intelligent

impact on manufacturing caused by supply chain problems can be assessed and immediately shared with customers . Indeed , the entire customer interaction is transformed . Arming the sales team with real-time information on desktops , tablets or mobiles provides immediate access to customer history , what is on order , when it is due , their credit status and invoice position . Sales staff are empowered to make intelligent , achievable customer offers , without the risk of discounts that could compromise the bottom line – a position that delivers a tangible competitive advantage .

can be in place within 12 – 16 weeks . With the option of cloud-based deployment , manufacturers can move away from the complexity and resource demands associated with on-premises systems , further releasing both cash and in house resources .

Transforming competitive position

With a single ERP solution , a manufacturer can gain immediate control over the entire business process and focus on the core areas of business pain . If just-in-time stock management is the priority , purchase decisions can be automatically driven by real-time sales demand , reducing the risk of excessive , expensive raw material stockpiles . If the goal is to mitigate the risk of spiralling raw materials , combining sales demand with information about materials costs and delivery timescales will enable informed , timely purchasing decisions .

Plus , of course , with complete visibility of the entire process , vendor management will improve . Finance will not inadvertently pay for delayed deliveries and any potential

Linking the operational production systems with the ERP optimises the entire manufacturing process . Sales orders are automatically converted into production orders , which then drives just-in-time stock management on the shop floor . All of these are visible at a glance by staff – either on a mobile device or workstation . This reduces the frustration of chasing instructions and increases the time spent on expert activities , from using a robot welder to sampling elements and checking quality , boosting morale throughout the company .

Conclusion

Despite the investment in training and automation that has improved the productivity of UK manufacturing in recent years , almost three-quarters ( 74 %) of manufacturing and engineering companies post-pandemic are still relying on ageing legacy systems and spreadsheets to get tasks done , believing this inflexible , often out-of-date , disconnected data is sufficient to support corporate decision making , according to research from Forrester Consulting .

Yet , with labour shortages and rising staff wages adding to the challenges facing SME manufacturers , the pressure is now on to gain control – and that means better information to support vital decisions , more efficient processes and a way of optimising staff time and satisfaction . ERP is no longer out of reach for businesses of any size . With minimal up-front costs , an Opex rather than Capex investment model , a cloud-based , preconfigured ERP solution provides rapid access to the automation and business information manufacturers require , fast . �

Don Valentine , Absoft ’ s Commercial Director and ADIMA ERP Lead

ALMOST THREE- QUARTERS ( 74 %) OF MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING COMPANIES POST- PANDEMIC ARE STILL RELYING ON AGEING LEGACY SYSTEMS AND SPREADSHEETS TO GET TASKS DONE .