Today, manufacturing companies face unprecedented challenges. Rapidly changing markets, customer needs, technology, and competition all affect the way a company does business. Activities such as sales planning, demand management, master scheduling, materials planning, capacity planning, supplier scheduling, and financial planning must be properly connected.

Integration of the Supply Chain

What's needed is coordination, integration, and an overall system that formalizes these activities, and gets them working in harmony toward your organization's goals. This integration of supply chain and internal management activities is called Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), previously called Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II).

Selection and Implementation

We have an outstanding track record in implementing and operating ERP/MRP II. We will take a thorough approach to ensure that ERP/MRP II is doing everything it can for you. An initial audit and assessment is followed by a detailed implementation support effort that integrates people, technology, and procedures.

We can help you select, design, and implement an ERP/MRP II program "from scratch", or we can help you to fine-tune an existing system. We also conduct the appropriate education tailored specifically to your company's need. We have an extensive selection of quality education offerings.

ERP Systems Implementation

ERP systems continue to be more comprehensive as companies demand additional functionality and software firms enhance their capabilities, requiring a high level of precision in the implementation process. Implementing an ERP system is arguably the most difficult change that an organization will experience. The investment is substantial, and when successfully completed the ROI is significant.

The continual evolution demands that a plan to implement includes a clear guide for the Management Team, Steering Committee, Project Team, and key users.

What ERP Systems Do For A Manufacturing Firm

ERP systems are designed to:

• Manage information
  
• Integrate functions and data internally and externally
  
• Organize data
  
• Analyze information
  
• Prompt timely activities
  
• Project conclusions of plans
  
• Provide, share and integrate information to partners in the Supply Chain
  
• Store historical data
  
• Simulate results of a variety of scenarios

Why An ERP System Is Difficult To Implement

The ERP system is essentially becoming an absolute requirement to running a business profitably and in the best interest of the customer.

Coupled with the significant business advantages, to a manufacturing firm, is the absolute requirement for sound data, impeccable disciplines, and profound understanding of the integration process.

The typical manufacturing firm embodies a variety of skills that cause it to be capable of managing the various aspects of a business. However, these skills do not include the same set required to conduct a timely and complete ERP Implementation.

The rewards associated with the efficient manner that a firm runs the business following a successful implementation are significant. However, the magnitude of the impact on the finances, employees, suppliers, and customers presents a level of risk that is equally as significant.

What is on the Horizon for ERP

• ERP will continue to expand in all directions, offering additional capabilities and functionalities as the user community continues to require specific facilities.
• ERP will expand readily into the World Wide Web in many ways:
  - Web-based application delivery
  - Business-to-Business applications
  - Business intranet information sharing
  
• ERP systems will undoubtedly evolve with a new name (for example, ERP II) as it expands

Most innovations will provide enhanced capability. However, this evolution will cause increased complexity leading to an increase in the need for highly skilled implementation specialists.

The Total Process Defined In Four Phases

1. Strategic Phase

• Define business objectives
  
• Assess organizational preparedness
  
• Prepare ROI
  
• Develop first cut budget
  
• Create steering committee
  
• Assign full-time project manager
  
• Conduct an ERP implementation impact session (1 day)
  
• Identify required process improvements
  
• Correlation to current initiatives
  
• Procure adequate professional resources to guide the project
  

2. Tactical Phase

• Define detailed system requirements
  
• Develop major milestones project plan
  
• Assess systems implementation skills
  
• Create organization
  
• Develop a project charter
  
• Define the technical aspects of migrating data
  
• Select functional team members
  
• Develop company-wide education plans
  
• Conduct an ERP impact session (2 days)
  
• Identify resource requirements
  
• Evaluate software and narrow to three candidates
  
• Establish a time frame
  

3. Operational Phase

• Analyze three software solutions in-depth
  
• Conduct software demonstrations
  
• Conduct user visits
  
• Select software
  
• Provide timely software education
  
• Develop a detailed Project Implementation Plan
  
• Assign tasks, sub-projects and duties
  
• Identify modifications
  
• Test all functions of software to be used
  
• Establish measurements
  
• Develop a documentation methodology
  
• Define cut-over process
  
• Build new system database
  
• Cut-over to new system
  

4. Stabilization Phase

• Evaluate all elements of system
• Review system's exceptions and problems
  
• Analyze actual results versus measurements
  
• Conduct regularly scheduled user reviews
  
• Administer necessary changes and adjustments
  
• Update documentation
  
• Establish criteria for final acceptance
  
• Report findings to Steering Committee
  
• Celebrate
  

Results Include The Most Critical Of Goals, Such As:

• Increased Customer Satisfaction
  
• Decreased Supply Chain Lead Time
  
• Increased Profitability
  
• Resource Optimization
  
• Improved Quality of Worklife