| In concept, the more robust enterprise resource | | | | changes right along with them. Therefore, ERP |
| planning solutions (ERP) combine data and processes | | | | implementation can be seen as way organizations |
| by using integrated software and hardware | | | | build relationships; to perform effective, repeatable |
| components and a unified database to capture | | | | processes; to drive efficiency into every process; |
| information from all areas of an organization. Of | | | | and to share information accurately and as needed. |
| course, the most immediate use of ERP solutions in | | | | And, of course, to drive profits to greater success. |
| business is found in applications for manufacturing | | | | In short, top-tier ERP applications will directly link the |
| (discrete and process). An ERP solution must be | | | | specific attributes that inform the positive financial |
| many things to many people within an organization, | | | | performance of the business. By connecting the |
| but at its base it should be both scalable and flexible, | | | | application functionality to business-process |
| as well as transparent to end users even as it | | | | improvements in all areas of the manufacturing |
| continuously works in the background. | | | | operation (including finance, production, supply chain |
| ERP functions through the ordering of business | | | | management, customer relationship management, |
| processes that are themselves organized according | | | | data warehousing, and human resources), the entire |
| to common business flows (i.e., lead-to-order, | | | | organization benefits in terms of operational and |
| order-to-cash, purchase-to-pay, etc.). Such unified and | | | | actionable intelligence. In this regard, ERP is more than |
| consistently flowing business processes are produced | | | | just business communication. |
| through core applications that are usually built, in ERP, | | | | With the power of the comprehensive inclusion of |
| on a single platform to help consolidate information | | | | business data, ERP becomes an organizing force for |
| and reduce IT costs. Doing business today-particularly | | | | manufacturing, and ultimately provides efficiency |
| manufacturing business-without ERP is tough, and is | | | | solutions that are otherwise difficult to imagine. To |
| at best much less efficient when viewed through the | | | | the extent that ERP is a totalizing tool designed that |
| very focused lens of bottom-line metrics. | | | | easily integrates diverse data, the single source |
| What does ERP do? It helps to organize the various | | | | solution approach offers the best and most efficient |
| factors found within emerging and present | | | | method for organizing and interpreting such data. |
| opportunities, and can: | | | | Summary: A good ERP solution can offer a strategic |
| - Improve productivity | | | | link between business objectives and IT, and do it in |
| - Enhance financial performance | | | | such a way that drives profitability and productivity. |
| - Streamline processes and workflows | | | | ERP organizes real time data from all areas of the |
| - Improve reliability of tracking and forecasting | | | | manufacturing operation. In doing so, it provides the |
| - Lower production costs | | | | capability of making informed decisions rapidly, and |
| - Improve customer service (CRM) | | | | with information that is both timely and relevant. In |
| To these ends, a good ERP solution offers a | | | | turn, such decision-making capabilities resulting from |
| strategic link between business objectives and IT. As | | | | ERP produce improved productivity, improved |
| well, it can be justified to management in very | | | | financial performance, lower production and |
| measurable returns. A robust ERP solution is | | | | administration costs, enhanced forecasting, and |
| configurable at the business-process level so that as | | | | improved customer service. |
| company objectives change, the ERP solution | | | | |