Johannesburg, 24 May 2005
The manufacturing sector requires specialist IT knowledge. According to a recent survey conducted by Sage in the UK, a world-leading supplier of accounting and business management software and the holding company of Softline Enterprise, a lack of understanding and specialist IT knowledge of the manufacturing sector has left a large majority of manufacturers feeling that they have wasted their IT investment and are thus reluctant to move forward.
Ashley Ellington, director: Africa at Softline Enterprise, says there are a number of practical measures that manufacturers can follow to reduce IT risks and provide a better return on investment.
Look for an established IT supplier that is focused on product and feature development within the manufacturing sector. There are several manufacturing-focused software solutions offering features which are not only critical to manufacturers today, but are also regularly updated to incorporate new components servicing the new trends as they evolve.
Time is money. An IT company's ability to scope and implement a software installation is another crucial factor. For most manufacturers, new systems need to be implemented quickly. "This needs to be weeks rather than months," stresses Ellington. To ensure a speedy implementation, Ellington recommends that IT companies supply a comprehensive project plan, identifying key milestone dates and offering compensation for project overruns.
Money or the box?
Ellington believes that it is generally better practice to deploy packaged solutions that can be tailored rather than bespoke software. "It is much simpler to adapt a packaged solution to meet changing business requirements," comments Ellington. Though the attraction of a bespoke system is that it can be developed to match a company's requirements, applying changes is much more time consuming and costly. It is also entirely reliant on key personnel who understand them - knowledge that disappears if they leave the company.
By using a packaged solution there is a broader base of employee skills to draw upon during a hiring process. It is likely that new recruits, with previous manufacturing experience, will also have been exposed to, or indeed fully trained on the packaged solution which can dramatically reduce the cost of training. The very nature of bespoke solutions means that future employees will have to be introduced to the software and trained to use it from scratch.
Packaged applications that can be customised are, therefore, more future proof and generally easier to integrate with existing systems using generic interfaces. Such systems can usually deliver 70% of the required functionality out-of-the-box and can be customised to match specific requirements. A standard, easily supported system with a full set of business features - from manufacturing right through to accounts - can evolve with the company rather than become a hindrance to growth and development.
Finally, look for a supplier with extensive experience and a proven track-record in the manufacturing sector. Suppliers must have a wide range of sites which can be used as references and backed-up by in-depth case studies covering a broad spectrum of manufacturing operations.
Share