It often goes unsaid, but when an ERP implementation goes right, it usually has more to do with the implementation consultants than the software itself.  Most software today is so robust and powerful that the argument can be made that almost any system (at least within the constraints of a general industry) can be successfully implemented – provided the implementation team knows what it’s doing.

So what makes a software consultant truly valuable, and what benefits do they bring to the table?  Our list below, based on 30 years’ experience, makes a good checklist for measuring a provider’s credentials.

* Experience.  The obvious one.  An experienced implementer will know the software, know business, know your industry domain perhaps, know accounting, understand business processes and, perhaps most of all, know where and how your people best fit into the equation.
* Domain Knowledge.  Does your consultant know about your industry or business?  Have they dealt with companies much like yours before, in terms of business flow, process implementation and your competitive challenges?
* Business Process Knowledge.  A key benefit of ERP is the way it can streamline your entire operation.  At its best, ERP removes redundancy, consolidates company knowledge into a single silo of information and eliminates tedium by automating what can be automated, and improving on all the rest.  Experienced consultants know how to analyze your current processes and then help you map them to better future outcomes – all while understanding how the proposed software works well enough to make it actually happen.
* Project Management.  Even the best of projects and intentions fall apart without a strong project manager who has a trusting and close relationship with their client-side counterpart.  Knowing when to run towards the fires and when to pull the emergency stop cord are learned talents possessed by the most experienced consultants – and sorely lacking in those who are not.
* A Focus on the Business Benefits.  Twenty years ago, ERP implementations focused on having ‘the best technology’ (i.e., Windows, Y2K compliance, robust network architectures, etc.).  Today, those things are taken for granted, and it’s all about understanding your business model.  The best consultants keep all parties focused on the business outcomes, not just the technology.
* A Methodology.  From your initial analysis through implementation, a project needs a well-defined, road-tested methodology.  ERP is too complex to be left to the ‘winging it’ methodology.  It’s all about process identification, meeting your requirements and being able to pivot when necessary.

Questions about your system needs? We urge you to contact PSSI directly at 877.273.2444.
We’re here to help!

PSSI has been implementing ALERE manufacturing software for over 25 years, and we still think it’s one of the best-priced, best-functioning software products you can buy anywhere.  Users appreciate ALERE’s flexibility over many other systems. 

A few tips and concepts that make ALERE manufacturing software work so well:

• Inheritance refers to serialized finished goods inheriting the serial number of material issued to the work order that is building the items. For example, ten derailleurs that are each serialized are issued to a work order to assemble ten bikes. The ten bikes take their serial numbers from the derailleurs.  There are two conditions for this to happen automatically. First, the work order type has to be set to Inheritance.  Second, the serial numbers used are determined by the first serialized item issued to the order. So, in the case of the bikes, the derailleurs would need to be issued to the job before any other serialized material is issued.  There are two conditions for this to happen automatically. First, the work order type has to be set to Inheritance.  This is a one-to-one relationship. The serial number of each finished good is based on the serialized item issued to it.

• BOMs and Material Lists: A single-level BOM consists of the components that are directly used in a parent item. An easy way to picture this is the list of the ingredients to make a cake. If ten cakes were being baked, then the list of the ingredients would be multiplied by ten. The resulting list would be the material list, and serves as a picking list for the total ingredients required.

  Why is this distinction between a BOM and a material list important? When a work order is created the quantity on the order is multiplied by the BOM for the item. The list of components, and their quantities, appears on the Material tab of the work order.  The material list becomes part of the order which allows items to be added, deleted, and the quantities changed. What has been allocated, used, and is remaining is easily traceable. Changes to the root BOM can flow out to the order and the material list updated even while in process on the manufacturing floor.

  The total capability is a truly unique feature of the ALERE Manufacturing software.

• The Service App supports the processing of service tickets, in real time via an internet, on a hand held device such as a tablet.  The app runs via terminal services and is available with the purchase of the Mobility module. The Service App has all the functionality and flexibility of its service ticket desktop counterpart, however there are some differences to support its use in the field. Touching a service ticket displays it with a menu along the left hand border. The ticket is processed in the same manner as is done in a desktop environment with some exceptions. Labor can be tracked, material issued, results gathered, and notes taken as normal but the app can also automatically track a service person’s time by clicking on the Start My Clock button.

Want to Learn More About ALERE?

TIW has a 7 minute “Manufacturing Overview Video“ on YouTube that gives a nice overview of what manufacturing software can do for you.  Click the link above to see why ALERE may be a great fit for your manufacturing operations.

To learn more, call us any time at 877.273.2444, or visit us on the web.