Industrial Equipment and Machinery Manufacturing ERP Selection Tips

Download this Digest for Industrial Equipment and Machinery Manufacturing ERP Selection Tips  

Industrial Equipment and Machine Manufacturing companies produce parts and machines for metalworking, construction, lawn and garden, commercial and service, oil and gas, engine and turbine printing industries and more. Most of these small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are continuously improving to remain competitive.  This blog reviews manufacturing ERP selection tips and some resources to assist the process. Maximize your production with a modern Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) solution.  Upgrading your software will increase operational visibility, enhance control of processes and projects, and fuel expansion into new territories and services. Manufacturing ERPs like Acumatica and Dynamics 365 help optimize processes to reduce cycle time, meet increasing customer demands, and keep profit margins high. 

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If you are considering upgrading your manufacturing ERP software, it is beneficial to begin by creating a list of requirements. The requirements for your industrial equipment manufacturing business may vary depending on your company's size, product complexity, and operational needs. Your manufacturing ERP consultant will guide you through the selection, implementation, and ongoing support process. To ensure that your needs are met within your budget, it is recommended that you prioritize your requirements. Here are the features you can expect from a modern ERP system designed specifically for manufacturers. For your convenience, we have provided a manufacturing selection checklist.

Top 7 Features To Consider for INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY Manufacturing ERP Selection

1. Engineering Change Orders (ECO) - ECO functionality is essential for managing and documenting product design, specifications, or process changes. It ensures that changes are properly reviewed, approved, and implemented while maintaining product quality and compliance.

2. Engineering Change Requests (ECR) - ECR functionality helps initiate and track requests for product design or process changes. It helps formalize and evaluate proposed changes before they are turned into ECOs.

3. Product Configurator - A product configurator is an indispensable tool for industrial equipment manufacturers, empowering them to personalize and tailor intricate products. It enables customers to effortlessly choose product options while generating precise bills of materials (BOMs) and production specifications.

4. Quality Management - Quality management is crucial for maintaining product quality and ensuring regulatory compliance. This includes tools for managing inspections, audits, non-conformance reports (NCRs), and corrective and preventive actions (CPAs).

5. Sales/CRM (Customer Relationship Management) - Sales and CRM software helps manufacturers manage customer relationships, track leads, opportunities, and sales activities, and provide a seamless experience for customers. It can also assist with managing service contracts and after-sales support.

6. Estimating - Estimating software is critical for accurately quoting prices for custom or complex industrial equipment. It should consider factors such as converting estimates into the bill of materials, production orders, labor, overhead, and any customizations the customer requests.

7. Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) with ProMRO - Our ProMRO solution has MRO features and capabilities designed for businesses from heavy equipment to aviation repair. ProMRO provides fast quoting, inspections, labor and materials costing, customer equipment tracking, core tracking, mobile shop floor, sales invoicing, and finance in one easy-to-use system. Built upon the award-winning, easy-to-use Acumatica Cloud ERP and Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain solutions, ProMRO promotes your growth without having to change business systems. 

Additional Manufacturing ERP Requirements

1. Product Lifecycle Management - Synchronize engineering BOMs and items from CAD/PLM apps to manufacturing BOMs and items in the ERP system.
2. B2B Commerce Storefront - Synchronize inventory and automate order processing with an online storefront for dealers and distributors.
3. Lot and Serial Tracking - Pre-assign lot and serial numbers for production with traceability from raw materials to finished goods.
4. Quality Management - Manage quality programs with connected applications for testing, quality data analysis and tools to streamline industry compliance.
5. Field Service for Remote Maintenance, Install and Repair - Shorten the time between receiving a call and assigning a job. Track resource commitments and provide technicians with mobile apps for navigation, job reporting, and expense receipts.
6. Equipment Management -  Maintain visibility of customer equipment under warranty with equipment history. Manage service contracts and schedules.
7. Project Management - Know the actual costs of internal or external projects. Manage budgeting, timesheets, project inventory, and complex billing. Compare actual costs with original budgets.
8. Capable-to-Promise - Use APS logic to determine how many units of an item will be available by date or calculate availability dates based on capacity constraints, material availability, and lead times.
9. Purchase Orders - Purchase to the job, manage outside process costs, set up blanket orders, and create requisitions with approvals and vendor bidding.
10. Sales Orders - Link purchase orders and production orders with sales orders, manage drop-shipments, reserve stock for orders, and manage shipments.

Working with an ERP Consultant for Your Manufacturing ERP Selection 

Consider working with a software consultant or vendor experienced in industrial equipment manufacturing to help you select and implement the most suitable software solutions that align with your business goals and processes.

Selecting the right ERP software designed for industrial equipment manufacturers is crucial. Investing in digital transformation will significantly impact operational efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you choose the most suitable ERP software for your needs:

1. Define Your Objectives and Requirements - Identify your specific business objectives and needs. What are your primary goals for implementing an ERP system? Common objectives include improving process efficiency, inventory management, order tracking, and financial control.

2. Involve Key Stakeholders - Engage key stakeholders, including department heads, production managers, finance teams, and IT personnel. Their input is valuable in determining the requirements and functionalities needed.

3. Budget Considerations - Establish a clear budget for your ERP project. Consider not only the initial software costs but also ongoing expenses like maintenance, training, and support.

4. Scalability - Ensure the ERP software can scale with your business. Industrial equipment manufacturers often experience growth and diversification, so the system should be flexible enough to accommodate future expansion.

5. Industry-Specific Features - Look for ERP solutions tailored to the manufacturing industry, and specifically the industrial equipment manufacturing sector. These systems often come with features like product lifecycle management, work order management, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.

6. Integration Capabilities - Assess how well the ERP system can integrate with your existing software and systems, such as CAD software, CRM systems, and supply chain management tools. Seamless integration is critical for data flow and process automation.

7. User-Friendliness and Training - Consider the ease of use for your employees. ERP systems can be complex, so training and user support are crucial. Choose a system that provides comprehensive training resources and has a user-friendly interface.

8. Customization Options - Determine whether the ERP software allows for customization to meet your unique manufacturing processes and workflows. Customization can help tailor the system to your specific needs.

9. Vendor Reputation and Support - Research the ERP software vendor's reputation. Read reviews, talk to existing customers, and assess the quality of their customer support and maintenance services.

10. Compliance and Security - Ensure that the ERP system complies with industry regulations and standards. Data security is also paramount, especially when dealing with sensitive manufacturing data.

11. Cloud vs. On-Premises - Decide whether you prefer a cloud-based ERP or an on-premises solution. Cloud-based systems offer scalability and accessibility, while on-premises solutions provide greater control over data but may require more IT resources.

12. Demo and Pilot - Request demos and conduct a pilot implementation with a subset of your operations to evaluate how well the ERP system aligns with your requirements and processes.

13. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - Calculate the TCO, which includes software licensing and implementation, training, maintenance, and ongoing support costs over the system's expected lifespan.

14. ROI Analysis - Conduct a thorough ROI analysis to estimate the benefits the ERP system is expected to deliver, such as cost savings, increased productivity, and reduced errors.

15. Decision and Implementation Plan - Once you've evaluated multiple ERP options, make an informed decision and create an implementation plan that outlines timelines, responsibilities, and milestones.

16. Post-Implementation Support - Plan for ongoing support and maintenance, including regular updates and improvements to ensure the ERP system continues to meet your evolving needs.

Choosing the right manufacturing ERP software for industrial equipment and machinery manufacturers is a significant undertaking, but it can lead to substantial operational improvements and cost savings when done thoughtfully and strategically.

The Clients First Difference

Whether you are a small or large MRO repair shop, you will find that ProMRO has the features and capabilities that give you the power to organize and track your business so that you can efficiently grow. Nothing replaces a live presentation, so please get in touch with us to schedule a demonstration for your MRO business.

Industry expertise and experience – Clients First consultants have direct experience in the industries we support.  The Clients First Texas office is known for its vertical expertise in manufacturing, job shops, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) for aviation or heavy equipment organizations. We have customers in other industries, too, including make-to-order/engineering job shops, project manufacturing, field services, and wholesale distribution.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your next ERP project for Acumatica Cloud ERP, Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain, or Dynamics Business Central, feel free to reach out to Clients First at 800.331.8382 or via email at info@cfbs-us.com. We are happy to assist you and provide the information you need.