Best Manufacturing ERP Software Of 2024

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Why We Picked Cetec ERP

From the moment I logged in, the interface stood out. Navigating through different modules felt intuitive, making it easy to dive in without extensive training. The consistent design across all modules made it quick to adapt and explore everything the platform offers.

One of the best parts of the free trial was the access to all modules. It was great to evaluate every feature without any restrictions.

I used the dummy data provided to explore different modules and was impressed by how easy it was to view metrics in real time. These insights can be crucial for optimizing processes.

Throughout the trial, Cetec ERP’s support team was quick to respond to my emails, helping me get the most out of the platform. Their online resources, like how-to videos and guides, were also super helpful whenever I got stuck.

Customization was another strong point. Many users mentioned it helps them tailor reports and dashboards to meet specific operational needs, which is a huge plus for businesses with unique workflows and metrics.

Even with its minor limitations—like confusing time clocks, limited NCR reporting tools or glitchy upgrades—most find Cetec ERP to be a highly valuable, flexible tool for manufacturing.

Overall, my experience during the free trial was very positive. With its user-friendly interface, different module access, real-time insights and excellent support, Cetec ERP feels like a solid choice for businesses in need of an efficient ERP solution.

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Pros & Cons

User-Friendly Interface: Users say the interface is super intuitive, making it easy to navigate, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy.
Exceptional Customer Support: The customer service team is frequently praised for being responsive, knowledgeable and helpful throughout the implementation process and beyond.
Highly Customizable: Users love how customizable the software is, letting them tweak it to fit their unique business needs and workflows.
Comprehensive Features: The platform offers a wide range of features, from inventory management to purchasing, that simplify their operations.
Real-Time Data Access: Users appreciate having real-time access to data, helping them stay informed and make quick, smart decisions.
Implementation/Training: Users often mention how easy the setup is, with smooth training sessions that make the whole process hassle-free.

Functionality: Users mention that the time clock doesn't automatically refresh, NCR reports lack customization options, and navigating invoice lists and dates can be frustrating.
Implementation Challenges: Some users have reported issues during the implementation phase, particularly with data migration and initial setup.
Occasional Performance Issues: There are mentions of the system slowing down at times, which can disrupt workflows and impact efficiency.
Limited Advanced Features: A few users feel that some features lack the advanced functionality they’re used to in other ERP systems, limiting effectiveness in certain situations.
Learning Curve: While many find the system easy to use, some users note that certain features can be tricky at first and may take extra time to get used to.

Key Features

CRM & Sales Management: Simplify your workflows and eliminate duplicate data entry with fully integrated CRM and sales tools. Enjoy a seamless experience without added costs or complications.
Manufacturing Quoting: Improve the accuracy of your quotes using BOM estimation and job costing tools. Track essential metrics like sales performance, order profitability, and won or lost business with ease. Our analysts ranked its manufacturing capabilities as the best in the ERP category.
Order Tracking & Fulfillment: Simplify the fulfillment process for both customer and internal demands with Cetec ERP’s flexible platform. Manage a wide array of orders and shipments effortlessly.
Purchasing & MRP: Navigate complex supply chain dependencies and material requirements to optimize your procurement process. Make strategic purchasing decisions while ensuring cash flow remains steady.
Inventory Management: Tackle even the toughest inventory challenges. Whether you’re dealing with high-mix/low-volume environments or tracking specialized materials, you have the tools needed to maintain control.
Mobile Warehousing: Equip your team with barcode scanners, mobile printers and tablets for improved efficiency. This setup allows for smooth management of receiving, material allocation and shipping.
Shop Floor: Oversee diverse shop floor operations with ease. Track labor and overhead while utilizing electronic routers/travelers and mobile data collection stations to ensure organization and efficiency. In our assessment, Cetec scored an impressive 100, putting it ahead of Visibility ERP and Dynamics 365 SCM.
Planning & Scheduling: Make scheduling and planning for work orders straightforward. Cetec ERP’s production management tools help you handle complex material and labor dependencies, allowing you to anticipate customer needs better. Our analysts ranked its production scheduling capabilities as the best in the manufacturing category.
Document Management: Maintain organization and efficiency with the integrated document management system. Avoid the hassle of searching through files or spreadsheets; everything you need is readily accessible in your ERP system.
Quality Assurance & ISO: Integrate your quality and ERP systems to minimize paperwork. This connection allows you to meet ISO and other certification audit requirements automatically.
Accounting / Financials: Connect your manufacturing operations directly to your accounting processes. Monitor transactions in real time to ensure accurate postings to your ledger.
Custom Reporting: Use the extensive data captured in your ERP system. Save valuable time wasted on report preparation.

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Best for Bill of Materials (BOM) and Routing

Best for Production Planning

Best for Quality Management

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Best for Reports and Dashboards

Best for Work Order Management

Best for Work in Process (WIP)

Visibility ERP

Start Price

^$100

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Why We Picked Visibility ERP

Visibility ERP shines as a user-friendly and cost-effective option for businesses with mid-level ERP needs. Its intuitive interface makes it easier for employees to learn and use, especially for businesses with limited technical resources. Additionally, Visibility ERP's pricing structure is often seen as more affordable compared to larger, comprehensive solutions, making it a good fit for businesses on a tighter budget.

However, some reviewers highlight limitations that could be deal breakers for certain companies. While reporting is enough for basic needs, it falls short for complex data analysis or in-depth reports. This can be a hurdle for businesses relying heavily on data-driven insights for strategic decisions. Extensive customizations can be resource-intensive and require specialized skills, potentially making it difficult for businesses seeking highly tailored solutions resources.

Overall, Visibility ERP seems ideal for smaller or mid-sized manufacturing and distribution businesses, valuing user-friendliness, affordability and ease of use. However, companies with intricate reporting needs or those seeking highly customized solutions might find its functionalities restrictive and may be better served by exploring alternative ERP solutions.

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Pros & Cons

User-Friendly Interface: Visibility ERP is praised for its intuitive interface and straightforward navigation, making it easier for users with varying technical skill sets to adapt and become proficient. This can streamline onboarding, reduce training time and improve overall user adoption.
Scalability and Customization: While not as extensive as some industry giants, Visibility ERP offers customization options and scalability to accommodate business growth. This allows businesses to tailor the system to their specific needs and add functionalities as required without a complete system overhaul.
Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to larger ERP systems, Visibility ERP often falls within a more affordable price range, particularly for smaller businesses. This can be a deciding factor for companies seeking a cost-conscious solution that meets their core ERP needs without breaking the bank.
Mobile Accessibility: Visibility ERP offers mobile app access, allowing authorized users to access and manage essential business data and processes on the go. It can enhance flexibility, improve decision-making response times and boost productivity for a more mobile workforce.

Limited Reporting Features: While Visibility ERP offers basic reporting functionalities, users often find them insufficient for in-depth data analysis and customization. This can hinder the generation of comprehensive reports and limit the ability to gain deeper insights for informed decision-making, especially for businesses with intricate reporting needs.
Potential Customization Challenges: Although Visibility ERP boasts scalability and customization options, implementing extensive modifications might be resource-intensive and require specialized expertise. This can be a hurdle for businesses seeking a highly tailored solution without the budget for significant development efforts or in-house technical knowledge.
Integration Complexity: Integrating Visibility ERP with existing systems can be challenging due to limited out-of-the-box connectors and potential compatibility issues. This might necessitate additional development work or workarounds, impacting overall implementation time and cost, and potentially hindering a seamless workflow.

Key Features

Number of users
Depth of features
Additional modules
Implementation complexity

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Dynamics 365 SCM

Start Price

^$180

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Why We Picked Dynamics 365 SCM

User reviews of Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management paint a nuanced picture. Many praise its intuitive interface, seamless integration with other Microsoft products, and real-time data-driven insights, citing improved efficiency and informed decision-making. Its scalability and adaptability are also lauded, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes and across diverse industries. However, some criticisms revolve around its higher upfront costs compared to competitors, particularly for larger implementations. The steeper learning curve and potential customization needs can also be daunting for smaller teams. Users mention dependence on the Microsoft ecosystem as both a boon and a potential hindrance, as switching to non-Microsoft solutions might be challenging. Compared to similar products, Dynamics 365 shines in its user-friendliness and integration capabilities within the Microsoft suite. Its AI-powered analytics and robust features for specific areas like manufacturing and warehouse management are also differentiating factors. However, competitors often offer more flexible pricing models and potentially easier customization options. Ultimately, the choice between Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management and alternative solutions depends on individual needs and priorities. For businesses prioritizing user-friendliness, Microsoft integration, and robust functionalities, Dynamics 365 might be the perfect fit. But for those seeking flexible pricing and easier customization, exploring other options might be prudent.

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Pros & Cons

Intuitive Interface: Familiar layout and drag-and-drop functionality make it easy to learn and navigate.
Seamless Integration: Connects seamlessly with other Microsoft products and external systems, providing a holistic view of your supply chain.
Actionable Insights: Real-time data and AI-powered analytics enable data-driven decision-making for improved efficiency and agility.
Scalable and Adaptable: Grows with your business needs and adapts to industry-specific requirements.
Automated Workflows: Automates routine tasks and processes, freeing up time for strategic initiatives.

Higher Upfront Costs: Subscription fees and potential implementation costs can be significant, especially for larger businesses.
Steeper Learning Curve: The comprehensive features require dedicated training and ongoing support for optimal utilization.
Potential Customization Needs: Adapting to specific industry requirements or workflows may involve additional development.
Dependency on Microsoft Ecosystem: Integration with other Microsoft products is seamless, but switching to non-Microsoft solutions might be challenging.
Complex Setup and Configuration: Initial setup and configuration can be intricate, requiring IT expertise or consultant assistance.

Key Features

Dashboards: Create easy-to-use dashboards to manage product information and images. Access complete product information from a centralized dashboard.
Configuration Models: Configure customer requirements and product attributes by creating scalable models using embedded constraints. Automatically generates a list of product requirements and routes needed for delivery and production process.
Asset Maintenance: Increase machine life by creating an asset maintenance routine. Access telemetry data to identify repairs for machines and make plans for replacement.
Supply Chain Management: Manage stock using insights driven by AI. Optimize inbound and outbound delivery to drive greater efficiency. Ensure accurate order picking and packing.
Customer Returns: Track each returned product and address issues. Vital insights from AI can minimize future returns.
Transportation Management: Manage inbound and outbound transportation to comply with deadlines. Deliver and pickup via the company’s fleet or use an external logistics provider for transportation purposes. Determine rates for transportation activities and make adjustments accordingly.
Workforce Management: Simplify employees’ daily performance by using a mobile app tailored to their needs. Align real-time tasks and drive collaboration among employees across different business units.

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Best for Integrations and Extensibility

Best for Manufacturing Execution System (MES)

Best for Platform Capabilities

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Best for Reports and Dashboards

Oracle Fusion Cloud

Start Price

^$2,000

Monthly

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Why We Picked Oracle Fusion Cloud

Oracle Fusion Cloud scores 86, placing it second in our analysis on our ERP software leaderboard. Our researchers ranked various features, including asset, customer relationship and human resources management. The product tour modules gave me a good overview of the different features. Watching the webinar videos and reviewing the product documentation provided more clarity on how it works.

Many users like the clean user interface and dashboards. I noticed this while going through the training materials. However, new users might find the learning curve a bit steep, but there are plenty of resources available to help.

I know the tours don’t cover every use case, so a free demo could be helpful. Many success stories highlight that setting up the software is quick and easy, often without needing support to get started.

I appreciate the effort they’ve put into creating resources over the years and continually improving the product. This gives me confidence that investing in their complete suite of enterprise solutions is worth it and relevant to current market changes.

Some users mentioned that the implementation can be complex, which might overwhelm small teams with tight budgets. Additionally, some feel the pricing structure is on the higher side.

Overall, Oracle Fusion Cloud is an enterprise application with key modules for ERP, EPM, SCM, HCM, and CX. Users value its scalability, flexibility and integration capabilities. However, some say that the platform can be complex and has a learning curve. Compared to similar products, Oracle Fusion Cloud is an excellent choice for businesses seeking a comprehensive cloud solution.

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Pros & Cons

Integration and Usability: Users appreciate how the platform smoothly integrates with other Oracle products, boosting productivity and teamwork across departments.
Advanced Features: The use of AI and machine learning that supports decision-making and task automation are seen as a big advantage.
Continuous Improvement: Many users mention that the software keeps getting better with regular updates that improve features and user experience.
Robust Analytics: The platform provides strong analytics, helping with better financial management and offering useful operational insights.
User-Friendly Interface: Users like the simple, easy-to-navigate dashboards, which make troubleshooting easier and streamline workflows for a better user experience.
Strong Security Features: It has solid security measures and compliance certifications, keeping sensitive data safe and meeting regulatory standards.
Real-Time Insights: The platform provides real-time analytics and reporting for quicker data-based decisions.
Improved Accessibility: As a cloud-based platform, it allows users to access important data from anywhere, anytime, offering flexibility and quick responses.
Automated Processes: Automation simplifies routine tasks like account reconciliations and expense claims, reducing manual work, minimizing errors and improving efficiency.

Complex Implementation: Users mention that the implementation process is complex and lengthy, which can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially for smaller organizations.
High Cost: Some users consider the pricing structure to be high, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses, which may limit accessibility.
Training Needs: Users note that a lack of training resources can hinder effective use, leading to a steep learning curve for new users.
Limited Regional Features: Users point out that some features may not be available in all regions, limiting functionality for global organizations.
Data Migration Challenges: Moving data from older systems to Oracle Fusion Cloud can be complex and may lead to data integrity issues.
Vendor Dependence: Some users are concerned about becoming too reliant on Oracle for updates and support, which can limit flexibility in managing their IT systems.
Customization Challenges: While customization options exist, users report that extensive changes can complicate upgrades and maintenance, potentially increasing costs and implementation time.
Limited User Support: Users have expressed concerns about the availability and responsiveness of support, which can delay the resolution of issues.

Key Features

Financial: It simplifies your closing process with built-in standardization and automation. Use dashboards to track progress, automate account reconciliations, and enhance control and auditability. With a single source of financial data, you can speed up issue resolution and ensure compliance. Strong analytics and reporting tools also make decision-making and external reporting easier for you.
Project Management: Connect the right resources to your projects for better team alignment. Use drag-and-drop Gantt charts to manage workloads and gain visibility across multiple projects. Plus, streamline your tasks with a conversational interface for greater efficiency. Our analysts give its project management capabilities a perfect score of 100.
Procurement: Automate your source-to-pay process using machine learning to select the best suppliers and manage risks. Simplify your purchasing with analytics and supplier tools, all while keeping costs in check. With integration into Oracle Cloud ERP, you can enjoy a seamless user experience and leverage AI to strengthen your supplier relationships.
Risk Management: It enhances your security with continuous monitoring and self-service access management. The platform helps you detect Separation of Duties (SoD) violations early, simplifies financial audits, and digitizes internal controls for easier compliance tracking. With a centralized risk and control matrix, you can promote collaboration and transparency across your organization.
Enterprise Performance Management: Streamline your sign-off tracking, customize formats and set alerts for managing exceptions. Handle large transaction volumes quickly while ensuring secure document storage for compliance. Plus, you can easily integrate with other Oracle Cloud EPM apps for a complete financial close solution.

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Acumatica

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^$4,000

Monthly

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Why We Picked Acumatica

User reviews, coupled with our extensive research, confirm Acumatica’s reputation for flexibility and scalability. Still, certain features and overall performance have drawn mixed reviews.

First, the positives. A majority of user reviews highlight Acumatica’s functionality and its ease of use. Popular mentions include the quoting and billing, accounts location, and inventory management features. Other honorable mentions are the accounts payable and invoice routing tools.

Reviewers specifically mention that managing administrative functions is a breeze and accessible from anywhere. One user even mentioned that their business is retiring other legacy systems because Acumatica fulfills those needs by offering tools to manage various business functions on one platform with complete access to past data.

For those who swear by Excel, Acumatica offers a comforting bridge with its robust Excel integration. The export to Excel feature is available on every grid. No more tedious manual transfers.

However, drawbacks like the less-than-ideal calendar feature and tricky project management tools have been noted. Users say that project management, while capable of managing multiple projects at once, could have fewer steps.

The platform’s performance can be a hiccup. Multiple users experienced glitches, especially when dealing with large datasets or navigating through generic inquiries. The system also logs out after 60 minutes of idle time. Defining user inactivity timeout is only available for Acumatica 2023 R1 and beyond.

Beyond user reviews, our research team delved into the strengths and weaknesses of Acumatica. According to our research, it’s the best in the game for order and service management.

Acumatica's biggest differentiator lies in its open architecture and customization options. Unlike some competitors with limited customization or reliance on pre-built modules, Acumatica lets you tailor the platform to their specific workflows and processes.

The caveat is that molding the platform will take time and a great deal of expertise (either through internal IT or external support). Implementation will get drawn out, and expediting this process without proper alignment with your business needs will deter you from getting complete value for the amount you pay.

The timeline and pricing might not be suitable for smaller firms or startups. Some users also wished the private cloud perpetual (PCP) licensing model wasn't discontinued. We suggest looking for other options if you don’t want to pay a monthly recurring fee.

So, is Acumatica right for you?

Acumatica is a strong contender if your business demands a highly adaptable system and you're prepared to invest time and resources in customization. However, if you prioritize rapid implementation and lightning-fast performance, you might want to explore other options.

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Pros & Cons

User-Friendly: While there were some mixed reviews concerning disjointed navigation and the need for in-depth end-user training, 75% of reviewers said that Acumatica is easy to use.
Reporting: Over 50% of users were in favor of Acumatica’s reporting. Those who were not in favor said that the reporting feature required IT assistance to generate specialized reports, as the custom report tool isn’t friendly for those without developer knowledge.
Customization: Nearly three-fourths of reviews that mentioned customization applauded the vast amount of opportunities for customization, while one-fourth of reviewers complained that users need IT assistance to complete customizations.
Functionality: Acumatica provides robust functionality — almost 82% of reviewers said the system came with every tool they needed and more. Reviewers also mentioned that yearly updates are rolled out, so functionality is always improving.
Integration: Of the users that mentioned integration in their review, 100% were satisfied with the connectivity to other systems.
Cloud-Based Scalability: Easily adapt to business growth by adding modules or users without data disruption or complex upgrades.
Seamless Integrations: Connect with various third-party tools and platforms through open APIs and connectors, streamlining data flow and operations.
Centralized Data: Consolidate all business information in one system, improving data accuracy, accessibility and reporting capabilities.
Mobile App Access: Manage key tasks and access data on the go with the mobile app, boosting productivity and flexibility.

Support: Almost 70% of reviews concerning support were negative, given that Acumatica requires users to partner with a third party for support. In addition, there were some grievances surrounding the “Help” documentation.
Implementation: Between long implementation cycles and a requirement for a VAR to implement the system, 75% of reviewers said that they weren’t happy with the process.
Higher Cost Than Basic Options: Initial investment and per-application pricing can be steeper than some basic accounting software, especially for smaller businesses.
Steeper Learning Curve for Complex Needs: Extensive customization and advanced features may require dedicated IT resources or consultant support, increasing implementation costs.
Limited Industry-Specific Features: May lack specialized modules or functionalities for highly regulated or niche industries.
Reporting Customization Restrictions: While customizable, financial reporting options might not offer the depth and drill-down capabilities of dedicated reporting tools.
Occasional System Bugs & Glitches: 80% of users who mentioned platform speed report occasional bugs and glitches, requiring troubleshooting and potential downtime.

Key Features

Financial Management: Manage accounting, budgeting, financial reporting and cash management on one platform. In addition to core functions like general ledgers, accounts receivables and payables, it offers automated bank reconciliations and multi-currency to support efficiency and global operations.
Distribution Management: Manage sales, inventory, and purchasing processes with one module. Top features include order management, inventory control and warehouse management. Its ability to handle complex inventory valuation methods and real-time inventory visibility sets it apart.
Order Management: Get better control over the entire order-to-cash process. From order entry and tracking to fulfillment and invoicing, it provides complete visibility and control.
Built-In CRM: Build and maintain strong customer relationships. Use sales force automation, marketing automation and customer service management tools to make every interaction meaningful. Integrated sales forecasting, lead scoring and customer lifecycle management drive sales growth and improve customer satisfaction.
Manufacturing: Get real-time visibility into shop floor activities. Create and manage multiple work centers. Manage everything from bills of materials (BOM) creation to work order management based on job dispatch lists.
Service Management: Use an extensive service management toolkit that includes service request creation, service contract management and installation management features. Enhance service delivery and improve technician productivity by offering a technical portal to start and end appointments.
Inventory Management: Capture key inventory details like class ID and item types. These support cycle routing with better visibility into stock levels. Build kits to stock with the option to disassemble kits into smaller components.

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SYSPRO

Start Price

^$199

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Why We Picked SYSPRO

SYSPRO is a robust manufacturing ERP that is favored by small and mid-sized companies. Its abundant amount of features include reporting, project management, BOM management, quoting, inventory management, financial tracking and more. It comes with a sleek user-friendly interface and it streamlines workflow tasks with ease. Although it's sluggish at times and experiences the occasional glitches, the majority of users find it an effective solution.

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Pros & Cons

Simple Interface: Nearly 64% of users said this solution's user interface is simple and easy to master.
General Performance: Of the users who discussed this program's overall performance, 48% stated it's efficient and simplifies tasks.
Configurable: Precisely 87% of users stated that this software is configurable to meet their business operations.
Effective Modules: This program is equipped with several modules to streamline production such as bill of material (BOM) management, project management, inventory tracking, reporting, quoting and more, according to 53% of users.

Glitchy: According to 52% of users, this solution can be slow and have plenty of glitches.

Key Features

Order Management: Automate order-to-delivery procedures, obtain full transparency of production and carry out order processing and fulfillment with the sales order extension.
Lot Traceability and Serial Tracking: Govern product tracking by tracing it from its original worksite to the final destination with complete visibility of various physical and virtual sites. Users may also trace and evaluate defects.
Sales Analysis and Optimal Pricing: Sift through profitable patrons and forecast product sales trends to gauge its profits.
Lean Inventory Management: Permit customizations and automatic KPI monitoring to gain balance for inventory investments and services.
Product Information: Overlook extensive inventories of various goods in a single or multi-warehouse setting. Users can plan and conduct warehouse restorations and order fulfillment necessities.
Inspection: Coordinate varying reviews for products with irregular chemical procedures and work with tools to document product inspection data. Depending on the findings of the data, users can receipt, scrap or revise quantities.
Product Formula Changes: Leverage controls to guarantee products possess constant procedures, the correct formulas and requirements with the engineering change control, bill of materials, work-in-progress and factory accessories.
Workflow and Approval: Administer merchandise design procedures and verify that new and revised products pass through relevant testing and approval standards before distribution to clients.
Monitoring: Recognize approved manufacturers for raw material provisions and supplier execution effortlessly to track through queries and reports. Users will oversee and understand the raw material's quality during manufacturing.

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Pricing

License/Subscription Cost	SYSPRO ERP costs begin at $199 per user, per month. The more additional modules are added, the more expensive the program will be. The price of on-premise software installation starts at around $12,000.
Maintenance Cost	Customer support is available to users via the SYSPRO Reseller Channel and SYSPRO Partners.In-house support is also available from the vendor to help meet the specific requirements of each customer.
Installation/Implementation Cost	Deployment is an additional cost. SYSPRO provides implementation services through its SYSPRO Reseller Channel (qualified professionals) and SYSPRO Partners. The cost of this implementation varies based on number of users, system architecture, implementation scope and complexity, company size, industry, and if your company requires any third-party integrations.
Customization Cost	Customization and additional applications are both additional costs to the on-premise and cloud-based versions of SYSPRO ERP.
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost	These costs are also additional and will vary depending on your current software, amount of data to be migrated, availability of migration tools, complexity of data and gaps between the existing system and the new system.
Recurring/Renewal Costs	For both types of deployments, the cost will vary depending on the number of subscription-based user licenses purchased plus the additional cost of software updates, support, customization and integration.

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DELMIAworks

Start Price

^$25,000

Annually

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Why We Picked DELMIAworks

DELMIAworks (formerly IQMS) is a manufacturing ERP that offers robust features —such as accounting, document control, CRM, serial number tracking, payroll, accounting, quote management and more — that users find helpful and necessary in streamlining operations. Its performance is highly intuitive and it adapts to various industries to swiftly fulfill assignments. Some users find that upgrading the software can be stressful because it changes original system settings. The application also has a few bugs that affect its speed. Nevertheless, users find it's a reliable tool with an easy interface that increases production.

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Pros & Cons

Interface: Approximately 63% of users said this program is easy to use, noting the interface to be user friendly.
Overall Performance: Of the users who discussed this solution's performance, 55% said it fits industry needs and integrates throughout various departments within a company.
Functionality: Precisely 60% of users say the platform allows them to easily navigate between modules and offers real-time production monitoring.

System Performance: Roughly 44% of users said updating this software wipes out previous system settings and has a lot of bugs.

Key Features

Supply Chain Management: Monitor and optimize production operations with demand planning, order management and inventory management to improve productivity. The forecasting tool uses inputted goals and real-time purchase events to develop an optimal schedule that meets customer demand and business objectives.
Customer Relationship Management: Develop beneficial customer and supplier relationships in one system where clients, partners and vendors can interact about numerous details. Review sales, purchases, support and shipping history to better tailor external interactions and track sales and marketing campaign opportunities.
Estimating and Quoting: Evaluate labor, material, overhead and commission costs to aid in sales quote creations. The RFQ log lets employees manage quotes online. Send quotes to patrons via email, fax, printer or web.
Finance and Accounting: Review how and where money is spent at all times. It uses business intelligence to identify non-fruitful workflows and processes. It also offers customizable reports.
Sales Order Management: Convert internal and external quotes into sales orders. The available-to-promise (ATP) and capable-to-promise (CTP) modules examine open orders and inventory when creating work orders, so the required parts are the only ones produced.
Capacity Planning: Leverage MRP, labor capacity planning, auxiliary equipment planning, rough-cut capacity planning and more in one place. Check auxiliary equipment and machine availability to better know what's in use.
Planning and Scheduling: Employ integrated, real-time data from the supply chain and other business facets to develop optimal schedules that effectively meet customer demand. The “what if” capability determines raw material amounts, required time and purchased parts necessary to complete all required orders.

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Epicor Kinetic

Start Price

^$125

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Why We Picked Epicor Kinetic

Kinetic offers a comprehensive ERP solution designed for multimodal manufacturers. It offers a robust combination of core financials, extensive integrations and country-specific implementation support. The advanced overlaid manufacturing module addresses future scalability needs. Its modern interface supports various business models through manufacturing processes.

The user-based subscription model lets businesses adjust costs based on their specific needs. The solution is available in both perpetual and subscription licensing models, providing businesses with the flexibility to choose the most suitable option.

Features like MES data exchange and Kanban systems manage production processes and reduce waste. Additionally, in-depth business analytics provide valuable insights into sales, profit margins and workflow performance for informed decision-making.

Users praise this vendor’s configurable options and range of functions that cater to their unique business needs. Positive feedback also includes mentions of a unified platform for customer interactions. Despite its robust customization and integration options, many users report a steep learning curve and limited training resources.

Overall, Kinetic is a comprehensive ERP solution that offers significant benefits to manufacturers looking to improve their operational efficiency, decision-making and profitability.

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Pros & Cons

Modern Interface: Approximately 52% of users say this solution has a flexible, user-friendly UI.
Flexibility and Customization: Approximately 87% of the users said Kinetic is easy to configure and has great customization options for multi-mode manufacturers.
Modules: Of the users who discussed features, 60% said this system offers a wide range of practical tools (i.e., KPI dashboards, accounting and financial management, part tracking and more).

Overall Performance: Roughly 40% of users indicated that the system is buggy, cumbersome and has a clunky UI.
Customer Support: About 55% of users agree that the support team is ineffective and has poor quality.
Training: Approximately 77% of users mentioned a steep learning curve and limited training resources.

Key Features

Project Management
- Planning and Analysis: Leverage user-established cost analytics throughout work breakdown structures (WBS), defining all project components and creating WBS templates for quick reference. Record all general ledger and project transactions in one centralized ledger for base reconciliations and reporting.
- Contract Management: Meet contractual obligations while protecting profitability. Rely on the system to define source cost rates across levels, monitor resource ceilings, link planning contracts with projects and seamlessly develop claims for any or all contract lines on one screen.
- Billing Types: Obtain several billing types, such as progress, fixed price, milestone and quantity. Use bill plans, recurring payment, subscriptions, time and expenses, part price lists, and markups.
Manufacturing
- Lean Manufacturing: Optimize production processes, reduce waste and manage manufacturing operations by incorporating lean principles. Apply Kanban systems, enable manufacturing without work orders and automatically process material flow.
- Job Management: Access detailed job tracking and reduce overproduction with drag-and-drop planning and material availability checks. Ensure quality and production with job manager assistance and production planners.
- Manufacturing Execution System (MES): Monitor production activities and automatic data collection from equipment via touchscreen interfaces. Support operators in making smart decisions regarding productivity, waste reduction and risk mitigation.
- Quality Assurance: Enhances quality control by providing tools for managing quality processes, inspections, supplier returns and automated debit processing within the manufacturing environment.
Analytics and Reporting
- Sales and CRM: Uncover more detailed business patterns and obtain deeper awareness of accounts, regions, orders and more. Review net sales, shipped and ordered quantities, material costs, fixed and variable burdens and labor fees.
- Materials Management: Optimize purchase spending and evaluate vendor performances. Track shipment progress and review costs, on-hand amounts, in-transit, bill of lading information and shipped on time, amongst others.
- Financials: Govern cash flows for more trends with a holistic filter for payables, receivables, customer payment cycles and vendor payment conditions. Drill down into organized accounts and payments on income statements and balance sheets.
- Production: Verify high-quality, manufactured products for the ideal client at the right time. Monitor tool quantities, good values, actual setup hours, defined labor rates, production run standards and more.
- Preventive Maintenance: Employ the EDA equipment maintenance data and dashboard to inspect maintenance data for suppliers, tasks, plants and open and closed requests. Boost preventive maintenance services and average response times for obstacles so managers can catch production bottlenecks.
- Field Service: Use EDA data to oversee consumers, parts, service call types and warranty eligibility linked with service requests. Summarize totals, call counts for each service representative and other relevant indications.
Data Exchange
- Integrations: Import and export data quickly to avoid manual data entry mistakes while maintaining data integrity. Manage specific information, data amounts and file formats for easy storage and sharing. Allocate data expeditiously and handle detailed tasks for IT teams and administrators.
- In and Outbound Data: Import master information from ERP systems and send production details between MRP and ERP solutions. Regulate where data goes and how to handle it with ease.
Financials Core
- General Ledger: Process and post all purchases made across this and other solutions. Manage manual entries, meet economic compliances, boost productivity and push enterprise efficiency.
- Accounts Payable: Implement petty cash to manage in and outbound cash activities, employee fees and advances, vendor expenditures and customer receipts. Track promissory notes, post-dated checks and other credit tools.
- Accounts Receivable: Establish coherent tools to monitor invoicing, credit, cash and client requirements. Create automatic invoices via order releases to reduce more work and typos.
- Business Architecture: Use the data discovery function to access pre-made financial management, accounts receivable and payable content. The human capital management link transfers information to payroll providers, benefit vendors and more.
- Global Engines: Support financial management across locations, vendors and global boundaries with country-specific implementation packs. Support multi-currency transactions, automate conversions and accurate financial reporting.
Epicor Automation Studio: Let users connect data and automate workflows across various apps with Epicor Automation Studio, a built-in low-code iPaaS solution. Access an integration marketplace, pre-built workflow automation templates and other native tools.
Virtual Agents: Rely on chatbots to pinpoint supply chain disruptions and recommend sourcing options based on predictive events.

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Pricing

License/Subscription	On-premise: Cost is based on a named user license model where each license is tied to a specific user On-premise deployment requires an upfront fee to own the software and IP for a fixed term, plus implementation/installation, maintenance, system upkeep overtime, customization and third-party integration costs, which are over and above the license fee 10% to 15% is the typical rate of perpetual or renewal licensing for ERP systems Cloud-based/SaaS: Based on recurring subscription-based model: per user, per month Over the course of a year, subscription fees typically add up to about 20% to 30% of the cost of the on-premise deployment. Cost varies based on the number of named user licenses that the organization requires, the level of access users require, the number of applications, the size and type of organization and the level of customization required.
Maintenance Cost	On-premise: Cost is over and above the license fee Requires ongoing maintenance plus ongoing upgrade support, which involves additional cost Users have to enter into an agreement for annual support and maintenance. The cost usually falls in the range of 10% to 20% of the original license fee Cloud-based/SaaS: Not included in the subscription cost There is an additional cost for ongoing maintenance and upgrades For both types of deployment: Cost varies depending on the number of users An additional cost for upgrading the software is charged for new releases, which are essential for the system to remain fully functional New additions to hardware and software are an additional cost Epicor provides full upgrade packages, ad-hoc services, technical consulting and early-stage project planning assistance for those who choose to upgrade on their own
Installation/Implementation Cost	For both types of deployment, the cost is over and above the subscription cost Cost varies based on the number of users, system architecture, implementation scope and complexity, company size, industry and third-party integrations Third-party services are priced at 30% to 35% of the system cost Additional applications and customizations increase the implementation cost Involves human resources cost during the implementation phase, as companies may need to onboard temporary workers to replace the users who will be working on the ERP project Cost varies depending on who provides the implementation services: Epicor, in-house or outsourced/third-party
Customization Cost	For both types of deployment, cost varies depending on additional applications and modules, such as Financial Management, Maintenance Management, Multi-company Management, Product Data Management and Supply Chain Management. Size and type of organization also influences the cost The larger the organization, the more additional customizations are required and the more expensive the ERP implementation can become Heavy customization increases the total cost of ownership (TCO)
Data Migration Cost/Change Management/Upfront Switching Cost	Cost varies depending on which legacy system is used (an older, proprietary system vs. disparate systems), the amount of business and historical data to be migrated to the new ERP system and the intensity of data migration Additional licenses are purchased separately for the Database Management System of ERP. Cost of these licenses are not included in the implementation cost
Recurring/Renewal Costs	The standard license renewal fees for an ERP is between 10% and 15% of the software cost On-premise: Annual recurring fees are paid over and above the upfront cost for annual renewal, upgrades, ongoing support and maintenance, customization, third-party integration and training Cloud-based/SaaS: Renewal cost is included in the subscription fee, based on the number of users, add-on user licenses, ongoing support and maintenance, customization, third-party integration and training

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Plex Systems

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^$500

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Why We Picked Plex Systems

Want to know if Plex Systems is truly complex or simply complexly awesome? Recent user reviews suggest the former might be closer to the truth. While Plex Systems is praised for its comprehensive suite of features covering everything from planning and scheduling to supply chain management, users often highlight a steep learning curve and a sometimes clunky interface as drawbacks. This complexity can make it challenging for smaller businesses or those with less tech-savvy teams to implement and utilize effectively.

However, Plex Systems shines in its ability to connect different aspects of a manufacturing operation, providing real-time visibility into production processes, inventory levels, and quality control data. This end-to-end integration is a key differentiator, allowing businesses to streamline operations and make data-driven decisions. For example, users cite the ability to track production in real-time and identify bottlenecks as a major advantage, leading to improved efficiency and reduced downtime. Ultimately, Plex Systems is best suited for larger, established manufacturing businesses with the technical resources and expertise to navigate its complexities and leverage its powerful features for maximum impact.

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Pros & Cons

Improved Shop Floor Visibility: Users praise Plex for providing real-time insights into production processes, enabling better decision-making and quicker responses to issues.
Streamlined Inventory Management: Plex helps manufacturers optimize inventory levels, reducing waste and ensuring materials are available when needed.
Enhanced Quality Control: The system's quality management features help track defects, identify root causes, and improve overall product quality.

Reporting Limitations: Users express frustration with the inflexibility and limitations of Plex's built-in reporting features, making it difficult to extract and analyze data in ways that suit their specific needs.
User Interface Complexity: The system is often described as being difficult to navigate and non-intuitive, especially for new users who require extensive training to become proficient.
System Rigidity: Plex is often criticized for its lack of flexibility in adapting to unique or evolving business processes, requiring workarounds or customizations that can be time-consuming and costly.

Key Features

Inventory Management: Plex Manufacturing Cloud allows you to track the quantity and location of your inventory, whether you want to look at raw materials, WIP or finished goods. It also supports barcode scanning and label printing in an effort to improve the accuracy of reported inventory levels. Controls are also in place to ensure that products are always developed using the right materials, therefore improving inventory viability.
PLM Functionality: Built-in revision control workflows allow for approved changes to be reflected across the entirety of the product lifecycle. Product specifications can also be developed to expedite processes.
Quality Management: Plex software helps to ensure that you are retaining compliance with standards such as ISO, TS and QS. You can also use supplier scorecards to look at your entire supply chain. For example, your suppliers can use checksheets to validate the quality of their materials before the goods reach your facility, therefore hastening the quality analysis process on your end.
Management of Shipments: The shipping management system ensures that only products that meet acceptable quality specifications are sent to customers and that they are sent to the intended recipient. Plex software's manufacturing system also contains a labeling feature that automatically prints labels using customer information in order to avoid shipping errors. ASNs are automatically sent and formatted as products leave the production facility.
Real-Time Financial Management: Plex software contains continuously updated information on components such as labor hour utilization and point-in-time inventory. The financial management system is designed for order-to-cash and procure-to-pay processes and includes multi-site functionality. Financial reports are also easily accessible with this tool.
Customer Relationship Management: This program includes a customer portal that provides visibility of a product as it moves throughout the supply chain and allows for enhanced collaboration ability. Important components such as quotes, estimates, issue resolution and order management are built into the tool along with an integrated EDI.
Advanced Planning and Scheduling: The Plex Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) solution allows you to account for constraints in your workplace such as amount of resources and maximum production capacity to develop optimized production runs. Finite Scheduling includes the ability to plan your development schedule based on factors such as resources, tools and space. The program also allows you to level-load production across different manufacturing centers.

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SyteLine

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^$200

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Why We Picked SyteLine

User reviews of Infor SyteLine paint a mixed picture, highlighting strengths and weaknesses.

On the plus side, many users praise its robust functionality and scalability. Users particularly note that it can manage core business functions like finance, inventory, production, and customer management well and adjust to changing needs. This could be a major plus for businesses with ambitious plans.

New to ERP systems? Many reviews suggest SyteLine's interface is intuitive and easy to learn, minimizing training time and getting teams up and running quickly. Streamlined workflows and automated tasks are also highlighted as efficiency boosters, improving resource allocation.

Additionally, real-time insights and comprehensive reporting are popular among many users. Reviews expressed real-time insights on job shop visibility, equipment and stocks, allowing them to address potential issues before they snowball.

Now, let’s consider some potential challenges. Some users express frustration with customization and integration challenges, finding it difficult to tailor the software to their specific requirements and connect it with other apps. This issue could be a deal-breaker if your business has unique workflows or relies heavily on specific integrations.

There are occasional mentions of slow response times and system crashes. This problem can be disruptive and impact productivity, so consider your tolerance for such occurrences.

Compared to similar products, SyteLine has a steeper learning curve but ultimately offers a more powerful and feature-rich experience. While reviewers note that it's user-friendly overall, they also report that the initial setup can be more complex than with options like Sage X3 or Epicor ERP.

The mid-range price point can also deter small businesses with limited budgets. Others may find the subscription model less attractive than perpetual licensing options available in other solutions.

Here’s our verdict: SyteLine is a powerful and versatile ERP system that’s well-suited for mid-sized businesses with complex processes and a desire for robust functionality. However, its customization and integration challenges, occasional performance issues and mid-range price are worth considering. Carefully weigh the pros and cons against your specific needs and budget before committing.

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Pros & Cons

User Interface: With almost a 60% satisfaction rate amongst reviewers, SyteLine boasts a user-friendly interface and experience.
Functionality: According to 90% of reviewers, SyteLine provides robust functionality that can be managed and tailored to most business processes. Additionally, they provide industry-specific solutions so that users have the best fit for their business in terms of functionality.
Customization: Just over half of the reviewers who mentioned customization painted the process in a positive light. However, reviewers cautioned that extensive customization can lead to issues during system upgrades, but customizations are typically necessary to get the system to work with your business processes.
Robust Functionality: SyteLine offers a comprehensive suite of features covering core business processes like financials, inventory management, production planning, supply chain management and customer relationship management.
Scalability and Flexibility: SyteLine's adaptable architecture allows it to grow and evolve alongside your business, accommodating changing needs and expansion plans.
User-Friendly Interface: SyteLine's intuitive interface and design minimize training time and maximize user adoption, ensuring efficient and productive workflows.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes, automated tasks, and integrated modules help eliminate manual data entry and duplication, optimizing resource allocation and boosting overall efficiency.
Enhanced Visibility and Control: Comprehensive dashboards and reporting tools provide real-time insights into key performance indicators, enabling informed decision-making and proactive problem-solving.

Support: Complaints relating to bad training documentation and unresolved issues yielded negative feedback in about 70% of reviews that mentioned SyteLine support.
BI and Reporting: Of the users who mentioned BI and reporting capabilities in their reviews, 66% expressed that SyteLine doesn’t offer sufficient out-of-box reports. They also mentioned that reports can be difficult to configure without IT support.
Navigation: Though the system is generally user-friendly, 63% of reviewers said that navigation can feel disjointed and non-intuitive, sometimes requiring multiple clicks to complete a simple transaction.
Customization Challenges: While SyteLine offers a comprehensive set of features, some users report difficulties in customizing the software to meet their specific needs and workflows. This can be particularly challenging for businesses with unique processes or requirements.
Integration Challenges: Integrating SyteLine with other business applications can be complex and require significant technical expertise. This can lead to delays and additional costs during implementation.
Occasional Performance Issues: Some users have experienced occasional performance issues, such as slow response times and system crashes. These issues can disrupt workflows and impact productivity.
Mid-Range Price: SyteLine falls within the mid-range price bracket for ERP solutions, which may be too expensive for small businesses or those with limited budgets. Additionally, the subscription-based pricing model can be a significant ongoing expense for some businesses.
Limited Reporting Capabilities: While SyteLine provides standard reports, some users report that the built-in reporting capabilities are limited and lack customization options. This can make it challenging to generate specific reports needed for analysis and decision-making.

Key Features

Operation and Supply Chain Management: Enable better sourcing and procurement, inventory management, and shipping and receiving. Collaborate with vendors over a secure supplier portal. Regularly verify physical inventory levels to ensure accuracy.
Project Management: Access a single interface that provides a unified location to manage all projects and resources. Includes a defined task and resource structure, defined invoice milestones and revenue recognition, and quick cost-and-schedule-variance identification.
Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS): Use demand forecasting tools to predict customer needs and track materials availability to ensure sufficient raw materials are always in stock. Use APS tools with mixed mode support for engineer-to-order, configure-to-order, highly repetitive, process and service-based manufacturing.
Shop Floor Management: Manage production activities on the factory floor in real time. Create, track and manage work orders associated with specific production runs. Track labor with visibility of employee time spent on different production tasks.
Purchase Orders and Requisitions: Generate purchase orders automatically based on purchase requisitions and approved vendor information. Manage communication with suppliers and track purchase order status.
Service Management: Manage and deliver tailored service with real-time shop floor reporting, a detailed contact center to track profitable service activities, and efficient scheduling and work order management tools.
Industry 4.0 Integration: Connect with internet-of-things (IoT) devices on the factory floor to gather accurate data on machine performance, environmental conditions and other factors. Automate production processes based on real-time insights.
Collaboration Portals: Improve collaboration with customers, vendors and resellers with easy-to-use portals that provide quick access to data that users care about.
Financial Management: Coordinate production operations with financial and costing operations. Capabilities include:
- Accounts payable and receivable can automatically input and calculate payments.
- Tax management to ensure financial compliance through various business stages.
- Parametric and rule-based calculations to automatically calculate pricing for individual materials.
- Ability to link purchases, work orders and customer orders to calculate profit margins.

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Pricing Guide

See the Price/User for the top Manufacturing software… plus the most important considerations and questions to ask when shopping.

Buyer's Guide

Manufacturing Software Is All About Streamlining Production

By Khaleel Hayes, Market Analyst at SelectHub

Manufacturing Software Buyer's Guide

Picking a suitable manufacturing ERP — ERP software dedicated to manufacturing operations — is similar to buying a new suit. There are so many choices and styles to consider.

Ultimately, you want something that looks and feels good and accentuates your manufacturing practices. This buyer's guide has a wide array of manufacturing software, benefits, standard features, trends and more.

Executive Summary

Manufacturing ERP helps businesses streamline their production operations.
Key features include material requirements planning (MRP), shop floor control, supply chain management and more.
Some industry trends include supply chain instability, IoT, IIoT and reshoring.
Ask potential vendors any questions you have about the software before purchasing.

What This Guide Covers:

What Is Manufacturing Software?
Deployment Methods
Primary Benefits
Implementation Goals
Basic Features & Functionality
Advanced Features to Consider
Current & Upcoming Trends
Software Comparison Strategy
Cost & Pricing Considerations
Questions To Ask Yourself
Questions To Ask Vendors
Next Steps
Product Comparisons
Additional Resources

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What Is Manufacturing Software?

Manufacturing software is a solution that automates tasks to boost product production, improve quality, meet regulations and satisfy patrons by getting merchandise to them faster.

Users may also keep track of their inventory, supply chain, crucial KPIs and more. There are several ERP manufacturing software types to choose from, including:

Deployment Methods

There are typically three deployment methods for this type of software: on-premise, cloud and hybrid cloud. Each comes with pros and cons.

On-Premise

Keep this software exclusively on computers and servers within your organization. This method enables you and your team to access data, take measures and control machinery from one worksite.

Cloud

Vendors host cloud software on internal or third-party servers. With a strong internet connection, you can utilize cloud manufacturing ERP from any computer, tablet, phone or mobile device.

Software providers are in charge of maintaining the system and keeping it updated. The solution can't function without good internet or if the vendor's server crashes.

Hybrid

Allocate and superintend information accordingly with the public and private cloud. The public cloud enables you to review and access information from any device at any location.

The private cloud, acting like on-premise, permits you to store sensitive data and set restrictions on who can and cannot see it. You can also merge on-premise and cloud system qualities into one deployment option.

Primary Benefits

ERP for manufacturing offers several benefits to help you maintain production floor and supply chain processes, from increasing productivity to supporting better decision-making.

Manufacturing System Benefits

Boost Productivity

Manufacturing ERP software automatically arranges, analyzes and executes tasks from a central location.

For example, you're working in a job shop. Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software enables you to "tell" your machinery when to power on and carry out tasks such as turning, lathing, milling and more. Automation saves you time from manually starting machines.

Some software utilizes the Internet of Things (IoT) to detect if appliances require repair or replacement so that you can diminish downtime during busy production seasons.

Simplify Department Collaboration

Keeping in touch with various company departments is a must because it keeps everyone on the same page, from HR and accounting to distribution and warehouse management.

This centralization enhances collaboration and communications. If you have partners and stakeholders at local or global worksites, you can easily connect with them to stay in the loop of vital business decisions, opportunities and more.

You also eliminate multiple data inputting because entries or changes update in real time, saving time and increasing productivity.

Save Time and Money

ERP software for manufacturing allows you to save time and money on costly errors and mistakes.

Automation capabilities allow you to streamline repetitive tasks — sending invoices, developing a bill of materials (BOMs), managing finances and more — so you can focus on more critical, client-facing and administrative responsibilities.

Automation from ERP for manufacturing solutions also reduces human errors to avoid wasting time and money on fixing costly mistakes.

Enhance Data Security

Manufacturing software systems offer a secure framework to protect vital company information. Cloud solutions also provide adequate security measures to fight against cybercriminals.

Two-step or multi-factor authentication offers another layer of security when logging into a system interface. You can establish security questions, mobile pin numbers, facial recognition and more.

Data encryption scrambles information into an unreadable code that you can only unlock with an encryption key.

Advocate Wiser Choices

This solution can leverage business intelligence (BI)and business analytics (BA) modules to gauge and measure particular manufacturing KPIs, such as:

Throughput
Cycle Time
Machine Downtime
Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Garnering data for these and other significant benchmarks can help you make more-informed business choices, be it moving forward with a partnership, letting some employees go, adopting new machinery, expanding worksite locations and more.

Expert recommendations and analysis of the top Manufacturing ERP software

Implementation Goals

Whether you’re trying to move away from spreadsheets or looking to replace your current manufacturing software system, most companies will have similar goals they are trying to achieve by implementing this software type. Some implementation goals include:

Goal 1 Gain Accounting Visibility on All Floors	One of the most significant benefits of manufacturing ERP software is visibility into how shop-floor operations impact financial results. Since an ERP integrates all the systems managing your different functions, it can produce reports demonstrating their relationships. The best ERP software for manufacturing should tell you about the financial impact across all production operations, from supplier relationships to transportation.
Goal 2 Strengthen Client Demand	Advanced manufacturers use ERP workflows for assistance during capacity planning and scheduling based on forecasts and orders. Planning and scheduling tools allow users to easily balance customer demand with stock to meet more on-time shipments. The latest generation of ERP software has analytics and BI, making it possible to track and predict capacity planning and scheduling improvements over time.
Goal 3 Greater Pricing Accuracy and Profitability	Integrating cost- and accrual-based accounting workflows into manufacturing ERP software makes it possible to see precisely how pricing decisions impact long-term profits. Often, manufacturers have limited to zero visibility on how pricing affects their production. Yet, with integrated manufacturing ERP software, visibility improves thanks to the single system of record.
Goal 4 Improve Supplier Quality and Delivery Performance	Quality is often only thought of in the context of the production floor. But all manufacturing companies need an enterprise-wide view of quality. This way, each department can see how its decisions impact the overall quality and compliance performance. After gaining insights into quality and compliance, users can take advantage of manufacturing ERP software to deliver this information to all departments, making quality a shared goal across the company.
Goal 5 Smooth Implementation/Seamless User Adoption	A smooth software implementation is an ideal goal for you and your vendor. If a manufacturing solution has lengthy implementation and training procedures, your employees or IT team may hesitate to utilize the software. When talking with a vendor, ask for a free trial, demo, use case or proof-of-concept (POC) for proper showcasing. Sometimes, hands-on experience is the best teacher in determining whether a solution meets your company's requirements.

Goal 1

Gain Accounting Visibility on All Floors

One of the most significant benefits of manufacturing ERP software is visibility into how shop-floor operations impact financial results.

Since an ERP integrates all the systems managing your different functions, it can produce reports demonstrating their relationships.

The best ERP software for manufacturing should tell you about the financial impact across all production operations, from supplier relationships to transportation.

Goal 2

Strengthen Client Demand

Advanced manufacturers use ERP workflows for assistance during capacity planning and scheduling based on forecasts and orders.

Planning and scheduling tools allow users to easily balance customer demand with stock to meet more on-time shipments.

The latest generation of ERP software has analytics and BI, making it possible to track and predict capacity planning and scheduling improvements over time.

Goal 3

Greater Pricing Accuracy and Profitability

Integrating cost- and accrual-based accounting workflows into manufacturing ERP software makes it possible to see precisely how pricing decisions impact long-term profits.

Often, manufacturers have limited to zero visibility on how pricing affects their production. Yet, with integrated manufacturing ERP software, visibility improves thanks to the single system of record.

Goal 4

Improve Supplier Quality and Delivery Performance

Quality is often only thought of in the context of the production floor. But all manufacturing companies need an enterprise-wide view of quality.

This way, each department can see how its decisions impact the overall quality and compliance performance.

After gaining insights into quality and compliance, users can take advantage of manufacturing ERP software to deliver this information to all departments, making quality a shared goal across the company.

Goal 5

Smooth Implementation/Seamless User Adoption

A smooth software implementation is an ideal goal for you and your vendor.

If a manufacturing solution has lengthy implementation and training procedures, your employees or IT team may hesitate to utilize the software.

When talking with a vendor, ask for a free trial, demo, use case or proof-of-concept (POC) for proper showcasing.

Sometimes, hands-on experience is the best teacher in determining whether a solution meets your company's requirements.

Expert recommendations and analysis of the top Manufacturing ERP software

Basic Features & Functionality

BOM Management	Think of BOMs as recipes with everything needed to manufacture specific merchandise. Manage all BOMs and organize them according to deadline and priority. BOMs offer raw materials, availability, assemblies, sub-assemblies, resources and other components to complete an order.
Inventory Management	Superintend all of your stocked goods with the inventory management tool. It enables you to set minimum levels of materials so items don't get too low. It can also notify you when to replenish your stock to avoid shortages.
Quality Management/Control	Upkeep with FDA, ISO and other manufacturing regulations tailored to your industry via a quality control or quality management tool. These standards can sometimes change their rules on a whim, but this module can follow and alert you of changes so you're consistently meeting standards.
Supply Chain Management	Govern how products move from one station to another across supply chains until they reach the final destination. This tool also offers analytics, transportation and warehouse management, collaboration and other vital requirements for smoother supply chain operations.
Production Management	Establish serial numbers and batches, supervise machine runtimes, allocate stock items and more with practical production management tools. Review and enhance activities, resources, budgets and more to create and deliver finished products to clients.

Expert recommendations and analysis of the top Manufacturing software systems

Advanced Features to Consider

Warehouse Management System (WMS)	Conduct packing, picking, receiving, labor management, analytics and more WMS operations. Govern all warehouse resources, employees, shipping and other needs in one centralized solution.
Material Requirements Planning (MRP)	Use MRP to plan product production workflows with the ideal inventory materials. Operate an efficient production center that tracks and records performance KPIs in financial reports. You can also overview material requirements, lead times and dependencies.
Master Production Scheduling (MPS)	Keep all workflows, machinery and resources in harmony with practical MPS tools. Determine quantities and required work schedules needed to complete specific merchandise and orders.
Manufacturing Execution System (MES)	MES tools optimize manufacturing operations by supervising and coordinating workflows for better harmonization. Draft digital work instructions, product routings and machine connections to create detailed product files.

Expert recommendations and analysis of the top Manufacturing software systems

Current & Upcoming Trends

Some manufacturers may cringe when they hear about new technological trends because they may not know what they are or how to adapt them for their company. This section introduces a few trends to help your company keep its competitive edge.

Manufacturing ERP Trends

Reshoring and Near Sourcing

Reshoring, aka onshoring, moves production and manufacturing practices back to an organization's primary country. Thanks to the pandemic, American manufacturers had to consider reshoring.

Near sourcing is the act of moving production warehouses and facilities to locations closer to their clients and markets.

This trend can push the economy with more job availability and reliability within the region instead of faraway places like China, India, Bangladesh and more.

Employee Safety

Employee safety saw a rise in concern during the 2020 pandemic, which caused worksites to install more sanitization stations, careful monitoring of who enters and leaves the buildings and more protocols.

Collaborative robots, aka cobots, work alongside human employees to perform more dangerous tasks and upkeep facilities when humans leave at the end of their shifts.

Because of their collaborative nature and giving humans more engineering jobs, MarketsandMartkets predict the global cobot market may reach $1.58 billion in 2028.

Supply Chain Reassessment

Global supply chains struggle to get customers the items they need due to COVID-19, employee shortages, higher product demand and other factors.

The best way to combat these issues is to understand every facet of your supply chain with in-depth analytics and monitoring to catch and rectify bottlenecks.

Supply chain analytics is vital in measuring performance and patterns. This essential measuring tool is likely why Research and Markets foresee the global supply chain analytics market potentially hitting $22.46 billion in 2030.

Expert recommendations and analysis of the top Manufacturing ERP software systems

Software Comparison Strategy

Once you have a complete and competent list of features needed for your manufacturing ERP solution, perusing and comparing vendors is a good idea.

Consider checking out our leaderboard to get started. Our analyst team has evaluated the best manufacturing ERP platforms by how well they fulfill the most popular requirements.

No matter how you assess your list of manufacturing ERP software, conduct an in-depth comparison with all the features and vendors that matter to you and align with your company.

We also have Lean Selection, a nine-step methodology that streamlines how to choose software for any industry or company size.

Manufacturing ERP Lean Selection

Cost & Pricing Considerations

Buying a new manufacturing ERP is a significant investment. There are particular considerations to mull over as you progress in your quest for the ideal manufacturing software system. These considerations include:

How big is your company?

Are you an enterprise, a mid-sized organization or a small business? Most manufacturing ERP software offers scalability features to grow with your company as you add or down-size resources. Most systems cater to different sizes to give you essential modules.

What's your budget?

Define how much you will spend and a practical cutoff point for your budget. Manufacturing software systems, like new cars and household appliances, run anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 or more.

Review pricing and subscription plans, if applicable. Which method(s) have all or most of your desired features? Also, consider starting with a more affordable package and switching to a higher one as your business progresses.

What are your company goals?

Understand that because some manufacturing software has diamond price tags doesn't mean they will give you diamond results. Ask vendors for demos or free trials of the software so you can get a feel for it.

You wouldn't buy a new car without giving it a test drive first, right? This principle applies to software solutions too.

Add-on features or new software?

Do you want brand-new manufacturing software or add-on modules? If your car has a damaged side mirror, do you replace the mirror or the whole car? You'll likely return parts instead of the entire item.

Your current system may handle manufacturing, MRP and accounting with ease. However, you may want SCM and CRM tools to integrate with this solution for more optimal results. You can ask vendors if they offer modules that integrate with your existing program.

Price Guide for Manufacturing Software

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Questions To Ask Yourself

To determine which requirements your business will set, use these questions as a starting point for internal conversations:

What’s wrong with our current manufacturing operations?
Which workflows are our existing manufacturing ERP not addressing?
What manual workarounds are we relying on to complete our work that software can automate?
How much time do we spend on generating compliance reports?
Are we looking for new software or add-on modules for our current system?

Manufacturing Questions To Ask

Questions To Ask Vendors

Leverage these questions as a starting point for conversations with vendors about their products and services:

About the Software

Does it offer demos, use cases or POCs for your products?
How do we track daily manufacturing operations and their impact on financial statements?
What security measures are available for cloud products?
How can this manufacturing software boost productivity, save money and help us make better business decisions?
Does it include BOM, inventory, supply chain and quality management tools?

About the Vendor

Are you familiar with our company's size and industry?
How reliable is your customer support team?
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Expert recommendations and analysis of the top Manufacturing ERP

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Manufacturing ERP can take your business to new heights, allowing you to compete in an ever-changing industry.

Manufacturing software can boost productivity, maintain inventory and enhance customer satisfaction. Remember to find the solution that best aligns with your company's needs.

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About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

By Khaleel Hayes

Technical Content Writer

Khaleel Hayes is a Technical Content Writer for SelectHub, with over 4 years of experience crafting content for manufacturing, PLM, ERP and technology selection audiences. He's also a freelance writer in his spare time. His body of work includes poetry, short plays, feature articles and film reviews either self-published or in Denver publications. He graduated with a B.A. in Journalism and an English minor from Metropolitan State University of Denver in May 2018. When not writing, he enjoys classic movies and music, tasty burgers, tasteful bookstores, and breathtaking art and photography.

Technical Research By Shantashree Das

Senior Analyst

Hailing from the Northeastern state of Assam, India, Shantashree Das completed her Bachelor of Engineering (B.E) in Computer Science and Engineering at the Royal School of Engineering and Technology (now Royal Global University) in Guwahati. She then pursued her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Operations Management and Marketing at Assam University, India, where she developed a strong interest in ERP. Over the course of her career at SelectHub, Shantashree has gained specialties in various ERP and construction software categories, such as Manufacturing Software, CMMS Software, Construction ERP Software, Warehouse Management Software, Supply Chain Management Software, Distribution Software, Field Service Software, Takeoff Software, Construction Bidding Software, Construction Estimating Software, Construction Management Software, Construction Scheduling Software, and Property Management Software.

Technical Review By Kankana Kalita

Principal Analyst

A seasoned business and research analyst, Kankana Kalita specializes in ERP, CMMS, manufacturing, construction, supply chain, HRMS and CRM. Prior to joining SelectHub, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering, an MBA in Operations and Marketing, and worked in email marketing and logistics.

Edited By Hunter Lowe

Content Editor

Hunter Lowe is a Content Editor, Writer and Market Analyst at SelectHub. His team covers categories that range from ERP and business intelligence to transportation and supply chain management. Hunter is an avid reader and Dungeons and Dragons addict who studied English and Creative Writing through college. In his free time, you'll likely find him devising new dungeons for his players to explore, checking out the latest video games, writing his next horror story or running around with his daughter.