The simple fact is this: ERP software is what you make it. The included features, modules, areas of interest, etc., this all depends on what you need, what you want, what your enterprise requires of it. One definition of ERP software explains it this way:
ERP Systems usually incorporate the following capabilities: Inventory control or Warehouse Management, Accounting, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer
Relations Management (CRM), Human Resources (HR) Management, Scheduling or
Advanced Planning and Employee Training.
Note the use of the word "usually" in the beginning of that sentence. These are standard modules or areas people are interested in, sometimes without even realizing what they're looking for. They'll describe the features they're looking for to a software developer, and when all is said and done, the above list is what's created as a master feature or module list. This list seems stable as a base definition of what's known as ERP software.
One thing to remember is that Production Scheduling is far more important in these kinds of software systems than people realize. They'll say something similar to, "Oh and we need to be able to schedule people as well", and hope for something to replace the spreadsheet they've been constantly developing over a period of years. This is sometimes an offhand remark, a sidebar, but the reality is that properly managing the schedule and the resources involved will affect the resources managed by the rest of the system more than vice versa.
When you're looking for an ERP software system, do a little homework. Ask the people you work with, have meetings, make lists and organize them. And then when you do go shopping for a custom-tailored, open-source ERP software system, you'll have a much better idea of exactly what you're looking for to benefit your manufacturing facility and, ultimately, your company.
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