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.
Plastics & packaging
ERP software for plastics and packaging manufacturers
Plastics plants run continuously, mould and colour changes take time, and material is most of the cost. Small errors in the warehouse multiply fast.
( 01 )Common problems
- 01
Resin stock does not match the books
Many grades, many lots, issued by the part-bag. Every count is off.
- 02
Machines stop for lack of the right grade
The plan follows orders but is not checked against real stock, so shortages appear at the machine.
- 03
Scrap by machine is not measured
Scrap and regrind are pooled together, so nobody knows which machine, mould or shift wastes the most.
- 04
Mould changes clash
Several orders share machines and moulds. Scheduling by hand leads to unnecessary changeovers.
( 02 )How the system handles it
- 01
Material by lot and location
Every resin issue is tied to a production order, so stock is always explainable.
- 02
Requirements from the plan
Blend formulas are part of the norms. When the plan changes, requirements per grade are recalculated and shortages flagged.
- 03
Output and scrap by machine, mould and shift
Good output, scrap and regrind are all recorded at the machine, so losses are visible.
- 04
Orders tied to machine and mould
Planners see which machines and moulds are busy and group orders by mould and colour to cut changeovers.
( 03 )FAQ
Short questions, short answers
Does it manage moulds?
Yes. A mould is a resource attached to production orders, with usage history and shot counts for maintenance planning.
How is regrind recorded?
Regrind is recorded at the machine and returned to stock as its own material code, usable in blend formulas.
Does it suit printing and paper packaging plants?
The approach is the same: production orders by machine, material by lot, QC by stage. The process itself is designed per factory.
Other industries
01
CNC & machining
Quoting from drawings, multi-stage production orders, machine tracking across three shifts.
See the solution →02Garments & textiles
Norms by size and colour, material balancing, output by sewing line.
See the solution →03Wood & furniture
Multi-level BOMs, timber by dimension, stages from milling to packing.
See the solution →Insights
Before you invest in ERP.
Articles that help factory leadership understand cost, process and options.