3 min read

·

May 6, 2021

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Manufacturers face unique operational demands, making customization the single most critical factor in ERP selection. To identify what truly works best, I personally evaluated over 50 platforms. While most modern solutions offer some level of tailoring, the true depth of flexibility must be verified through comprehensive vendor demonstrations.

A critical red flag I’ve repeatedly seen is the need for constant workarounds. These workarounds are not only inefficient but also significantly drive up operational costs over time. The right ERP should minimize them, not encourage them.

It is important to remember that there is no perfect software. You must tread carefully with Tier 3 ERPs; these typically will not fulfill the complex requirements of mid-size manufacturing businesses. Ultimately, once you look past the tier category, your focus should shift to assessing the core features and supporting services that align with your specific needs.

After reviewing over 50 systems, I identified these top four Tier 2 ERP solutions. They represent the best combination of features and scalability for growing manufacturers:

My personal favorite was Mie Trak Pro for the layout, customization, and customer support.

2. Global Shop Solutions:

If you want to keep it simple or have someone who finds new software intimidating, they will likely prefer Global Shop Solutions for the aesthetic layout and color-coding. Global Shop has a well-designed module for training, training records, work instructions, and video instructions.

3. Infor:

Infor appeals to engineers for having great customization and uploading with CAD software.

4. Epicor:

Epicor is very similar to Mie Trak Pro. Epicor is more expensive and charges more for additional modules. Epicor targets specific industries in its marketing that prospects gravitate to right away.

An ERP may not explicitly mention your specific industry; you can focus on the features and the contract to work in your favor.

Quoting

CRM

Sales Orders

Work Orders

Engineering

Project Management

Scheduling

Purchase Orders

Inventory

Quality

Accounting

Customized Reports

Cloud/SaaS/Browser

Easy navigation

Easy customization

Customer Support

Some ERPs do not include the accounting module; do not overlook this! Including it will save everyone time. You can ask about this during the demonstrations.

If your software is on-premise, they will ask if you want to install kiosks in the shop. If you upgrade to software as a service (SaaS), your manufacturing team gains real-time data access via mobile devices. This not only streamlines processes but maximizes convenience and cost savings by eliminating fixed kiosks.

Whichever ERP you choose, ensure it includes a data dump. If you miss this step, your team could be doing data entry for months.

Review the contract for customer support and training. Verify their stated turnaround time for each customer support method, including email support, online chat, and phone support.

Verify customization access is provided to your business, and have at least two people designated to manage customization requests.

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