• 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 07.26.18 / Project Management / Seeking Smart Use of ERP? It’s All in the Planning
07.26.18

Seeking Smart Use of ERP? It’s All in the Planning

Seeking Smart Use of ERP? It’s All in the Planning

The smart use of ERP is based on a philosophy of integration, continuous improvement, the simplification and standardization of business processes, and the elimination of waste throughout the organization.

Implementing ERP techniques can help companies to improve their operational performance and customer responsiveness and drive positive results to the bottom line.

The most important thing to remember is that smart use of ERP should not be about implementing software but should be about the transformation of the business.

Smart Use of ERP Puts the Focus on Business Process Improvement

With smart use of ERP, the key is leveraging proven methodologies that are based an understanding of the enterprise processes and business requirements to identify areas of improvement and the reduction of waste.

In a business process improvement project, smart use of ERP puts the focus on five areas:

  • Project Organization – an ERP project begins with a thorough organization of the project – including organization of business process owners to design the project scope, objectives, and measurements for the engagement.
  • Current State Analysis – To fully understand what’s needed, the approach then turns to an analysis of the current processes by gathering key performance metrics and analyzing their value, such as productivity, quality, overtime, and inventory. The team develops business process mapping at a functional level for such operations as Quote to Order, Order to Cash, and Procure to Pay.
  • Visioning and Education – To arrive at the definition of the desired future state, the next step is to look at what is possible with a new or upgraded technology solution. Business process education brings industry best practices to construct the future state.
  • Future State Development – Transformation follows with a laser focus on designing a future state that takes advantage of the new processes and opportunities afforded by new technology. This type of business process reengineering is specific to each business process flow and identifies gaps between the current state and industry best practices.
  • A Business Case for Change – As the future state vision is honed and perfected, the team then takes this vision and translates it into a credible business case for change.

Looking for More on Insight and Rules for Success?

Download our “New Rules of ERP – What to Consider When Evaluating Today’s ERP Systems” White Paper.

Read Report

Smart Use of ERP Needs Buy In

Finally, it’s key to consider that engaging top management is vitally important to facilitate the adoption of smart use of ERP.

In fact, in our role as ERP consultants, a common risk in failed implementations is the lack of top management commitment and support.

In order to get and sustain buy in from top management, it is important to make them realize that adopting ERP tools and concepts will help assure the long-term viability of the company.

Benefits of a well-planned ERP implementation effort are:

  • Alignment of operations and corporate strategy
  • Clear enterprise-wide communication
  • Increased throughput on the shop floor and front office
  • Reduced costs by the elimination of wastes
  • Increased flexibility in satisfying changing customer demands

Smart Use of ERP – Final Thoughts

As the famous adage goes “it is easier said than done.” Companies face challenges in implementing ERP concepts.

In all, when it comes to smart use of ERP, having a systemic approach to the implementation, incorporating education at all levels along the way and focusing on change management will help assure success in the adoption of ERP concepts and the changes required be successful.

Contact the Ultra team to learn more.

 

Tweet
Share
Share

Categories: Project Management Tags: Business Process Improvement, erp implementations

Related Articles

  • 05.19.15Apax and The Exact Software Buyout: Will It Happen?

    Continued: Project Management Process Group, “The Closing Group”

    Posted in: Project Management
  • 07.24.18

    Be Wary of 4 Types of ERP Implementation Risk During Solution Discovery

    Posted in: Project Management
  • 01.07.19Assessment Center

    ERP in 2019: Despite Cyclical Industry Risks, It Pays to Drive Business Process Improvement

    Posted in: Project Management

About Brad Staats

Brad Staats

Brad Staats, Ultra Senior Consultant, has broad-based manufacturing and operations experience with more than 30 years of helping companies increase productivity, efficiency, quality, throughput, revenues and profitability. His experience includes retail management, operations management, executive management and consulting for large and small firms in steel, musical instruments, heavy equipment, apparel, furniture, construction materials and other industries. He has experience with turnarounds and startups as well as improvements at well-established companies with revenues ranging from millions to billions of dollars. Brad has experience in ERP, Supply Chain/Materials Management, Lean Manufacturing, Project Management and integrating business and process systems in highly automated manufacturing environments. Brad holds a BS in Administrative Management from the University of Arkansas and an MBA in Operations Management from DePaul University. Early in his career, he earned the CPIM certification from APICS. He currently serves on the advisory board for the NE Indiana Lean Network

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