ERP & Materials Management Systems

Overview of systems selection issues for ETO / Project-based manufacturers

For small to mid-sized manufacturers, finding the appropriate systems at a reasonable cost has not been an easy task. But in recent years an increasing number of software developers have been turning to the SMB market for new growth opportunities, and systems that were previously only accessible to larger companies have become more affordable for smaller businesses and no longer require significant in-house IT resources to maintain.

This is particularly true for ERP and MRP/Materials management systems, although the front-end costs of investing in these systems, while lower than in the past, can still be substantial. This makes it all the more important to ensure that the selected system will satisfy the particular needs of the business. Also important is that the evaluation process concentrates on the expected benefits to the business and the expected return on investment, rather than simply focusing on initial cost.

The ETO/Project-based segment of the overall manufacturing industry has traditionally been underserved by software vendors. Most manufacturing system solutions -- whether full ERP systems or narrower-scope materials management systems -- have been oriented to repetitive or discrete manufacturers, and these systems do not adequately address the special business requirements of the ETO segment of the market. As many ETO manufacturers have discovered to their cost, trying to work with these systems can be extremely problematic and all too often results in a high level of frustration with very little tangible benefit.

There are, however, a number of niche-market software companies that have developed ERP systems that meet these special needs; the challenge is finding them and that is where we can help. BW&A is continuously researching the software market to find and evaluate systems that specifically meet the requirements of ETO/Project-based manufacturers. We can save you countless hours of effort in finding the right solutions by providing you with recommendations that include only those systems that are suited to your manufacturing operations. We can also suggest different approaches that will assist in providing solutions that fit your available budget.

BW&A can help you assess the various alternatives and when you make your final selection, we can work with you in coordinating the implementation process. Call us for more information.