Projects for automation of planning, accounting of inventory, management of main and auxiliary production and other internal business processes are in full swing today at many machine-building enterprises.
Simultaneously with the creation of management systems, many internal business processes are being rebuilt in accordance with the concept (Manufacturing Resources Planning - enterprise resource management).
Key areas in need of automation include not only corporate governance, marketing, but also shop floor planning, optimization of equipment utilization schedules, warehouse management, etc.
The high growth rates of the market for management systems in recent years are explained by the increased level of competition, which is forcing companies to improve methods of resource management and implement international financial accounting standards. At the same time, enterprises of continuous and discrete production, including those in the machine-building industry, have become the most "expensive".
The ultimate goal of IT projects for industrial automation is obvious and is associated with the need not only to receive timely and relevant information at any level for making effective and timely decisions, but also to take care of reducing costs and improving product quality, as well as optimizing production.
At the same time, the approaches to the selection and implementation of ERP systems in each specific case may differ: more often the system is designed, as they say, from top to bottom, that is, starting with finance, medium and long-term planning, sales, marketing and ending with the equipment of workshops and workplaces, however, recently, a different approach has often been applied - from operational management and accounting at a low (shop floor) level to financial management. At the same time, there is an opinion that the success of such projects at machine-building enterprises depends on whether the production functionality of the system brings profit.
The need to modernize control systems is due not only to the desire to move to international standards, but often more prosaic things: often outdated information systems cannot cope with the increased volume of managerial and production tasks.
Previously, many IT tasks were solved on their own, while, as many market participants note, there was not enough qualified personnel who could deal with automation gaps as a whole - as a result, automation was carried out locally, that is, only individual workplaces were computerized, while the rest of the employees acted on the ostarinka.
When solving managerial problems of small machine-building firms, a family of programs is often used, with the help of which warehouse operations, departments of material and technical supply, trade directions of the company, and personnel services are automated.
On the basis of an integrated ERP system, data is updated, changes in the composition of products are quickly tracked, alternative technological routes and standard processes are being conducted.
With the help of the new system at the enterprise, it is possible to optimize operational planning, improve cost control, improve labor discipline, and simplify the identification and removal of bottlenecks in production.
This, in turn, leads to savings in raw material costs, a reduction in work-in-progress, fulfillment of plans through efficient use of equipment, and the elimination of rush work and downtime.
As a result, the factories expand the range of products, expand sales markets and accelerate the search for partners in order to create joint ventures.
At the same time, solution providers try to offer the customer the most complete functionality, covering the tasks of enterprise management, production and preparation of design and technological documentation.
The project implements budgeting, sales planning, production and procurement systems, while a unified accounting system is integrated with production and warehouse accounting, the concept of cost calculation is being improved, which allows the company management to take into account all types of production costs and quickly make management decisions aimed at increasing economic efficiency the work of the entire enterprise as a whole.
At the same time, it is possible to automate purchases, sales, settlements with suppliers and customers, cash accounting.
