Discrete manufacturing ERP software can increase the efficiency of supply chain management by integrating order status, supplier inventory, current pricing, order entry and payment. ERP can use data on each product to generate planning reports, so the development of the process plans can be tracked.

A critical segment of a discrete manufacturer’s processes is supply chain management (SCM), which entails the control of materials, data, and finances as they move from each part of the supply chain:

• Supplier
• Manufacturer
• Wholesaler
• Retailer
• Consumer

Discrete manufacturing ERP software enhances the efficiency of supply chain management by integrating each supplier’s inventory, order status, updated pricing, order entry, and payments. The right ERP system can completely revolutionize your discrete manufacturing enterprise. Here’s how.

1. Real-time inventory

Accurate supply chain data and feedback from work-in-process is crucial for delivering the inventory data your business needs. With real-time inventory reports from your ERP system, you can have confidence in your purchasing lead times and production time estimates.

The right ERP system will also help to avoid surplus inventory by alerting you as soon as inventory conditions change. Disruptions in supply and shifting customer demands require an ERP system that is agile enough to adjust to these constant changes and make you aware as soon as possible.

2. Time-saving machine-to-ERP communication

So much time is wasted by workers on the shop floor when they must move from their work area to a terminal and manually input the number of units completed. Today’s production machinery can track those completed units and transfer the data—accurately and in real-time—right to the ERP system.

3. Better management of equipment

Manufacturers can set up their ERP systems to inform users which tool is required for various operations, and they can make sure it’s in the right place at the right time. They will know when any instrument or machine must be recalibrated, serviced, repaired, or replaced by tracking and reporting on its usage.

4. Process specifications directly from engineering documents

The time-consuming task of manually typing specifications from the product engineer’s documents to the ERP system can be eliminated when those specs are automatically read by the ERP software directly from the documents. Not only is there a significant time saving, but there is less chance of error than when they are transferred manually.

5. Real-time production schedule updates

The best ERP systems have the flexibility to update production schedules in real-time based on current burdens along the production chain. Maybe overtime will need to be scheduled. Or perhaps rescheduling one order might affect another order’s delivery date. Whatever the issue is, your ERP system can handle it.

6. Lead times are generated automatically

Eliminate the possibility of missed due dates by automating the establishment of lead times. ERP systems can analyse available materials, labour capacity, and machine availability to provide anticipated lead times to product development.