Manufacturing is defined as the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale by using equipments and processing systems. In order to manage manufacturing processes, a software-based production, purchasing, and shipment planning and inventory control system called Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP), has been developed. From this system, Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II), a method for the effective planning of all resources of a manufacturing company, has been derived. And from MRP II, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has evolved.

ERP, by means of ERP software, spreads its tasks to all types of business organization and improves the business processes including strategic planning, management control and operational control. It also operates across functional departments and their particular activities.

While ERP deals with both manufacturing and non-manufacturing companies, a kind of ERP software is intentionally made for manufacturing industries. It is called manufacturing ERP software. Combining MRP and ERP, it has a more established device and application in these industrial sectors than ERP software. It has integrated workflow processes that are designed specifically to maximize the use of the manufacturers resources, minimize total costs and administer resources entire life cycle, from row material acquisition, production planning, manufacturing, marketing, sales to financial settlement.

Manufacturing ERP software has been very practical and ideally suited for minor, mid-sized, make-to-order, engineer-to-order, mixed-mode, discrete, small and large manufacturing industries around the globe. They can be purchased from all small niche market and major ERP vendors offering ERP software solutions that meet your needs.

Many ERP vendors and ERP consulting companies that have gained professional skills in implementing and customizing manufacturing ERP software can do the implementation of manufacturing ERP software. Less customization will be necessary as the software is already specifically designed for the manufacturing industry. Costs of acquiring manufacturing ERP software depends on the size and features of the software and the scope of customization.

Getting manufacturing ERP software for your manufacturing enterprise will help you optimize your resources, carefully plan your actions, make wiser decisions and prepare for unexpected hitches along the business cycle. It will also enable you to manage your organization and all its departments effectively, reduce your expenditures and heighten your income.