According to Roger Meloy of ETO ERP leader Encompix, based in
Cincinnati, OH, “If you ask design engineers what an ERP system
means to them, you are likely to hear something like “nothing”
or “more work.” To most design engineers, an ERP system is
either irrelevant or it is perceived as something that requires
additional time and effort, often providing little or no value.
One reason for this perception is that most ERP systems are not
integrated with the design engineer’s drawing tool.
Traditional ERP systems were developed for the repetitive,
make-to-stock manufacturer, where there is a clear demarcation
between design and production. In that environment the engineer
designs the product in a CAD application. After testing and
prototyping, the product is released to production, which is
managed by the ERP system. The design engineer has little or no
interaction with the ERP system and works quite happily in a CAD
environment. Following the work of the design engineer, a
production engineer then creates a bill of material (BOM), based
not on how the product is designed but how it will be
manufactured.
In the Engineer-to-Order (ETO) world the role of the design
engineer is very different. By its nature an ETO company builds
a unique product designed to meet the specification of a single
customer. The two worlds of design and manufacturing are closely
linked. In many cased the design of the product continues
through the product process (design-in-process), incorporating a
multitude of engineering changes. These changes can be driven by
the customer or by the manufacturer. In this environment a
seamless flow of data between engineering and production is
critical. An ETO company must integrate CAD and ERP.
Encompix (www.encompix.com) has filled the manufacturing
software requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since 1992.
The company name reflects our commitment to developing business
application solutions that encompass the complex areas of
project-based and job-based manufacturing. Encompix provides ETO
manufacturers with a competitive advantage by improving bottom
line results.
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