Guide · 2 min read
ERP software for manufacturers: what it is and where to start
What manufacturing ERP software is, which modules it includes, how it differs from a trading ERP, and where a factory should begin.
CNC & machining
Machine shops take small, varied orders, and every part passes through several machines and shifts. The system has to follow each part through each stage.
( 01 )Common problems
Every drawing means recalculating material, machine hours and outsourced work, with no data from past jobs to lean on.
One order has dozens of parts, each going through turning, milling, grinding and finishing. Progress lives in the team lead's head.
Handwritten shift logs are retyped into spreadsheets. Gaps surface only once the delivery date has slipped.
A customer returns parts, and nobody can say which machine, operator or stock lot was involved.
( 02 )How the system handles it
Material norms, machine hours and outsourcing costs are stored per part number, so the next quote takes minutes.
Each part has its own routing. The progress screen shows which part is on which machine and how many remain.
Operators open and close sessions on a tablet. Output, downtime and downtime reasons are recorded at the machine.
Inspection at each stage, with every defect traceable to a machine, an operator and a material lot.
( 03 )FAQ
Yes, if orders are late because you cannot see progress. Small shops usually start with production orders and machine tracking rather than every module.
Recording currently relies on operators using a tablet at the machine. Direct controller integration depends on the machine model and is assessed during discovery.
Outsourcing is a stage in the part's routing, with dispatch, receipt and cost recorded, so it stays inside the order's overall progress.
Other industries
Norms by size and colour, material balancing, output by sewing line.
See the solution →02Multi-level BOMs, timber by dimension, stages from milling to packing.
See the solution →03Resin by lot, blend formulas, production orders by machine and mould.
See the solution →Insights
Articles that help factory leadership understand cost, process and options.
Guide · 2 min read
What manufacturing ERP software is, which modules it includes, how it differs from a trading ERP, and where a factory should begin.
Comparison · 2 min read
A comparison of packaged and custom-built ERP for small and mid-sized manufacturers: cost, time, fit, ownership and risk, and when to choose each.