If you are a batch or process manufacturer considering optimizing your business functions, you have landed in the right place.
This blog covers all the information you will need to choose or instead consider finding Process Manufacturing ERP software delivering rapid value for your business.
While most ERP systems will have a standard set of features, process manufacturing ERP software secures its specifics like batch manufacturing and regulatory compliance prone to the industry requisites.
ERP software for process manufacturers is most prevalent in industries with high-volume batch manufacturing requirements, such as chemicals, cosmetics, cannabis, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage.
Process Manufacturing Business Challenges
In tightly structured and highly specific, process manufacturing companies might end up with inaccurate data leading to unfulfilled customer demands and compliance requirements.
For example, Process manufacturers in the Cannabis industry will require a system or software that could offer accurate traceability from seed to sale while complying with strict governing bodies. On the other hand, chemical manufacturers require tight supervision of complex formulas, correct labeling practices, and flexible quality control to provide consistent products.
If you are someone without appropriate ERP software for a Process Manufacturing business, then here’s a list of common problems that you might relate to:
Strict Industry Regulations and Compliance
Process manufacturers need to abide by the rules of the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other similar organizations that are somehow connected to process manufacturing industries.
Conducting regular quality control checks to ensure that all raw materials, equipment, processes, and finished products are up to the regulations and compliance guide is a common practice for process manufacturers.
Not having a proper ERP system in place might cost you a considerable amount of time and effort streamlining your business processes manually or under a weak system.
Product Conflicts
Process manufacturers need to cater quality-rich and consistent products as it also involves food, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
Product uniformity is the only key; there’s no place for inconsistencies or unintended deviations in a product’s formulation or recipe.
Having your business managed under an accurate Process Manufacturing ERP means automating quality control testing to avoid product inconsistencies before goods leave the production line, ensuring that customers receive safe and high-quality products.
Lack of Supply Chain Transparency
The slightest delay or misinformation could cause issues in the supplier or distributor’s facility. It could disrupt the entire production schedule and lifecycle, resulting in losses and potential safety risks.
ERP Software for Process Manufacturing will provide end-to-end visibility across the entire supply chain, helping you track supplier and distributor performance, increasing operational efficiency, and reducing material wastage using data analytics and qualitative insights.
Let’s understand how one can overcome the process manufacturing challenges with appropriate ERP software.
Must-have Features in Process Manufacturing ERP Software
Suppose you are already someone who has made up your mind about ERP selection. In that case, the possibilities are that you’re considering multiple of them like-for-like to see which software offers you the most comprehensive functionality. Though here’s a list of some key features to look out for:
Regulatory Compliance
For process manufacturers in the F&B sector, detailing nutritional information and allergens on food and beverage items becomes necessary. Similarly, for those in chemical product manufacturing, following detailed regulations around how chemical products need to be labeled in line with standard protocols is a must.
So, make sure your Process Manufacturing ERP software lets you capture and implement the regulatory compliance rules to achieve industry standards.
Insight: Here’s a customer success story of how Odoo— Process Manufacturing ERP software, ensured success for a food manufacturer from sales to shop floor through full traceability of product, allergens, label printing, weights, quality controls, etc. alongside planning and replenishment.
Recipe/Formulation Management
Process or Batch manufacturing operations not only require the accurate calculation of recipes but also need to scale measurements and update/revise ingredients and quantities according to the customer requirements.
Having ERP for Process Manufacturing could be valuable for sectors such as cosmetics and those with impact product composition with recipes or formulas that involve mixed units of measure.
Inventory Management
Almost every manufacturing sector involves raw materials, but process manufacturing can be particularly challenging as you’re dealing with perishable or non-solid state ingredients and materials.
Having Inventory management functionality in your Process Manufacturing ERP means stronger distribution and supply chain logistics to help you synchronize inventory with your production schedule to prevent shortages and delayed orders.
Lot Traceability
For process manufacturers, it is critical to keep an end-to-end track of raw ingredients for quality control and consistency of batch production.
But it becomes challenging to manage expiration when you are working with ingredients with limited shelf-life. So, having Process ERP software helps one limit resource wastage and even track the disposal of those regulated ingredients.
Concluding Thoughts on Selecting Process Manufacturing ERP
Selecting an appropriate ERP Software for your Process Manufacturing business will be your first step to making a solid investment, ensure vetting of the software carefully before proceeding.
Feature checklist for Process Manufacturing ERP software:
- Visibility across the entire supply chain
- Tracks supplier and distributor performance and relationships
- Uses data analytics to provide qualitative insights
- Manages all process manufacturing functions- formulas and recipes, packaging, BOMs, batch ticket processing, labeling, custom orders, bills of lading, and more.
However, it’s not just what the ERP software does that will affect your ROI; the selection of an ERP service provider will also influence success.
At Aktiv, we have certified consultants with experience providing process manufacturers with industry-specific solutions while improving existing processes and the profitability of overall operations.
