In a recent webinar where multiple vendors gave us and our attendees a look at process manufacturing ERP software solutions, we welcomed Infor to demonstrate their product for the industry. Infor on the whole has a wealth of solutions for industries across the board, and this presentation provided a summary of their market presence and clientele, along with how needs are met by their own process manufacturing ERP software.
Infor Global Solutions has a mantra of ‘Designed for Progress,’ which communicates a commitment to help their customers and prospects drive progress. Infor’s unique digital design team, Hook & Loop, plays a critical part in making an excellent customer experience. The Hook & Loop team is comprised of numerous innovative thinkers and developers from industries across the board such as entertainment and high tech, just to mention a couple. The purpose of this innovative design team is to re-think how users are interacting with the system, with the goal of ultimately making the user experience more intuitive and streamlined.
Infor has over 3,000 clients in the process manufacturing industries, which includes leaders in brewing, bakeries and dairy farms. Recognizable brand names include Jelly Belly, Del Monte, Reynolds and Campbell’s. Their solutions are scalable, so small to mid-size companies can implement their systems along with multi-billion dollar corporations.
Feedback and Challenges with the Infor Process Manufacturing ERP Software
Clients of Infor are constantly being asked to give feedback on how they are using the solutions, and how they could be using the solutions more efficiently. Some of the challenges that customers are relaying to Infor include:
Innovation and efficiencies – Companies need to analyze data in new ways and also need their ERP to be more automated with workflows.
Higher quality and compliance – Quality control can be tightened before product even hits the floor, by communication and collaboration with supplies. Compliance can be easily adhered to and proven with end-to-end integration and full reporting capabilities.
Globalization and consolidation – Technology allows for complete vendor and customer interaction across the globe. With quicker response times and tighter supply chains, companies are realizing they do not necessarily have to have production and/or warehouses in every corner of the globe.
Millennial mindset – As younger professionals enter the workspace, items such as mobility, automation and ease-of-use are important. The ability to quickly train new users on the system and start to make recommendations on workflow and configurations are critical.
Making Infor Different
Demonstrated in the webinar were some of the functionalities Infor leans on to differentiate their process manufacturing ERP software:
Lot traceability – Full end-to-end, rapid traceability is a strength of Infor. Reporting tools, queries and innovative traceability diagrams allow an unprecedented response time for a recall.
Advanced planning & scheduling – Many attributes can be considered when planning includes labor and machine capacity. The ability to quickly execute on ‘what if’ scenarios and see the ripple effect on inventory and production give planning resources great ability to execute their responsibilities.
Supply Chain Optimization – Collaboration from suppliers and the ability to quickly update or change information while seamlessly communicating data is enabling customers to carry less inventory while still meeting demands of clients.
Extensive Catch Weight Management – It is critically important to know all the attributes of a finished product and to also track scrap/waste. This can be challenging with some ERP systems, but Infor has created multiple ways to view, analyze and record this data.
Product Lifecycle Management – Collaboration and communications play a strong part in new product introductions along with understanding the full cycle of a product. Starting with R&D’s ability to pull information across an ERP, to the ability to quickly collaborate with divisions in multiple countries gives companies the ability fully manage product lifecycles.
Infor continues to prove themselves as an industry leader in the process manufacturing ERP software space. Their ability to listen to customers and quickly deploy enhancements to customers is beneficial for the entire ecosystem. Infor continues to invest a tremendous amount of funds further develop their products, gain more market share and enter new markets.
To learn more about Infor, visit their website here.
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Infor ERP for Distribution: A Webinar Review
ERP Systems for Process Manufacturing: Five Top Vendors Present Their Solutions for the Industry
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