• 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 11.21.13 / ERP Best Practices / ERP Implementation Life Cycle – The Place to Begin
11.21.13

ERP Implementation Life Cycle – The Place to Begin

ERP Implementation Life CycleAn ERP implementation life cycle refers to the distinct stages in which an organization carries out an ERP implementation.

Typically, we advise mid-market manufactures to move through the following seven stages:

  • Pre-Implementation
  • Project Planning
  • Product Education
  • Design Configuration
  • Development and Test
  • Go-Live
  • Post-Implementation

The concept of an ERP implementation life cycle is on the minds of many mid-market manufacturers as this calendar year comes to an end.  Many process and discrete manufacturers are heading into active ERP projects in the New Year, and considering what it means to enter into the various phases of an ERP implementation.

The Start of the ERP Implementation Life Cycle is Pre-Implementation

While it’s tempting to gloss over the preparatory activities that should take place in the “pre-implementation” phase, our team advises manufacturers to take special care in this first phase of ERP implementation life cycle.

Tasks that are part of pre-implementation form a solid foundation for the ERP project.   We advise that manufacturing companies carefully manage this phase, because success at this early stage increases the likelihood of success at “go-live.”

Typical best practices take place in the following areas:

  • Vendor Due Diligence – These are tasks found at the end of the technology evaluation cycle, involving vendor due diligence, site visits, ERP vendor customer references and other evaluation activities with the preferred vendor. This phase is also marked by contract review, negotiation and finalization.
  • The Team and Charter – Other tasks include development of the ERP Project Team – the key stakeholders who will lead the charge — and the ERP Project Charter — the ERP team’s concise statement of core goals, objectives and scope. In essence, a charter serves as the “map” for everything that comes next.  We’ve found that an effective project charter becomes a daily reference point for avoiding “scope creep” and keeping the ERP team focused on the end-result. 

Additional pre-implementation tasks include:

  • Pre-implementation tasks also include stipulating IT project governance process such as roles and responsibilities during implementation.
  • Preferred vendors under consideration should provide a detailed Statement of Work (SOW) for the implementation including services, a proposed timeline, a set budget, and other project details from the vendor point of view. The SOW should be developed in tandem with the ERP Project Charter process at the manufacturer.
  • The vendors should also provide a list of who is on the vendor team; complete with profiles of the team members to be sure they fit the manufacturing’s culture, and offer the appropriate qualifications and certifications for the implementation.
  • Vendors should provide implementation references of projects that have taken place within the last year, in a similar industry. This is the time for the manufacturer to reach out to the implementation reference as use them as a critical resource for “lessons learned.
  • Once ERP selection takes place, at this point ERP vendors usually deliver a detailed Master Service Agreement – which lays out the terms of the contract.  This agreement must be fully reviewed by the manufacturer’s legal team, IT leadership, company management and other groups as needed.

Your ERP Implementation Life Cycle Resource

As independent ERP consultants, we’re in a unique position to have worked through numerous ERP implementation life cycles at various companies.

We’ve assembled some of the more compelling “lessons learned” in a complimentary white paper Best Practices for an Effective ERP Implementation.

Special attention is placed on the phases of a typical ERP implementation life cycle with the best practices proven to speed the rate of adoption and ROI.

Don’t miss this key resource as you look ahead to 2014.

Tweet
Share
Share

Categories: ERP Best Practices Tags: ERP Project Management, ERP Project Team, ERP Software Implementation

Related Articles

  • 02.16.18Workforce, Team Working, Business People In Motion, Motivation F

    The Project Team Structure: ERP Project Team Roles and Responsibilities

    Posted in: ERP Best Practices
  • 06.11.19

    What’s the Best Approach to Project Management and ERP Implementation?

    Posted in: ERP Best Practices
  • 01.17.16How Fast Can We Execute an ERP Selection Project?

    How Fast Can We Execute an ERP Selection Project?

    Posted in: Technology Evaluation

About Jeff Carr

Jeff Carr

Jeff Carr is Founder and CEO of Ultra Consultants, independent advisors, researchers and consultants serving the manufacturing and distribution industries with enterprise technology expertise. Jeff is a leading independent voice in enterprise technology, ERP selection, evaluation, implementation and business process improvement. Jeff’s organizations have helped 1,200 manufacturing companies transform business operations. Jeff’s results-focused career spans four decades serving manufacturers. He leads Ultra’s high-impact process improvement programs that leverage today’s technology. Jeff is a graduate of University of Illinois.

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