What Process Manufacturing Challenges Will ERP Software Solve?

The global pandemic had a profound effect on process manufacturing; from material supplies through to customer demand. And this has transformed company priorities.

Two thirds (67%) of manufacturing organizations have accelerated their adoption of digital technologies as a result of COVID-19, in order to increase their operational resilience.

If you are one of these manufacturers, one of your biggest challenges is knowing which technologies to embrace. You need a solution that can deliver immediate value, but also provide long-term ROI.

One of the most liberating, cost-effective options for process manufacturing companies is enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. ERP is a flexible, multi-functional solution that can deliver a huge amount of value through one platform.

In fact, investing in a process manufacturing ERP could solve some of your current biggest challenges…

1.    Connect Staff with Real-Time Data

In the process manufacturing environment, accuracy is critical. Employees are working to predefined recipes, and even the smallest issue can affect batch fulfilment calculations.

A process manufacturing ERP draws accurate data from across your organization in real time, so teams can make decisions based on what is ACTUALLY happening; not what they expect to happen, or think is going on.

Up-to-the-minute calculations, delivered through ERP, ensure every batch you produce is delivered to a consistent, compliant standard. Close data monitoring also minimizes quality control issues, limiting material wastage and giving customers confidence in your delivery capabilities.

2.    Enable End-to-End Traceability

While some process manufacturers have ERP software in place already and are simply looking to upgrade, many are still using spreadsheets.

If you fall into the second category, you’ll be aware that manual processes makes it difficult to track every detail of every raw ingredient used in every batch.  And the consequences are significant if there’s a quality control problem.

ERP software for process manufacturers makes it easy to achieve end-to-end lot traceability . If there is a raw ingredient containment or quality issue, you can quickly access information on exactly which batches have been affected, and issue a product recall to affected customers.

A purpose-designed process manufacturing ERP can even prevent sub-optimal products from reaching the customer, by enabling you to put quarantine/inspection procedures in place for raw materials, work in progress and finished goods.

3.    Improve Material Requirements Planning

The two benefits we’ve looked at so far have focused on quality, reliability and trust. However, ERP delivers much broader improvements related to production capacity and inventory management.

With process manufacturing ERP software in place, your organization can build accurate pipelines and schedules for current and upcoming work. And this ability to look ahead will have a tangible impact on your material requirements planning (MRP).

ERP technology with built-in MRP optimizes your production based on variables including sales forecasts, inventory status, open orders and bills of materials. The advantages of this are huge: enhanced cash flow, reduced waste, and increased profitability, to name three.

And any data changes automatically update your resource planning requirements, so you’re always making material decisions based on up-to-date information.

Integrated Technology for Today and Tomorrow

We’ve shared three key benefits that investing in a process manufacturing ERP can yield, and there are more advantages outlined in our eBook, 6 Common Manufacturing Challenges You Can Solve With One ERP Solution.

The crux of ERP’s value lies in the data insight and operational agility it delivers to process manufacturers. The economic landscape is impossible to predict, but ERP empowers organizations to review, react and re-plan continuously. Every decision you make is appropriate to the moment.

And by choosing feature-rich technology that delivers value across your business, there’s no need to keep bolting on new solutions as your digital transformation roadmap matures. Process manufacturing ERP software is both flexible and scalable, which makes it well-suited to solving today’s challenges, and working towards tomorrow’s business growth goals.

With our industry-specific process manufacturing ERP, Aptean Process Manufacturing ERP, your organization can experience immediate value and long-term ROI while solving the critical challenges of your industry.

To explore the value of ERP investment, download our eBook: 6 Common Manufacturing Challenges You Can Solve With One ERP Solution.

We’d love to show you how to future-proof your manufacturing business and meet today’s challenges. Talk to one of our process manufacturing experts to discover how.