Webinar - Best Practices ERP Selection

Organizations change their Business Software, such as an ERP, for various reasons. Some feel the pain in operations due to an antiquated ERP; some suffer revenue loss due to restrictions imposed. Whatever the reason, most organizations agree there is a need for an Objective, Structured, and Thorough process for ERP selection.

Join BWIR for an interactive discussion during which, you will find out:
 

• How to establish a compelling business need for a new ERP
• How to establish a set of evaluation parameters
• How to execute the actual selection process
• What are the major elements of the deliverables

Join Hosts: Pat McGrath and Shantanoo Govilkar

October 17, 2013 - 10:00 - 11:00 AM CST

 
The panel will also take questions from the community and provide practical insights.


Register Here

Register for this informative webinar to kick-start your objective, structured, and thorough ERP selection process!

ERP Modernization with Dynamics AX

A savvy business should stay informed about new or upcoming technologies. The same can be said about your ERP system. A system created in the 1990’s will not be able to cater to the needs of a modern business. If your systems is one or two generations behind the modern iteration then you are missing out on exciting new features and losing ground to more modern competitors. The chart below contains just a sample of the benefits a business can achieve when using Dynamics AX 2012.

Benefits	Features
Manufacturing Flexibly manage resources Perform better with flexible routings Enhance production flow Gain increased production efficiency Easily monitor production costs Gain insight into production	Manufacturing Capacity Scheduling can produce a reliable overview of the manufacturing resources required to meet customer demand Set up different routing versions and network routes to help you avoid bottlenecks Perform scheduling at different levels of detail Minimize lead times by creating cross-group links between resources that handle the same task Job monitoring gives you an overview of individual work center’s activities Record consumption and costs prior to production or record actual consumption during production Use the Gantt chart to easily schedule changes using simple drag and drop functionality
Project Increase productivity More control over projects Gain business insight Increased cash flow management	Project Speed up project creation by using templates from previous projects Break down large and complex projects into sub-projects Project Accounting will help you identify and address delays and cost overruns Get actionable data to help you identify market trends and take on the right projects while avoiding unprofitable Keep your customers updated with accurate and timely progress reports Shorten the billing cycle when you generate invoices immediately and get paid for projects faster
MRP Optimize the flow of production Function across multiple warehouses Increase efficiency with flexible planning Easy outsourcing of production Quick response to changes Reduce costs by minimizing inventory levels Keep delivery promises	MRP Run simulations and scenarios to foresee the effect of plans and strategies Changes to purchase and production orders will be suggested by, Action messages based on changing requirements Run available-to-promise and capable-to-promise calculations Project production and purchasing plans that match your demand with forecast scheduling Automatically generate transfer orders to fulfill inventory requirements
Inventory Easy to create bills of material Efficient management of bills of material Optimized inventory levels Detailed inventory insight	Inventory The graphical BOM designer makes it easy to create BOMs using drag and drop features Manage forty BOM levels effectively Perform price calculations for each level of the BOM Create sales and purchase forecasts based on items and time periods Use serial and batch numbers to track items in the system
Order Management Greater cost control with more visibility Optimized purchasing process Easily trade with subsidiaries Better customer service	Order Management Cost and Price inventory is consistently  updated to reflect the actual price Look into real time available to promise data Compare quotes from suppliers on multiple parameters Make informed purchasing decisions with historical data and analysis tools Apply various intercompany trading policies Gain advanced control over sales orders
Finance Greater insight into your finances Efficient financial operations and planning Effective cash flow management Fewer geographic boundaries	Finance Generate reports financial reports with advanced reporting tools. Register financial data in the ledger in real time Analyze you financials with cash flow forecasts Use electronic payments visible on all accounts Support for multiple languages and currencies Manage local legal and regulatory compliance
Reporting Easy to customize and create Integrates with your general ledger Access reports in various ways Greater financial intelligence	Reporting The report wizard  can create key financial reports in as few as seven steps Quickly create accurate and up-to-date reports Gain a greater understanding business trends with comparative data
HRM Manage talent Centralized employee information Automated recruitment processes Model organizational units	HRM Track and compare professional skills and aptitudes, and personal skills Manage employees, teams and departments throughout your organization Control the entire hiring process from application to employment Make changes in the organizational structure easily

Get ahead of the competition with a modern ERP and prepare your company for the future.

 

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Going Lean with an ERP

Chances are your company has already embarked on lean initiatives. Many companies have realized that waste is the opposite of value. Because of this they work to optimize in order to remain profitable and competitive. But what value can an ERP bring to your lean initiatives? First, let’s assess our lean practices.

How many of these rules do you follow?

1.       Do not over-purchase

2.       Do not over-produce

3.       Simplify processes and procedures

4.       Minimize wait-time

5.       Optimize human movement in moving material

6.       Measure and Improve continuously

What is your score on the practices above? 3 out of 6? Maybe more or maybe less? Did you know that an ERP system such as Dynamics AX can help you achieve the above practices right out of the box?

ERP systems are built with lean in mind, and can really aid in a manufacturer’s lean efforts.

What can an ERP do specifically?

Reduce waste: An ERP will increase your flow of information through its routings and workflows. The planning module will minimize inventory while making effective use of transportation and warehouse facilities. It will also eliminate waste or delays in the supply chain by becoming a link to your trading partners. This means that your warehouse will be able to capitalize on the available space provided by trade and logistics, while your supply chain eliminates excess inventory and shortages through supply chain management.

Increase your Business Intelligence: An ERP system contains documentation of your processes and procedures. It will record and implement any changes placed into the system. This will deliver the most up-to-date information while providing info on changes in relation to costs, lead-times, and efficiency. Built in Business Intelligence tools will monitor performance indicators and notify management of changes whether they are good or bad. BI tools will also allow for the analysis of data that, in turn, can reduce waste.

Increase Collaboration: Use the knowledge that resides in your sales people, representatives, distributors, agents and customers. AX in conjunction with MS Office provides electronic collaboration tools to make doing business easy. Trading partners can forecast accuracy; ensure quality service and timely delivery.

Are you the lean super star of your business? Are you leveraging the lean capabilities of your ERP software? Make sure your ERP system keeps with your lean practices.

 

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