The successful management of a manufacturing company depends on many factors: Order situation, product and raw material inventory and thus "dead capital" as well as machine and personnel utilization. Software solutions for enterprise resource planning (ERP) have long been established in such companies - but the degree of utilization varies. "Pilots have a cockpit in which all relevant data from the machines and systems converge at all times. ERP software also provides this option in a company - regardless of its size. Business decisions at management and departmental level can be made precisely on the basis of this data," says Christian Biebl, Managing Director of the software company Planat. The company, which is based near Stuttgart, has been in the ERP market for 40 years and equips medium-sized manufacturing companies with the FEPA software, an ERP solution specifically tailored to the processes between production and administration.
Processes and ERP adapt to each other
The ERP system plays a central role in the ongoing digitalization process. The greater the degree of utilization and the depth of integration into company processes, the more likely the system is to ensure a rapid return on investment (ROI). It also results in more precise quotations, faster order processing and better customer service in day-to-day business. "Many companies are reliant on very tight and timely delivery of supplied parts. The sooner the processes are set up for just-in-time production, the better a manufacturer can react," summarizes Christian Biebl from Planat. Historical processes, on the other hand, are not always efficient: the introduction and ongoing use of an ERP system such as FEPA therefore requires a process analysis and adaptation in order to increase the efficiency of digitization. With its specialization in manufacturing companies, the Planat team has over four decades of best practice experience and advises on an equal footing.
Preserving knowledge and making it usable
The saying that money is made in production is true - and increasing competitive pressure ensures minimal margins. Streamlined processes and a precise overview of orders, sales and inventories at all times offer significant savings potential. Outdated merchandise management systems or isolated solutions based on Microsoft Excel, for example, are no help in remaining competitive in the future. "Those who align their processes with a tried-and-tested ERP standard become faster and better - decisions are made easier at all levels and are given a precise basis based on the data that is also collected and evaluated via the ERP system," explains Christian Biebl. The database grows with the time it is used and forms a knowledge base that is constantly available to employees, preserving knowledge and making it usable.
