What is Manufacturing Software?
Manufacturing software is intended to help manufacturing companies manage their entire manufacturing process, from production planning to shop floor operations. The two primary goals of manufacturing software are to optimize operations and provide manufacturing companies with real-time data on equipment utilization and machine performance.
The manufacturing industry constantly evolves as it adopts new technology with advanced manufacturing software. Depending on the type of manufacturing software, companies can manage their supply chain, automate manufacturing operations, and improve inventory management.
What Role Does ERP Software Play in Manufacturing Processes?
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software provides manufacturing businesses with a tool to manage their entire manufacturing operations. A few benefits manufacturers can gain from ERP software are designed to increase operational efficiency, gather production process data, reduce costs, and make informed decision-making.
With ERP software’s data-gathering capabilities, companies can analyze data, build dashboards, and generate reports to monitor production processes and production efficiency. This information can help companies identify and resolve bottlenecks, optimize employee schedules, and improve supply chain management.
ERP software systems can be built to be highly scalable, ensuring they can grow alongside the company. When manufacturers choose a software system that isn’t scalable, they run the risk of trying to use a system that can’t handle new functions or features. Building a custom, scalable software solution is the best way to ensure it’s scalable and can be used for years.
What are the Key Features of Manufacturing ERP Software?
Enterprise resource planning software is a common choice among manufacturing businesses for many reasons. Let’s take a look at a few of the key features that make this software solution a top choice for many manufacturers.
Automation
A feature that many manufacturing companies are looking for is the ability to automate administrative tasks, including order processing, payroll, and reporting. Automating these tasks allows employees to spend more time focusing on other tasks that can benefit the company. Automating tasks also reduces the chance of human error, providing a reliable source for these tasks.
Data Analysis and Reporting
Having access to real-time data and reports provides companies with valuable insight into their operations. With the accurate data gathered by ERP software, companies can identify ways to reduce costs without impacting the quality of the final product. Reporting capabilities also provide stakeholders with a visual representation of improvements and potential problems in a comprehensive format.
Supply Chain Management
Manufacturing ERP software allows companies to manage their supply chain operations from a single platform. Companies can manage inventory control, production operations, quality control, and distribution operations. Having all of these actions managed out of an ERP system gives manufacturers data on their supply chain operations and ensures production isn’t stopped due to a mistake in ordering raw materials.
How Does Manufacturing Software Improve Supply Chain Management?
One type of manufacturing software that companies can benefit from is supply chain management software. This is a solution that monitors the movement of goods and services throughout the supply chain, from scheduling production planning to delivering the product to the final consumer. Supply chain management software can automate tasks, streamline ordering processes, and increase customer satisfaction.
How Does Manufacturing Software Enhance Supply Chain Planning?
One way manufacturing businesses can improve the production planning process is with inventory management functionalities. In order to plan a production schedule effectively, knowing the current inventory is critical. If there is low stock of various materials, manufacturers will have time to restock in order to stay on the production schedule.
What is the Role of Manufacturing Systems in Supplier Management?
Building an effective supply chain includes developing beneficial relationships with suppliers. With a supply chain management software solution, companies can manage supplier information and track which ones have proven reliable. Manufacturers can also track payment methods, monitor shipping information, and gather data metrics to identify ways to improve supplier relationships.
How Does Inventory Management Software Improve Warehouse Management?
Inventory management software can optimize warehouse management by monitoring the current inventory. If there is low stock of various materials, manufacturers will have time to restock in order to stay on the production schedule. Some software solutions can also be set up to send notifications whenever inventory levels are low, reducing the risk of downtime.
How Does Manufacturing Software Benefit Smart Building Management?
As technology advances, more industries are adopting smart building management to improve oversight and reduce operational costs. Manufacturing software can benefit from smart building management since it would give manufacturers insight into their utility usage, identifying areas where costs can be cut.
Smart building management also improves efficiency, making the building more sustainable. Many companies are looking for ways to improve sustainability as more investors crack down on ESG metrics. Smart building management allows manufacturers to operate efficiently and can also produce data that measures the improvements.
Smart building technology also improves the security and safety measures of the facility through technology like badge access and environmental sensors. Utilizing a badge access system ensures employees are only accessing permitted areas, restricting them from confidential information or dangerous equipment.
Using the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology, sensors can be placed throughout the facility to monitor environmental conditions, including carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and humidity. When any of the sensors detect a level that indicates dangerous working conditions, management can be notified to halt operations, ensuring employee safety.
Why is Preventive Maintenance Software Vital in Manufacturing?
Preventive maintenance is a vital practice in the manufacturing industry. Preventive maintenance is when maintenance is regularly performed on equipment to prevent unexpected complications. When equipment unexpectedly breaks or shuts down, it throws off the production schedule and results in downtime that could have been avoided.
By using IIoT technology, manufacturing software can use sensors to monitor equipment health and get notifications whenever a potential complication is identified. With manufacturing software, companies can also schedule preventive maintenance outside of production hours, ensuring the manufacturing process is not interrupted.
Work With Geneca Today
There are countless types of software for manufacturing in the market. Are you unsure which is the right fit for your manufacturing business? Reach out to Geneca today! We have a team of business experts ready to consult with you to determine which solution is best for your needs.