End-to-End Manufacturing ERP

How End-to-End ERP Brings Manufacturers Closer to Their Goals

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It’s well known that ERP is prevalent in the manufacturing community, but according to our last blog, few manufacturers are making the most of it. With the manufacturing environment more competitive than ever, the gap between “leaders” and “followers” is broadening. According to recent Aberdeen research, there is still hope, but the window of opportunity is shrinking.

In recent years, leaders, defined by Aberdeen Research as the top 35% of manufacturers, have become more attentive to customer needs, increased their presence on a global scale, and took control of their supply chains, and have begun to pull away from the competition. Notably, as discussed in our last blog and a recent Aberdeen report, there is one major differentiator: Complete, Modern, End-to-End ERP. Read more

Modern ERP Manufacturing Leaders

How Modern ERP Creates Leaders in the Manufacturing Industry

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Manufacturers have long used enterprise resource planning to manage their finances, take control of payments, and gain visibility into processes. With nearly every manufacturer using ERP software, the difference between leaders and followers isn’t whether or not they have embraced ERP, it’s how they are leveraging it.

According to the recent Aberdeen Group report on the current state of ERP in manufacturing, leading manufacturers (top 35%) are only slightly more likely to use ERP software than their peers, embracing the software at 97% compared to 88% among followers. This means that the leaders are using the software differently. How so? Read on to find out. Read more

Modern ERP Manufacturing

How Modern ERP Helps Manufacturers Make a Successful Move to Industry 4.0

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With cloud computing now a mainstream concept, analysts have moved on to a new term that is going to change the way manufacturers do business. The term, Industry 4.0, refers to the next “Industrial Revolution” and refers to new collaboration and data exchange between people, processes, technologies and things. However, without a stable foundation, the push towards Industry 4.0 will fail to get out of the starting gate. Read more

What do Manufacturers look for in an ERP

Whitepaper: What Do Manufacturers Look for in ERP Software?

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Choosing new manufacturing ERP software that includes great general ledger, accounts payable, cash management, etc., is fairly easy. Decision makers should look for features like easy inter-company transactions perhaps for a complicated process, great reporting and drill-down capabilities. The manufacturer has a much greater challenge. In the last 20 years I have been selling manufacturing solutions and nine times out of ten, the business leaders are not concerned with how the GL or any of the financial modules work. They ask if the software has financial modules and do they work. Often our demonstrations end with financials, or we schedule them for another day, since really what the prospect wants to see is how the software will handle their manufacturing operations.

I came across this whitepaper by Nick Castellina, the VP and Research Group Director at the Aberdeen Group and thought I would share some of the results of a survey focused on manufacturing leaders: What do Manufacturers Look For in an ERP Solution? I have been following Nick’s work for a long time. He provides insightful information for the manufacturing and distribution industries. Read more

TMAC Manufacturing Event

Manufacturing & Distribution Half-Day Event

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Lane Gorman Trubitt, LLC (“LGT”) is  partnering with TMAC for an upcoming manufacturing and distribution half-day event. Please join them for 5 complimentary hours of continuing education, not to mention a continental breakfast, lunch, and networking with M&D industry leaders from across the Metroplex.

Satya Kudapa will be presenting on Lean Six Sigma.  He has more than eight years of experience providing professional coaching, mentoring and implementing Quality Management Systems, Lean Six Sigma Principles and Project Management.

If you’ve ever wondered what a behind-the-scenes view of implementing Lean Six Sigma would look like for your company, or if you are in the process and are looking for expert advice on how to make the implementation as smooth as possible, make sure you don’t miss out on a discussion on that topic (and more) led by Will McDade, the CFO of Interstate Batteries.

CPE: 5 hrs
Area of Study: Management
Level: Intermediate-Advanced

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Benefits of ERP

6 Manufacturing Problems ERP Solves

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6 Manufacturing Problems ERP Solves Manufacturers face various challenges every single day. The challenges may vary from one manufacturer to another. However, there are common problems facing all the manufacturers alike. Some of these issues can be addressed using personalized company policies or well-designed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)  while others can be addressed by implementing […]

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5S implementation tips

Starting your 5S Implementation, pt. 3

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This third installment will draw a close to our series on 5S implementation tips and tricks. If you haven’t already, take the time to read it from the beginning starting with part 1 and continue with part 2 to learn how to complete a fast, efficient and (most importantly) successful implementation of 5S, a lean business methodology.

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How to Stop the Dysfunction in your Procurement Process

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A recent Google survey hosted by AmeriQuest has uncovered an unfortunate truth some manufacturers may not want to admit ­­— their business has a dysfunctional procurement process. When I say dysfunctional I don’t mean everyone argues about purchasing to the point of needing a therapy session – at least I certainly hope that’s not the case. What I mean is that there is a lack communication, visibility and sometimes a plan for procurement altogether.

In theory, one might think that the process of procurement should be easy. All you’re doing is finding a good vender for acquiring raw materials for your products, right? Sure it is, as long as it’s also a reliable resource, the materials fit into your budget, it’s in a good location for cheap, timely transportation to your warehouse, and the materials they send are up to quality standards. Many manufacturing companies don’t have a lot of time to waste on finding and negotiating with potential vendors. This usually leaves them to settle for a “good enough” vendor.

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Four Tips for Effective Inventory Control

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In the manufacturing industry, it’s not just important to have an accurate up-to-date account of your company’s inventory, it is absolutely necessary for your company’s survival. Many businesses may think they’re keeping a sufficient record of their inventory by simply storing their yearly count in Excel or QuickBooks. Read more

Attend Lunch & Learn – Mfg. Lean Transformation Event

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Attend Lunch & Learn - Manufacturing Lean Transformation EventJoin the Garland Chamber of Commerce, the Dallas County Manufacturers’ Association (DCMA) and TMAC for Lunch & Learn – Manufacturing Lean Transformation Event

Presentation: The Journey of Lean In A Traditional Business Given By Chief Financial Officer, Duane Prentice, of Hatco Inc. 

Duane enabled breakeven EBITDA for a business which had lost $100M EBIT over the preceding four years (including a$37M EBIT loss in prior year) and generated a $23M positive free cash flow.  He knows LEAN! Read more