Many manufacturers believe that achieving automation within their manufacturing processes is an impossibility. Or, they view it as an isolated and individual process that should be dealt with in and of itself. The most effective and successful manufacturing automation actually comes from integrating systems to work together instead of attempting to fix what appears to be an isolated issue. This should create beneficial cohesion and integration of various processes and software used across the company. It should also should combine them into one fluid system and process.

Success stems from using enterprise resource planning (ERP) system capabilities that allow for improved productivity across the board (including in manufacturing automation). Simultaneously, these capabilities also add business value. Let’s take a closer look at what success in manufacturing automation and distribution automation looks like. Let’s see how ERP selection and use helps achieve it while increasing productivity, too.

There is no doubt that manufacturers need to increase productivity and keep ahead of the competition. These can be achieved through information systems and ERP software combined to not just meet operational needs but to streamline information technology (IT) infrastructure and deliver support. This requires a switch from using a variety of pieced-together management systems and having varying levels of technological capability. Systems that have been pieced together often face issues with interfacing, data traceability, reliability, system maintainability, and repository consistency. A variety of disparate systems prevent success in automation.

Instead, an integrated solution that streamlines processes is needed that also offers broader functionality. ERP selection of an end-to-end solution that incorporates functionalities that streamline, control business processes, produce superior quality product, and improve customer satisfaction is necessary in today’s business world. At the same time, they make streamlined manufacturing and distribution processes not just a possibility but a reality.

Here are some of the many benefits of these modern ERP systems:

• Quicker product development and time to market
• Production increases without cost increases
• Control, traceability, and inventory management compliance that guarantee higher quality and more effective distribution automation
• Data that satisfies lawful requirements via audit trails and document management
• Enhanced forecasting and better management of the supply chain
• Improved customer service with order process enhancement, automated delivery, and customer interaction

In addition to these benefits of an integrated system, there are other benefits. Another benefit to productivity and performance through ERP is its ability to share real-time information across users, areas of expertise, and the supply chain as a whole. This information sharing can extend to partner companies and international groups. It can share standard data, group company disposals, financial reporting and statements, and financial traceability. This allows manufacturing firms to truly keep tabs on their stock, to forecast, to trace data across extended enterprises and across a company’s entire ecosystem.

As you can see, there are many benefits to integrating systems and using ERP that ultimately impact automation in a positive way. For more information on ERP selection and ERP software that can get all of these jobs done and benefit your business while allowing you the freedom to do ERP your way, visit here. Please contact us to learn more about modernizing your ERP so you, too, can have successful performance and true productivity in manufacturing automation.

For further details on the benefits of and ways to improve productivity and performance using a modern ERP software solution, download our whitepaper “ERP – A Strategic Growth Driver for Manufacturing Firms.” Through the whitepaper, you will have a better understanding of why changes are needed and how they respond to manufacturing challenges. In addition, the whitepaper will demonstrate how a modern ERP solution can help in making these changes and what is needed in an ERP system that will fuel superior performance and innovation.