• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ultra Consultants

OUR INDEPENDENT ERP CONSULTANTS DELIVER 100% CLIENT SATISFACTION

  • Services
    • Back
      • Business Process Improvement
        • Business Process Reengineering
        • Business Process Analysis
        • Business Process Documentation
        • Business Process Mapping
        • Business Process Review
      • Enterprise Software Selection
        • ERP Selection
        • ERP RFP (Request for Proposal)
        • ERP RFP Preparation
        • ERP Readiness Assessment
        • ERP Selection Criteria
        • ERP Requirements Definition
      • Enterprise Software Implementation
        • ERP Implementation Plan Creation
        • ERP Data Conversion
        • ERP Reports
        • ERP Implementation
      • Industry Compliance Services
      • Business Process Transformation
      • Organizational Change Management
      • Enterprise Project Management
      • Get your roadmap for business process improvement
  • Industries & Clients
    • Back
      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Automotive
      • Chemical
      • Consumer Goods
      • Distribution
      • Electronic & Equipment
      • Food & Beverage
      • Industrial Equipment
      • Medical Devices & Products
      • Metal Fabrication
      • Pharmaceutical
      • Plastics
      • Read about driving ROI in your ERP project
  • Software & Vendors
    • Back
      • ERP
        • Discrete Manufacturing ERP Software
        • Process Manufacturing ERP Software
        • Distribution ERP Software
      • ERP Software for Sales and Marketing
        • CRM Software
        • Marketing Automation Software
        • eCommerce Solutions
      • Supply Chain Management Software
        • Demand Management Software
        • Transportation Management Software
        • Advanced Planning & DRP Software
        • Finite Scheduling Software
      • Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
      • Warehouse Management Software
      • Manufacturing Execution System Software Vendors
      • Field Service Management Software Vendors
      • Learn about software selection decision drivers
  • Education
    • Back
      • Resources
        • Events & Webinars
        • White Papers
        • ERP Case Studies
      • Media
        • On-Demand Webinars
        • ERP Podcast
        • ERP Videos
      • Take Your Free ERP Health Check
  • Company
    • Back
      • About Ultra
        • Our Team
        • History
        • Awards
        • Careers
        • Independent ERP Consultants
      • News
        • ERP Media Coverage
        • Press Releases
        • ERP Newsletter
      • Read about choosing an independent consultant.
  • ERP Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Back
Home / ERP Blog 09.02.17 / ERP Best Practices / The ERP Implementation Charter: A Necessary Ingredient for Success
09.02.17

The ERP Implementation Charter: A Necessary Ingredient for Success

Businessman reading over a document in the officeWe’re currently teaming with a US-based mid-market electronics manufacturer that is actively searching for a new ERP system, and as part of the engagement, the ERP Implementation Charter has emerged as a necessary ingredient for success.

At the outset of the ERP project, key drivers for ERP selection and evaluation related to improving core business processes and overall access to information. As an example, with the current legacy solution, mission-critical data doesn’t move easily from one core functional area to another. In fact, there are many cases of multiple entry of the same data into different screens and stand-alone spreadsheets. Staff members are forced to manually generate a large number of reports and output documents, with data tracking and documentation taking place outside of the current ERP system.

Thus, the ERP selection project focused on the company’s need for quick, flexible access to information in order to improve business decisions and business performance. The mission of the project was to improve the business by implementing a new integrated information system and business intelligence system that improves the productivity of the business users and provides better information for company operations.

Enter the ERP Implementation Charter

After all the early selection activities including business process mapping, current and future state analysis, and other key selection methodologies, our attention turned to the ERP Implementation Charter.

An ERP Implementation Charter is the governance document for the implementation and completion of the ERP project after selection takes place.

The implementation charter defines the roles and responsibilities of the implementation partners, i.e. the ERP vendor consulting and solutions team, the manufacturer, Ultra’s team and other participants. It defines roles and deliverables that are distinct, or might be shared between the vendor, the manufacturing company and other parties.

An ERP Implementation Charter is used to monitor the vendor’s performance during the various stages of ERP implementation, noting the agreed upon terms and milestones. The implementation charter is a great tool for accountability and project tracking for not only the manufacturing company, but for all parties involved in the project.

Items contained in a typical Implementation Charter include the following:

  • A thorough overview of the company, products and markets
  • An analysis of the project mission, objectives and business case for change
  • Critical success factors of the implementation
  • Project risks
  • Project organization, team assignments
  • Timeline
  • Project scope
  • Required interfaces and scope
  • Data conversion requirements and timeline
  • Reports
  • Enhancements and personalizations
  • Technology management
  • Legacy extension strategy
  • Project plan
  • Change Management benchmarks
  • Quality Assurance (QA) tasks
  • Project budget

ERP Implementation Charter Guidance

Ultra’s team of independent ERP consultants has much to offer when it comes to establishing the ERP Implementation Charter. With Ultra’s assistance in establishing an effective charter, the document makes the vendor accountable for what they promise to deliver, and builds in a process for the manufacturing company to appeal situations that are not up to the agreed upon terms. Our experience helps us create charters that build in checks and appropriate timing for preventive actions or actions that can mitigate the negative outcome.

Having Ultra involved in this process adds additional benefits. As an example, we’re able to draw upon our significant experience guiding mid-market companies to achieve real ROI and value from the implementation. That’s our focus: not just bringing in new software.

Additionally, as independent and experienced implementation managers, we can often see problems, roadblocks or potential delays developing before the manufacturing company realizes they should be concerned. We serve as their confidant and voice to the vendor – an “advocate” if you will. In much the same way, the value we provide to the vendor is gathering and organizing a significant amount of insight into the manufacturing company organization’s culture, issues and needs. It’s a “win-win” for all involved.

When an ERP Implementation Charter is carefully assembled with critical inputs, the result is a more effective implementation and faster time to value.

Next Steps

You can read about ERP Project Charters via an archived blog post entitled: “Organizing an ERP Project? Don’t Forget the Project Charter.”

Issues related to ERP implementations are further explored in Ultra’s timely white paper entitled “Best Practices for an Effective ERP Implementation.”

Please share your experiences using an ERP Implementation Charter in the comments section below.

 

 

Tweet
Share
Share

Categories: ERP Best Practices Tags: ERP, ERP Software Implementation, Project Charter

Related Articles

  • 07.17.14ERP Success: A Tale of Two Projects

    ERP Success: A Tale of Two Projects

    Posted in: ERP Best Practices
  • 10.05.17

    The Digital Transformation Journey:
    Align Technology and Processes Along the Way

    Posted in: ERP Best Practices
  • 05.23.18

    For Business Process Transformation, Work Through the Steps

    Posted in: ERP Best Practices

About Gary McGregor

Gary McGregor

Gary has over 30 years of business experience helping manufacturing and distribution companies improve their operations and the underlying business processes with considerable experience in implementing lean principles both as a consultant and industry practitioner.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

Let's talk about
improving your
processes >>

Read an ERP success story >>

View white
paper library >>

Subscribe to the Ultra ERP Blog

Insight right into your in-box! Enter your email address for email notifications of new posts and be "in the know."

By filling out this form, I acknowledge that I have read, consent to, and agree to be bound by, the terms of Ultra's Privacy Policy, and that I am subscribing to Ultra's ERP Newsletter.

As an independent consultancy, Ultra does not endorse vendors participating in educational content.

Categories

  • Careers
  • Continuous Improvement
  • ERP Best Practices
  • ERP Software Vendors
  • ERP Success Stories
  • News and Events
  • Project Management
  • Stories from the Field
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Technology Evaluation
  • The ERP Industry
  • Uncategorized

Stay Connected

Stay informed about ERP evaluation, selection and
implementation. Subscribe to Ultra's eNewsletter.

Social Media

FacebookTwitterYoutubeLinkedin

312-319-1411 | Copyright © 2020 Ultra Corporation | All Rights Reserved | Sitemap |

Website by Web Savvy Marketing