ERP Optimization

ERP

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, computers, and procedures.

We can help you select, design and implement an ERP/MRPII 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.

When optimizing your ERP system, the focus must be aligning the application with your business processes and business rules to accomplish world-class manufacturing and distribution. The ERP engine needs to support your Lean efforts and must be optimized to meet Lean Manufacturing and Lean Supply Chain goals. By way of explanation for those who are unfamiliar, the Lean concept is the fundamental re-thinking and radical re-design of businesses and processes to achieve dramatic improvements in the critical performance measures of speed, cost, quality, and service.

A typical ERP optimization plan has the following elements:

1. Conduct in-depth interviews with all key users


2. Review all business processes from "order-to-cash"


3. Review business processes in relationship to software and best business practices


4. Review level of basic ERP knowledge in all key areas


5. Conduct detailed review of all systems parameters/order modifiers


6. Prepare detailed value maps of all key business processes


7. Prepare a departmental review of systems functionality


8. Assess systems parameters and their ability to meet business and departmental goals


9.Brainstorm policies, procedures, and business rules to support "today's" business needs, as well as tomorrow's vision


10. Conduct new education and training


11. Populate ERP parameters and order modifiers in alignment with your business rules, lean thinking, and processes.


12. Document sustaining processes

For companies who distribute finished product from multiple stocking locations, Distribution Resource Planning (DRP) integrates the sales, distribution, and manufacturing functions by correctly planning how much, when, and where each of your products is needed. No matter how complex your operation, our role is to help you lower your risks, maintain cost-effectiveness, and reach your specific goals as quickly as possible. We have worked extensively with various distribution companies including Eastman Kodak's Logistics operation to help integrate their Supply Chain.