Tag: system of a down 2011

ERP System

ERP System

“ERP System” is a way of describing Enterprise Resource Planning. An ERP System is a set of people, process and technology that enable an business to optimize and fully utilize all of their resources. So often people think of an ERP System as simply a software package. But it is much more. Let’s look at some of the aspects of a true ERP System.

ERP System Explained

If you consider all of the aspects of an ERP System, you must look at the parts of the business from a process perspective. Take for example a process of “Order-to-Cash”. This process follows the concept of taking an order for a product, checking and requisitioning inventory, preparing it for shipment, and shipping it out. Then it is invoiced, and ultimately the invoice is paid.

If you map out the Order-to-Cash process in your organization, you will likely find a lot of inefficiencies. You don’t want to automate these inefficiencies. That would only make the inefficiencies faster. So you should first look at the system of people, processes and then ultimately automate it with technology.

So your ERP System is all of the inputs and outputs to the process of taking an order and processing it through until your receive payment for that order. Take for example the Order process. The input is the order itself. The output may be the printed order or the picklist for pulling the inventory. This order is input and processed by an order entry clerk. You can see in this simple example the process of taking the order (input) and generating a picklist (output) as the first step in your order-to-cash processs.

Where possible an ERP System drives data inputs to their source. That is why Internet-based shopping carts and order systems are becoming essential. The customer is the source of the data, so they should be the source of the input into the system. You can see the beginning of a supply chain where the customer pulls inventory from the company, who then pulls inventory from a supplier. This customer, processor, supplier model repeats again and again, in both a micro level and a macro level. The order entry station is the micro level processor in the above example, and the distribution company is the macro level processor in the larger picture. You can take any process and look at the input (or the customer pull) and see what makes up the transaction, and who is the supplier for the process.

The ERP System is a many operational and financial processes that are run by people to fulfill the supply and demand of the process and ultimately streamlined and enabled by technology

Steps to improving your ERP System before automating

There are a number of things you can do, but the obvious first thing is to identify your processes and systems. Tools such as Lean Enterprise (or Lean Manufacturing) can help you reduce and eliminate waste in your processes. Based on the Toyota Production system, Lean is a very effective way to reduce wasted efforts, reduce costs, and improve your throughput.

Another area to look at is improving quality. Quality methods and tools can greatly increase your bottom line when properly applied. ISO9000 and similar certifications are both effective at communicating a message internally and externally, that only high quality products and services will be tolerated.

Scaling these two system improvements upon a well matched business software system will create a world-class organization. Key to finding a software to support your ERP System is matching your processes and key functions to an ERP Software solution.

Resources for Improving your ERP System

The first thing you should check out is ERPandmore.com’s free ERP System Tools that you can download. These can help you better define functions within an ERP system, Vendor Evaluations, and compare competing solutions.

Some other resources you should look to include the American Production and Inventory Control Society and the Quality Management Institute. These two organizations have a lot of publications and information about business process improvement.

With regards to the software for your ERP System, you can find a multitude of vendors in our ERP Software Directory. You can also find ERP Vendor reviews and get price quotes from SoftwareAdvice.com.

ERP System

ERP System

ISO 27001 – Are your Business Systems Ready?

There is a new standard for Quality Management and it directly affects IT and specifically IT Security.

It is ISO 27001. What is it?

WHAT IS ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is the formal standard against which organizations may seek independent certification of their Information Security Management Systems, meaning their framework to design, implement, manage, maintain and enforce information security processes and controls systematically and consistently throughout the organizations. The final version of ISO 27001:2005 is available now from ISO or BSI. More information is available at www.iso.org, www.bsiamericas.com and www.xisec.com.

This is a standard for ensuring the quality and integrity of IT Systems. Being certified in ISO 27001 can help with Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).

Some sources of information on this emerging standard can be found at:

http://www.27001-online.com/index.htm

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iso-27001/

Small Manufacturers Achieve Lean Efficiency With Low End MRP System

(PRWEB) March 26, 2005 — “Lean Manufacturing is all about eliminating waste. Since 1985 we have dedicated ourselves to the efficiency of small manufacturers. Tracking inventory requirements is one of the most important keys to eliminating waste in the manufacturing process, and one of the great strengths of E-Z-MRP.”

Smolin is the founder of Beach Access Software and maker of the E-Z-MRP system. E-Z-MRP customers are able to leverage their investments in the E-Z-MRP system quickly, sometimes within one month.

The lean manufacturing process covers the strategic, tactical and operational areas of the business with particular focus on Demand Forecasting, Order Processing, Supply Planning, Manufacturing Execution, Warehouse and Shipping Management.

These small manufacturing firms are required by the principles of Lean Manufacturing to demonstrate consistent processes and performance against a checklist of best practices, which include on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, and production schedule performance. Many small manufacturers have achieved excellence in all of these areas through the implementation of E-Z-MRP.

E-Z-MRP History:
E-Z-MRP was first released under the DOS operating system in 1985, and achieved great success and widespread use with hundreds of customers around the world. The system has been successfully implemented in a wide variety of small manufacturing companies in such fields as medical instrumentation, appliances, automotive, pharmaceutical, woodworking and furniture construction, spraying systems, orthodontics, and firearms, as well as finding use as an instructional aid in universities. E-Z-MRP works just as well in job shop and build-to-order environments as in build-to-stock or build-to-forecast operations. The new E-Z-MRP system has now been completely rewritten using Microsoft’s Access Database Management System – a component of the popular Microsoft Office Suite – making it compatible with a wide variety of third-party products.

E-Z-MRP Product Features and Low-Cost High-Value Pricing:
The E-Z-MRP package includes a full-featured Bill of Materials processor, plus a material planning and tracking module which tracks all sales orders, forecasts, work orders (planned, firm, and released), purchase orders, shortages, raw materials, and finished goods inventories. It also records a complete audit trail on all inventory transactions. Also included: a physical inventory function, a purchase order module for printing purchase orders, and a recently added capacity planning module.

http://www.e-z-mrp.com