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Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
Manufacturing Execution Suite (MES) is a comprehensive manufacturing software solution that provides real-time, paperless production management to drive enterprise-wide compliance, quality, and efficiency.
Quality Management System (QMS)
Quality Management System (QMS) is a cloud-based digital quality solution for manufacturers that standardizes and automates quality documentation, processes, and measurements.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a full-featured, scalable, cloudbased ERP that automates front- and back-office processes.
Supply Chain Planning (SCP)
Supply Chain Planning (SCP) combines data from your Plex ERP and multiple departments across your business to sync up demand and supply planning to improve inventory accuracy and production management.
Connected Worker
Connected Worker empowers frontline manufacturing teams with real-time digital tools to improve productivity, reduce errors, and enhance collaboration. It connects your people, to purpose, people, productivity, and processes to drive continuous improvement and workforce agility on the shop floor.
Production Monitoring
Production Monitoring provides seamless connectivity to machines on the plant floor, delivering transparent, real-time operational KPIs and dashboards to drive continuous improvements.
MES Automation & Orchestration
MES Automation & Orchestration connects your Plex MES to the plant edge to control information flow, processes, and workcenter setup adding efficiency, saving costs, and eliminating manual errors.
Asset Performance Management (APM)
Asset Performance Management (APM) combines process, operational, and machine-level data through highly visual dashboards to proactively monitor machine and plant health to ensure optimal uptime, throughput, and maintenance needs.
Finite Scheduler
Finite Scheduler is an advanced production scheduling tool that helps manufacturers optimize resources, reduce bottlenecks, and improve on-time delivery. It enables dynamic, constraint-based scheduling to align operations with real-world capacity and demand
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Smart Manufacturing Platform Overview
Discover how our integrated platform connects, automates, tracks, and analyzes your operations.
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A Chance to Transform: 5 Key Questions to Ask ERP Vendors

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Are you heading into an ERP selection project? Or are you heading into a manufacturing transformation project? We’ve found that top-performing manufacturers use their active ERP project for something greater. They move their organization through a larger transformation – one that uses advanced technology to deliver meaningful business value.

What’s the Difference?

A manufacturing transformation project goes beyond mere evaluation of ERP software. The focus is instead on business process improvement. More than assessing features and functions, the process emphasizes how technology delivers operational and business benefits to the entire enterprise. We’ve found that winning companies take the time to research available systems and process improvements that truly transform their businesses.

Ask Big Questions

Offered here are key questions organizations should ask vendors for true transformation. More than looking under the hood at features and functions, these questions cover more strategic business issues:

1) Do you know my business?

Ask the vendor if they offer specific industry expertise in your manufacturing sector. Do they understand the challenges and pressures facing similar companies?

2) Can you fit within my existing technology infrastructure?

Does the technology platform work within your enterprise and existing IT landscape?

3) Will my ERP data be truly interconnected?

Ask if the solution is fully interconnected in all aspects of the operation: from supply chain inventories, to production planning, quality, parts traceability and shop-floor scheduling, to customer orders and shipping . Does the solution connect data from a variety of data sources within the same ERP system, including engineering, EDI, HR and other areas?

4) Does the system enable lean manufacturing?

Will the ERP solution do more than simply mimic existing processes? Performing lean is not doing more with less people, but minimizing non-value added steps or transactions. Ask the vendor to prove how the system gives cause for real process improvement.

5) Does the system facilitate change management?

Ask the vendor to demonstrate how their system will manage requirement changes, business changes, regulatory pressures and other changing conditions. Look for real-life examples in your industry, with a similar-sized company.

Topics: Aerospace Automotive Food & Beverage High Tech & Electronics Industrial Manufacturing Plastics & Rubber Precision Metalforming

Dave Utley
Dave Utley
Solution Engineer, Plex Systems
David Utley led a team of solution engineers for Plex Systems from March 2011 to July 2016.

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Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Quality Management System (QMS) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Supply Chain Planning (SCP) Connected Worker Production Monitoring MES Automation & Orchestration Asset Performance Management (APM) Finite Scheduler
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