing for better communication and collaboration, meaning manufacturers can
better facilitate the high level of communication and teamwork that is required
within their manufacturing processes.
ERPs reduces the potential for quality problems or
redundant work because a shop is working off of the same reliable information
that anyone working from anywhere can access and use at any time. Manufacturers
can enter data once, share it throughout their operation, and keep all
documents and tracking information in one place for everyone to access. With
integrations with accounting and engineering software, machinery manufacturers
can avoid re-keying data, and can easily transfer information, like complex
BOMs, from CAD software to their ERP, ensuring accuracy.
Many machinery and equipment manufacturers
manufacture both a standard catalog of parts and equipment as well as create
custom equipment for their clients. These manufacturers need an ERP system that
is built from the understanding that custom manufacturing requires greater
coordination between product development, estimation, production planning, and
sales. An ERP built exclusively for custom manufacturers gives them an
all-in-one-place to store and manage the complete range of information it needs
for a custom job. Manufacturers can view details of open orders, prices, and
preferred vendors, and can see the impact of their choices on production,
finance, and procurement.
An ERP eliminates the need for individual
spreadsheets and creates a deeper level of connection between departments. The
engineering department, crucial to the custom manufacturing process can easily
interact, communicate, and share information with other key departments, such
as purchasing and production with an ERP. Everyone can get the information they
need to do their jobs effectively. For example, including knowing what long-lead
items are needed so that they can be ordered early on during the design phase,
which will ensure the items arrive in time.
Tackling the challenges faced by
machinery and equipment manufacturers
Horizon ERP is ERP software designed for the specific needs of custom
manufacturers working in the machinery and equipment sector. With over 30% of
our customers in this sector, we specialize in providing manufacturing software
systems that solve the business challenges of machinery and equipment
manufacturers. Designed with only manufacturers in mind, Horizon ERP is a good
fit for industrial machinery and industrial equipment manufacturers working in
all modes of production, as well as those who handle servicing and spare parts.
Wasted
engineering time
A lot of engineering time can be eaten up by
transferring the Bill of Materials, or BOM, out of a CAD system into an ERP. A
BOM is the comprehensive list of parts, items, assemblies and other materials
required to create a product, as well as for instructions required for
gathering and using the required materials. An accurate BOM is one of the most
critical elements of a custom manufacturing job, and transferring all of this
important information out of a design system and into an ERP is crucial.
With a fully integrated system, the engineering
department can seamlessly export a BOM from a CAD system into an ERP, creating
a fully itemized list of the materials, making it simple to compare the
materials needed for the project against what is already on hand, as well as
prepare for production. Not only will manufacturers save time and remove errors
that come from manual data transcription and entry, but they will also be able
to get more jobs done on time and on budget. The engineering department can
spend more time working on design and engineering tasks, allowing machinery and
equipment manufacturers to do more with their current level of resources.
Selecting an ERP with this functionality is key for machinery and equipment manufacturers.
Inventory
issues
Parts get allocated twice or aren’t on the shelf when
needed. However, with a connected system, this struggle does not have to be
eternal. Real-time inventory control, lets manufacturers avoid material and
long-lead item shortages while optimizing the supply chain for rolling stock of
goods available when required. Effectively managing inventory and keep stock
levels at the right level reduces operational costs and allows manufacturers to
better invest their resources into things like growing their business.
Accounting
headaches and redundant entries
Development around ERP software that requires a lot
of oversight and checking, eliminating the potential for greater efficiency.
With Horizon ERP, everything is centralized, tied to a job number, and
historically trackable. Accountants can move beyond the need for tedious and
manual checks and balances and have more time to focus on critical tasks.
ERP also helps manufacturers create better quotes,
and better understand job costs. Instead of quotes and estimates being educated
guesses, with the data available from an ERP you can create a more accurate
quote. Although each custom product is unique, ERP contains a stockpile of
historical data from past jobs and products that manufacturers can access and
analyze to help machinery and equipment manufacturers create better quotes.
Project
Management
ERP allows custom manufacturers to effectively manage
all milestones that need to be completed to get a job out of the door on time.
Milestone management provides a high-level representation of all the activities
that need to be completed in order to deliver a custom job. At every step, a
manufacturer will know what task needs to be done and when, the progression of
that task, and the exact stage it is at all in real-time. Having an ERP means
that a manufacturer will always have complete visibility over their entire
shop, allowing machinery and equipment manufacturers to better manage and
oversee all of their jobs.
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