About ERP

History
In manufacturing industry, MRP (Material Requirement Planning) became the fundamental concept of production management and control in the mid 1970s. At this stage BOM (Bill of Material), which is purchase order management that utilizes parts list management and parts development, was in the mail stream. And this concept (MRP) unfolded from order inventory management of material to plant and personnel planning and distribution\n planning, which in turn became MRP II (Manufacturing Resource Planning).This incorporated financial accounting, human resource management functions, distribution management functions and management accounting functions. It came to globally cover all areas of enterprise mainstay business and eventually came to be called ERP.

What is ERP
Enterprise Recourse Planning (ERP) covers the techniques and concepts employed for the integrated management of business as a whole, from the viewpoint of the effective use of management resources, to improve the efficiency of an enterprise. ERP packages are integrated (covering all business functions ) software packages that support the above ERP concepts.
Originally, ERP packages were target at the manufacturing industry, and consisted mainly of functions for planning and managing core business such as sales management, production management, according and financial affairs, ect. How ever, in recent years, adaption not only to the manufacturing industry, but also to divers types of industry has become possible and the expansion of implementation and use has been progressing on a global level.
ERP software is designed to model and automate many of the basic processes of a company, from finance to the shop floor, with the goal of integrating information across the company and eliminating complex, expensive links between computer systems that were never meant to talk to each other.


Reasons for the Growth of ERP Market
There is no doubt that the market for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is in great demand. Industry analysts are forecasting growth rates of more than 30% for at least the next five years. Why are so many companies replacing their key business systems? The answer is:
- To enable improved business performance
Cycle time reduction
Increased business agility
Inventory reduction
Order fulfillment improvement

- To supports business growth requirements
New products/product lines, new customers
Global requirements including multiple languages and currencies

- To provide flexible, integrated, real-time decision support
Improve responsiveness across the organization

- To eliminate limitation in legacy system
Century dating issues
Fragmentation of data and processing
Inflexibility to change
Insupportable technologies

- To take advantage of the untapped mid-market (medium size organizations)
Increased functionality at a reasonable cost
Client server/open systems technology
Vertical market solutions


Advantages
Installing ERP system has many advantages- both direct and indirect. The direct advantages include improved efficiency, information integration for better decision making, faster response time to customer queries, etc. The indirect benefits include better corporate image, improved customer goodwill, customer satisfaction, and so on. The following are some of the direct benefits of an ERP system
• Business Integration
• Flexibility
• Better Analysis and Planning Capabilities
• Use of Latest technology.

Enterprise resource allocation can also help improve reporting and accuracy. In fact, ERP encourages:
• Location of all data in a single database where it is easily accessible.
• Reduction or elimination of reliance on paper documents.
• Elimination of re-keying of data (which can produce errors).
• Integration of reports; sales, financial, and manufacturing reports can be viewed in conjunction.
• Improved monitoring capability enabling management to view departmental data instantly.
• A single interface allowing users to easily use and interpret reports all through the same ERP software system.


Modules
The value of an Enterprise Resource Planning software system is in its ability to function as a comprehensive system. The level of comprehensiveness may vary by individual providers or by their particular industry focus. Nevertheless, a complete Enterprise software system may include the following modules:
• Accounts receivable
• Accounts payable
• General ledger
• Sales and marketing
• Customer relationship management
• Material resource planning
• Bill of materials
• Inventory control
• Purchasing
• Logistics
• Work order management
• Shop floor control
• Budgeting
• Sales analysis
• Report writer
• Order entry
• E-commerce


ERP Vendors
Purchasing Enterprise Resource Planning software is a significant corporate decision.
• Abacus
• ABBASOFT Technologies Inc.
• Acacia Technologies
• Access International Group
• Adaptable Business Systems
• AIMS Software Inc.
• American Software Inc.
• Avalon Software.
• Axis Computer Systems
• B&L Information Systems
• Baan Co.
• BHR Software
• Caelus Inc.
• Cambiotech, Inc.
• CAMM, Inc.
• CBM Systems Company
• Cimcase International Corp.
• CIMPAC, Inc.
• Cincom Systems
• Clarkston Potomac
• CMI-Competitive Solutions Inc.
• CMS Manufacturing Systems Inc.
• ComMIT Systems, Inc
• Computer Associates International
• Computer Decisions International
• Computer Financial Services
• Computer-Integrated Manufacturing America (CIMA)
• Configuration Systems & Consulting
• Connectware
• Creative Production Solutions Inc.
• Datalogix
• Datamodes
• Datasul
• DataWorks Corp.
• DBA Software
• DCD Corp.
• Documentum Inc.
• Effective Management Systems (EMS)
• Enhanced Systems & Services, Inc.
• Enterprise Planning Systems
• ESI/Technologies, Inc.
• Expandable Software
• FocusSoft Inc.
• Foresight Software
• Fourth Shift Corp.
• Friedman Corp.
• GLOVIA International
• GRMS
• HarrisData
• ICONtrol Inc.
• IFS Industrial & Financial Systems
• IndustriOS
• Infinium Software
• InfoPower International
• Information Builders Division of Integrated Solutions
• Insight Solutions
• Intentia International
• Interactive Group
• InterPort Corp.
• Intigrated Systems & Services Group
• Intrix Systems Group
• Intuitive Manufacturing Systems Inc.
• J.D. Edwards
• JBA International
• Jobscope Corp.
• Lawson Software
• Lilly Software Associates Inc.
• Litton Enterprise Solutions
• LK Global Manufacturing Systems (USA) Inc.
• Macola
• Made2Manage Systems Inc.
• MAGI
• MAI Systems Corp.
• Manhattan Associates
• Manugistics
• MAPICS Inc.
• Marcam Solutions Inc.
• MCBA
• Metasystems Inc.
• MDIS--North America
• Micro-MRP Inc.
• Mitrol
• MK Group
• Navision Software U.S. Inc.
• Neumenon, Inc.
• OHM Systems
• Oliver Wight Co.
• On-Line Computing Inc.
• Online Software Labs Inc.
• Optio Software
• Oracle Corp.
• Packaged Software Solutions
• PeopleSoft Inc.
• Pivotpoint
• Platinum Software Corporation
• PowerCerv Corp.
• Profitkey International Inc.
• Psipenta USA, Inc.
• Q-CIM Inc.
• QAD
• Qantel Technologies, Inc.
• Qube Connections
• R + H America, Inc.
• Ramco Systems
• Real Applications Ltd.
• Relevant Business Systems Inc.
• ROI Systems Inc.
• Ross Systems
• Rover Data Systems, Inc.
• SAP America SAP AG
• SBS Inc.
• Scala North America Inc.
• Science Applications International Corp.
• SCT Corp.
• Sextant Corp.
• Smart Shop Software
• Software 2000
• Software PM Inc.
• SPAR Associates Inc.
• Strohl Systems Group
• Symix Computer Systems
• Synergistic Computer Solutions
• SynNOVA Group Keane
• Syspro Impact Software
• Systems & Computer Technology Corp. (SCT)
• Systems Software Associates (SSA)
• Tangible Vision
• Telesis Computer Corp.
• Telic Logistic International B.V.
• Tetra International Inc.
• TIW Technology Inc.
• Txbase Systems Inc.
• U.S. Datamax Inc.
• Unbeaten Path International
• Unisys Corp.
• User Solutions Inc.
• Visibility
• W5 Assoc.
• Western Data Systems





Implementation
Aside from being a major capital expenditure, ERP software requires the refinement of business methods. Considerable planning needs to take place before Enterprise software can be successfully implemented. In most businesses, ERP implementation will take anywhere from 3-12 months.
A typical ERP software implementation is intensive. It usually includes the following steps:
• Project planning
• Choosing an Enterprise software selection/review team
• Select which products and providers to review (this is where we can help)
• Business and operational analysis
• Identification of best practices
• ERP software evaluation, including:
• RFP creation (in some cases)
• Demo-testing
• Selection of a software vendor
• Joint creation of a detailed implementation plan
• Installation and configuration
• Mapping of business requirements and best practices to software (customization)
• Module configuration
• Data conversion from legacy systems
• Documentation
• Management training
• End-user training
• Production
• Post-implementation support and auditing

About ERP