Visual South Insights

In this guide, we break down what small and midsize manufacturers need to know about ERP systems, from core functionality to technology strategy and total cost of ownership.

The Visual South Professional Services team has been guiding and assisting Infor ERP implementations since 1994. One critical part of the implementation process is managing and converting data from your current system(s) to your new ERP application. Those activities happen throughout the ERP implementation project, not just at the beginning.

The future is bright for the continued growth of cloud ERP

More and more manufacturing companies are moving away from on-premise applications. Cloud-based ERP applications are the future for the industry due to the myriad of benefits: alleviated need for hardware, database, and operating system software; fewer internal or outsourced teams for maintenance; and never having to worry about being on the latest version of your ERP.

The right ERP can transform a company by providing data which wasn’t previously available. In many cases, life before ERP consisted of looking for problems and then figuring out how to solve them. A good example of this is the production meeting, where supervisors and managers sit in a room and go over every job. Most of the meeting is spent looking for problems. Imagine going into the meeting knowing the problems—and starting with possible solutions. That’s what ERP can do. But getting there is a process.

This is part two of our series on on-time delivery. Here is part one on how to measure the on-time delivery KPI.

Measure what you want to improve

There are many opinions as to what key performance indicators (KPIs) should be monitored at a small to medium-sized manufacturing company, but the on-time delivery (OTD) KPI is on everyone’s list. It doesn’t matter if the company is build-to-stock, a job shop, or something in-between; there are many steps in coordinating the production of a product and OTD is a nice summation of manufacturing performance.

When it comes to choosing an ERP system, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The options seem endless, and everyone has an opinion about which one’s the best. Here’s the thing: There isn’t one perfect ERP system. Instead, the key is to understand the types of ERP on the market today and figure out which one makes the most sense for your specific situation. Let’s break it down.

Infor is the third largest ERP solutions provider in the world. The two main Infor ERP solutions we (at Visual South) help manufacturers implement are Infor CloudSuite Industrial (Infor SyteLine) and Infor VISUAL. In this guide, we'll take you through everything you need to know about Infor and its ERP software options. Click the links below to jump to specific chapters.

• Chapter I: Do You Need ERP?

• Chapter II: Deployment for Infor ERP Systems

• Chapter III: Infor ERP Product Review

• Chapter IV: How to Run an ERP Selection Process

• Chapter V: How to Implement ERP

Who cares how you implemented your ERP? It’s about how you use it.

In manufacturing, access to timely, precise, and well-formatted data is essential for operational efficiency and informed decision-making. SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a powerful tool that helps all types of companies create and manage structured, detailed reports that have been tailored to their needs. Below, we’ll explore why SSRS is an excellent choice for manufacturers and how it can enhance your reporting capabilities.