Manufacturing software oversees functions from purchasing raw materials to fulfilling customer orders. The three main types are ERP, MRPII, MES, and Process Control Software. Companies typically work with different vendors for each type and can create a server platform to transfer data. Manufacturing software enables companies to stay competitive and produce quality products in larger quantities.
Being a modern tool to help manufacturing companies stay in control of their operations, manufacturing software has the ability to oversee all kinds of functions that help the manufacturing process run smoothly. From purchasing and delivering raw materials, through the manufacturing process, to fulfilling customer orders, there are types of software that will keep your company’s efforts on track. Here are some examples of the three main types of software that have proven to be the most popular and essential for most manufacturing companies today.
The oldest type of manufacturing software still in use today was originally known as Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP software. A later generation of ERP that builds on that foundation is referred to as MRPII or Manufacturing Resource Planning 2 software. The basic function of this type of software is designed to be an asset to the company’s sales and customer care efforts.
In essence, this software allows you to track contacts throughout the sales cycle, maintaining details on current or recurring orders and also with the space to maintain a complete information file on each customer. MRPII also assists with material planning, raw material purchasing, and keeping current inventory under control.
In addition to MRPII, Manufacturing Execution System software goes into the actual process of the manufacturing process. MES manufacturing software packages focus on issues such as engineering processes for manufacturing, actual production planning for the various sets of goods to be produced, and personnel planning and product planning. MES is also involved in the effective creation and management of quality control processes and procedures, from the care of raw inventory through the stages of the manufacturing process and even the way finished products are stored and packaged for distribution to customers.
The third essential element in manufacturing software is known as Process Control Software. While it may appear that this type of software is involved in the manufacturing process itself, process control software instead focuses not on the process but on the selection and maintenance of the machinery used to transform raw inventory into finished products that can be sold by the ‘agency . Process control software can help identify new machinery to integrate into the process, either as a replacement for outdated machinery or as an additional means of improving the quality of finished products.
There is no single company that produces all three types of this basic production software. Typically, a company will need to work with different vendors to obtain the appropriate software for each of these three areas of responsibility. At the discretion of the manufacturer, it is possible to purchase the three different types and create a server platform that will allow each component to transfer data through a continuous process. However, the design for this type of model should be produced and implemented by independent software engineers or information technology experts employed by the manufacturer.
Manufacturing software has enabled many manufacturing companies to stay competitive and offer quality products in larger quantities. Over time, further developments in the software offering will no doubt offer more ways for manufacturers to produce goods in larger quantities while maintaining the same level of quality.
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