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Infor VISUAL ERP: In-Depth Review

By Jack Shannon on 11/4/22 1:07 PM

An Exhaustive Look at Infor VISUAL's Functionality

Note: This blog was updated in 10/2020 to reflect some major changes in version 9.x.x. See the end of the blog for updates.

 

Why would any manufacturing company want VISUAL ERP?

Actually, that’s an easy question to answer. There are three reasons:

  1. Value: You will not find an ERP product with more depth and breadth of functionality at the same price point.
  2. Ease of use: VISUAL is built by software developers, but the interface was developed by designers to focus on ease of use. The screens are simple and intuitive, yet answers to your next question are in a secondary (child) window or are a simple click away.
  3. Focus: VISUAL is designed for small-to-medium sized manufacturers who create work orders to make or repair items. If this doesn’t describe your company, Infor VISUAL will not be a fit for your manufacturing company. If this does describe your company, keep reading—VISUAL may be exactly what you're looking for. 
Topics: ERP selection
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What Does An ERP Implementation Project Manager Do?

By Bryan Foshee on 11/2/22 2:45 PM

ERP implementations need a project leader

For any project to be successful, it requires a leader, and an ERP implementation is no different.  Projects involve people who take on roles, responsibilities, tasks, and decisions. They are a true team, and everyone’s actions (or inactions) affect the team and project. The ERP Project Manager (or ERP Implementation Manager) is the leader of this team, and is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the implementation.

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ERP Software Requirements for Make-to-Order vs. Make-to-Stock

By Tim O'Brien on 10/26/22 10:00 AM

Differences between make-to-stock and make-to-order manufacturing

These two manufacturing modes are just what you’d assume. Make-to-stock manufacturing is where finished goods are built to inventory. The demand associated with make-to-stock is typically driven by a forecast. Additionally, a mix of forecasting, inventory quantities driven by planning policies, and actual demand can drive planning and scheduling for make-to-stock manufacturers.

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Standard Cost vs. Actual Cost in a Work-Order-Driven Manufacturing Company

By Jack Shannon on 9/30/22 4:30 AM

 

The difference between standard and actual cost

Before I get into the best costing methodology for a work-order-driven manufacturing company, let me define both methods. With standard cost versus actual cost, the discussion centers around how the ERP system values an inventory or labor transaction. Here is how the different costing methods calculate the value of the transactions.

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How to Measure the On-Time Delivery KPI

By Jack Shannon on 9/29/22 12:14 PM

 

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.

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ERP Evaluation: 4 Questions to Ask to Get the Right System

By Tim O'Brien on 9/29/22 10:00 AM

ERP software evaluations provide answers to your questions

Visual South assists companies with ERP system evaluations and implementations every day, and has since 1993. It’s what we do and we have been through the ERP evaluation process hundreds of times.

However, many customers may only evaluate ERP software every 10 to 15 years. The ERP selection team members may have never evaluated software, or may have done so only once before. This leads to the development of many different processes -- some are good and others not so good. The Visual South team can help regardless.

Topics: ERP selection
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How to Implement an ERP System Step-by-Step

By Jack Shannon on 9/28/22 2:21 PM

Searching for ERP

In my years of working with companies looking for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, there is usually a lot of emphasis placed on buying the right system along with declarations on how the new system is going to help run the business better. Other companies have achieved this, your company can also.

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Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) Review

By Tim O'Brien on 9/28/22 12:45 PM

 

What is SyteLine?

Infor SyteLine ERP software (also known as Infor CloudSuite Industrial or CSI when deployed in the Amazon cloud) is Infor’s ERP offering for small and medium-sized manufacturers and distributors.

 

For more than 30 years, SyteLine has been used by manufacturing-centric companies for managing their business activities. SyteLine scales from as small as a 15-user single site up to hundreds of users across multiple sites, divisions, and multiple companies.

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What Companies Use SAP’s ERP Software?

By Bryan Foshee on 9/28/22 10:00 AM

What is SAP?

SAP is a technology company that has been around a long time and offers what is often regarded as the top ERP software in the world. SAP ERP is built primarily for large companies in a variety of industries. Companies that are household names (e.g. BP, Coca-Cola, BASF, Audi, Burger King, and Citrix) very likely use SAP’s ERP software somewhere in their operations.

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Is There a Best ERP for Manufacturing? Not Really.

By Jack Shannon on 9/26/22 10:00 AM

We’re good, but are we the best?

Visual South sells ERP for manufacturing-centric companies. More specifically, we sell Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) and Infor VISUAL ERP. My experience with VISUAL goes back decades: When I was a plant manager, I bought and implemented VISUAL; I was a VISUAL consultant for years; and I’ve taken deep dives into CloudSuite Industrial.

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