Best Industrial Machinery Manufacturing ERP Software

Industrial machinery manufacturers are pivotal in driving the efficiency and productivity of various critical sectors such as construction, mining, manufacturing, food processing, and energy. These sectors are heavily dependent on the specialized equipment and tools provided by machinery manufacturers. The functionality of global supply chains relies on the smooth operations of these machines, underscoring the importance of industrial machinery manufacturers in the global economy. However, managing such a vast and complex operation requires modern, robust solutions. This is where cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, especially Acumatica Cloud ERP, comes into play, revolutionizing how these manufacturers streamline their operations.

Understanding the Role of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers

These manufacturers create and maintain the machines and tools that are essential for excavating minerals, building infrastructure, producing food, and generating energy. Each machine they produce plays a critical role in the operations of other industries, making reliability and efficiency top priorities. The intricate nature of these machines requires precise engineering and manufacturing processes, which must be continually updated to keep pace with industry demands and technological advancements.

The Shift to Acumatica Manufacturing ERP Software

Before exploring how Acumatica manufacturing ERP software has transformed these manufacturers, it's important to understand the common challenges they face with outdated ERP systems. These challenges often include:

1. Integration Issues: Many manufacturers struggle to integrate external applications that are critical for managing complex material plans and production schedules. This lack of integration can lead to inefficiencies and errors.

2. Extended Lead Times: Outdated systems can result in longer lead times for production and sourcing components, which can delay the entire manufacturing process.

3. Complex BOM Synchronization: Synchronizing engineering bills of materials (BOM) with manufacturing processes is particularly challenging, especially with multi-level BOMs that involve numerous components.

4. Access Restrictions: Traditional ERP systems often have limited licensing, which restricts access for key users such as engineers and manufacturing estimators, hindering their ability to perform efficiently.

5. Third-party Configurator Integration: Older ERP systems frequently face difficulties integrating with third-party configurator applications, which are essential for customizing manufacturing operations.

6. Inefficient Quoting Processes: Many manufacturers are hampered by outdated tools for estimating, which can slow down the quoting process and affect customer satisfaction.

How Acumatica Cloud ERP Drives Success

Acumatica’s Manufacturing Edition seamlessly integrates every facet of operations for industrial equipment manufacturers. The unified platform enhances visibility, improves integration, and increases accessibility, thereby enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and elevating production quality across all levels of operation.

Here are several ways in which Acumatica is transforming the industry:

• Seamless Integration: Acumatica facilitates the seamless integration of various software applications, allowing manufacturers to synchronize their operations from material planning to final production seamlessly.

• Real-time Data Access: With cloud-based technology, all stakeholders, including engineers and estimators, can access real-time data anytime, anywhere, which enhances decision-making and operational efficiency.

• Flexible Licensing: Unlike traditional ERP systems, Acumatica does not restrict user access based on licenses. This flexibility ensures that all necessary personnel can utilize the ERP system when needed, enhancing workflow and productivity.

• Advanced Configurators: Acumatica supports advanced configurator applications, enabling manufacturers to easily customize their products according to customer specifications without the risk of integration issues.

• Efficient Estimating and Quoting: The ERP software improves the accuracy and speed of the estimating and quoting processes, thereby enhancing customer service and satisfaction.

Case Studies of Transformation

Several manufacturers have already experienced the benefits of switching to Acumatica’s ERP. These companies have reported improved integration and communication across departments, shortened lead times, and enhanced capability to manage complex, multi-level BOMs efficiently. They have also seen significant improvements in production scheduling and material planning accuracy, leading to reduced waste and increased profitability.

Scott Fetzer Consumer Brands (Wayne Pumps, Halex, Ginsu) is a division of the Scott Fetzer Company, located in Harrison, Ohio. It manufactures high-quality products for home, family, and industries and is “dedicated to providing products and services that help people live more productive lives.”

They have a number of leading consumer brands in their US-based system. WAYNE Pumps, a company that offers a complete line of basement protection systems, sump, multi-use, swage, effluent, well, lawn, specialty pumps/systems, and accessories, was acquired by the Scott Fetzer Company in 1978.

Chris Freese, VP Finance, says the growing company was operating with a legacy ERP solution and needed to make a change. “We had a legacy system that was so highly customized, we couldn’t even do updates.”

They evaluated five different ERP options and narrowed them down to two. The presentations for each system netted Acumatica the win implementing Acumatica’s Manufacturing Edition with Financial Management, Customer Management, Advanced Inventory, and Order Management suites.

The company has become more efficient in inventory management, order management, and more. Additionally, Chris says, “Acumatica is more cost-efficient. Actually, our costs for running Acumatica versus our prior system, we’ve saved money. As well, we have immediate information we didn’t have before.”

Specified Technologies (STI) has developed robust fire protection systems for over 25 years. Though growing, they were hindered by their financial management solution (Sage MAS products and MAS 500), which they used for over 14 years.

STI chose Acumatica Cloud ERP and Acumatica Manufacturing Edition to help them gain financial visibility, operational efficiency, and customized functionality.

Christa Peterson, STI’s director of accounting and finance, says in their customer success story, “Acumatica was easier to use, an up and comer, and aligned with our business focus on customer experience. Acumatica gave us personal attention and demonstrated that they cared about learning our business rather than just marketing their solution. We are that kind of company too. We also thought (the product) was very intuitive.”

The company now has a platform that allows it to operate leanly, eliminates paper/manual processes, and integrates its manufacturing shop floor with its accounting, customer, inventory, and reporting processes.

STI Director of Information Technologies Kevin Boyle says, “Acumatica provides all the fundamentals needed to run your business, so when you are ready to take the next step and expand or move into a new market, there are strong systems and processes in place to take that on.”