Being able to quickly respond to customer demand, inquiries, and requirements is a surefire way to win more business. Here are five ways software helps you do it.
Quick quoting, production, and deliveries
In any kind of manufacturing, the speed of turning over a quote can be a decisive factor in winning or losing a client. Manufacturing ERP software significantly improves the quoting process in manufacturing by integrating real-time data across various departments. This integration provides immediate access to crucial information such as inventory levels, material costs, and production capacity, enabling faster and more accurate cost estimations.
In addition, these systems play a vital role in preventing stockouts by providing precise inventory management and forecasting tools. It continuously monitors current stock levels and provides you with the historical data that enables you to predict future material requirements accurately. By automating reorder point notifications and assisting in purchase order generation, ERP software ensures that materials are replenished just in time, minimising the risk of overstocking and understocking.
“MRPeasy allows me to ship products faster because I can better forecast what we’re going to need. That’s the biggest benefit for my customers – quicker delivery times,” says Ymani Efunyale, Founder of Good Vibes Clean, a household chemical manufacturer from Philadelphia, US.
End-to-end traceability
Manufacturing ERP software ensures traceability in process manufacturing via functionalities like lot and batch tracking, which assign and track identifiers for all materials and products within the production process. It also tracks shop floor activities, providing insights into material usage, order progress, and personnel involvement, crucial for pinpointing issues and evaluating productivity. Additionally, ERP systems generate reports essential for audits and compliance checks, ensuring that every aspect of the production cycle is documented and traceable.
Benoit Nicol, Founder of Irish essential oils manufacturing company The Nature of Things, knows how important traceability is: “We are part of the cosmetics and fragrance industry. There are a lot of rules that we need to follow and regulatory compliance is simply a must. MRPeasy’s ability to trace back to the batch numbers is essential for us.”
Increased efficiency
ERP software boosts efficiency by integrating and automating core business processes. It optimises production planning and inventory management, ensuring that resources are available when needed without overstocking, thus reducing holding costs and minimising waste. Scheduling tools within these systems help allocate machinery and manpower effectively, avoiding bottlenecks and streamlining the flow of operations.
In addition, ERP software automates many routine administrative tasks, freeing up staff to focus on more value-added activities. This comprehensive approach not only speeds up production cycles but also improves the overall accuracy and responsiveness of the business, enabling manufacturers to handle more orders with greater precision and less effort.
According to Alistair Watson, Managing Director at Scottish craft chemical manufacturer Stakam, MRPeasy helps immensely in winning more business: “I feel like we struck gold with MRPeasy. It’s become such an asset that I often grapple between wanting to keep it as our secret weapon and the desire to showcase our robust systems, which have unlocked more flexibility to drive client acquisition.”
Improved cost control
ERP software plays a pivotal role in improving cost control within process manufacturing businesses by providing detailed and real-time visibility into all cost-related aspects of the production process. It tracks the costs of labor, raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods, ensuring that budget overruns are quickly identified and addressed. By accurately forecasting demand, ERP systems help manage procurement efficiently, avoiding both excess stock and urgent, costly purchasing scenarios.
“We are more profitable now because we know exactly what it costs us to make our products. And we can increase or decrease our prices as we go along,” says Karen Addenbrook, Sales and Marketing Manager at Pennsylvania-based food and drink manufacturer Tait Farm Foods.
Better scalability
As manufacturers grow, the ability to seamlessly scale operations without disrupting workflows becomes a competitive advantage. ERP software provides the flexibility to support this growth by allowing companies to add new production lines, facilities, users, and functionalities as needed without costly system overhauls. Cloud-based solutions like MRPeasy make this process even smoother, offering modular features and subscription-based pricing that expand in step with business requirements. This ensures that companies can maintain operational efficiency and visibility while handling higher order volumes, entering new markets, or diversifying their product range, all without the typical growing pains of outdated or disconnected systems.
Alistair Watson from Stakam lauds MRPeasy’s functionalities that are designed to facilitate their company’s growth: “The ‘multiple facilities’ functionality is key in scalability over the next years for us. This capacity to expand your functionality tier as you scale exemplifies the beauty of a cloud-based and monthly billing system like in MRPeasy.“
