From derailed supply chains resulting in production declines and shortages to drops in employment, the manufacturing industry suffered during 2020. However, creating a future-proof (or resilient, agile, flexible) and streamlined manufacturing business in uncertain times is not a pipe dream. Many manufacturers have already begun the process by implementing manufacturing ERP software.
Now, they need to take it a step further and move their ERP to the cloud.
Creating a streamlined, future-proofed solution with cloud-based manufacturing ERP software
An ERP system for manufacturing is modern, comprehensive manufacturing technology. The entire manufacturing business, from production planning and the shop floor to customer management, sales, inventory, purchasing, accounting, and financial reporting, is integrated. Real-time collaboration and coordination between every facet of the organization is now possible with every department accessing a single source of truth.
But what happens when a business takes that manufacturing software and moves it to the cloud? Let’s just say that the already impressive benefits provided by manufacturing ERP software have just become even more so.
For example, the days of installing expensive hardware physically in a facility is a thing of the past. Implementing cloud ERP software takes the cost of housing, maintaining, and upgrading the hardware out of your IT budget. Indeed, IT expenditures are dramatically reduced because IT support services are provided by the cloud ERP vendor.
Software as a Service (SaaS) also allows all employees to connect to the ERP applications via the Internet through web-enabled mobile devices. Phones and tablets can be used to capture material issues, move transactions, and monitor labor with Acumatica’s mobile app and scanning, while management can view approvals, production orders, schedules, and material plans at any time, from wherever they are. And when the pandemic forced many businesses to transition all or most of their employees into working remotely, businesses with cloud computing and mobile capabilities were able to adapt quickly to the changing circumstances and ensure business continuity.
Additionally, cloud software puts data security and data back-up responsibilities into the vendor’s hands and expanding geographically is easily accomplished with Internet access virtually everywhere.
Choosing manufacturing software on the cloud is choosing to become a streamlined, resilient business.
Look for complete, multi-site, and cloud-based manufacturing software
Manufacturing resiliency during uncertain times requires a cloud-based ERP system for manufacturing. When researching their options, manufacturers should look for cloud-based manufacturing ERP software that:
- Supports multiple manufacturing methodologies, such as make-to-stock (MTS), make-to-order (MTO), engineer-to-order (ETO), configure-to-order (CTO), and more
- Provides cross-application integration (e.g., with financial, project accounting, distribution, and customer management applications) for real-time coordination and visibility
- Is capable of growing with the company
- Puts full control (engineering change request, change order, and change notice and approvals) in the manufacturer’s hands • Forecasts demand, optimize resources, and control costs
- Provides MRP and APS to balance material requirements with production schedules
- Tracks materials and labor costs
- And more
There are many cloud ERP solutions with manufacturing applications, but not all provide a complete, multi-site system that streamlines the business. Acumatica Cloud ERP and Acumatica Manufacturing Edition do.
Manufacturers will learn that becoming a fully connected business in the cloud includes integrating (when and if needed) with Acumatica’s value-filled and affordable features, such as Bill of Materials Routing, Production Management, Material Requirements Planning (MRP), Advanced Planning and Schedule (APS), Manufacturing Data Collection (MDC), Engineering Change Control (ECC), Estimating, Product Configurator, Inventory/Order Management, and much more.
OFS International (OFSi), a company that provides inspection services, manufactures couplings, and more for the Oil and Gas industry, chose Acumatica’s manufacturing management software after carefully considering 11 different systems.
“Acumatica gives us the capability to provide POs, available raw material, and manufacturing modules to provide accurate, available-for-sale inventories, including all pertinent costs. Acumatica allows us to concentrate on the business itself while not worrying about the software,” says IT Manager Yuri Dorovskikh.
And Chief Commercial Officer David Green says, “I strongly believe Acumatica is a great software, ERP system because it provides the cloud-based remote access. It’s very simple to use. It’s intuitive. The reporting functions are great. The flexibility of working with Acumatica to make changes to fit your business is a very, very, very good business model.”
As OFSi found out, implementing cloud-based manufacturing ERP software enables manufacturing organizations to streamline their processes while also guaranteeing resiliency in uncertain times.
And manufacturers can rest assured that they will have help every step of the way by expert Acumatica partners, such as Clients First Business Solutions. Our goal is to provide value with every service hour we provide. Reach out to us at info@cfbs-us.com or call 800.331.8382 for an business requirements analysis and determine your ERP software and project costs.
