Scheduling & supplier management in a changing world

Scheduling and supplier management in a changing world

The implementation of specialist software can integrate all key business data, meaning your sales team no longer need to bother the schedulers or planners when a new order comes in. Joe Wrightman, Managing Director at ECI Software Solutions, discusses the streamlining of your scheduling processes and the performance gains this can bring.

All schedulers or planners who are reliant on disjointed spreadsheets or manual processes will be well aware of the daily challenges this brings. Interruptions and constant questioning around order lead time and capacity are often accepted as the norm, but it doesn’t need to be this way. Combine this with the supplier issues that the industry is currently facing and the process of scheduling, planning and effectively managing orders becomes a near impossible task. Whether you’ve outgrown a legacy system or you’re finally saying goodbye to manual processes, there’s a number of benefits specialist technology, such as an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, can bring. Since the announcement of the $1.5bn Modern Manufacturing Strategy back in October 2020, the Government has been supporting Australian manufacturers to scale up, innovate and access new markets. As Angus Taylor MP, Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, wrote: “Manufacturing is transforming rapidly around the globe and Australia is no exception”. New technologies are being deployed and more innovative methods of production being trialled, helping to improve overall service delivery. No matter the size or nature of your manufacturing business, the decision to implement new technology should not be taken lightly and it’s important to conduct a thorough analysis of what’s working, the processes that need to be improved and your wider business aims. Integrating every department

Even when managing complex projects that include multiple phases, manufacturers need to be able to give customers accurate cost estimates. Keeping costs low and cycles short, and – of course – delivering the product on time need to be a top priority. Those reliant on disparate systems will struggle to streamline this process, finding themselves constantly chasing a paper-trail or having to speak to other departments to source key information. The implementation of a specialist ERP, designed to provide a single source of truth, can integrate all key business data, meaning that your sales team no longer need to bother the schedulers or planners when a new order comes in. Once a piece of information is entered into an ERP system, it’s stored on the central system and can be accessed by any department that might need it. Not only does this increase data accuracy and minimise the chance of duplication, it will help the entire business run more smoothly. Improved visibility

With full visibility, sales representatives can effectively calculate the number of days it will take to fulfil a certain order, instantly adding any new orders into the ever-evolving planning schedule. Should a customer then call to amend the order or ask for an update, this information can immediately be processed on relayed. In such a competitive marketplace, this will help improve customer satisfaction and enable future growth. Customer and project data can also be entered as soon as the order is placed. This data can then progress through all phases of the project. Eliminating the need for this data to be re-entered at each stage will not only save you time and speed up the process, it will also reduce the chance of error. Performance gains

It seems obvious, but not hitting promised delivery dates can damage a business’s reputation and undermine your efforts in producing quality materials. It all comes down to managing expectations. Solutions such as ECI M1 can enhance scheduling functionality by helping you stay ahead of any changes in your scheduling and the impact these changes might have on delivery dates. Of course, delays are sometimes unavoidable – especially given the ongoing global supply chain crisis. The earlier you can communicate any delays to a customer, the better. With enhanced analytics, you can also provide a reliable estimate of the new end date and manage their expectations accordingly. An ERP will significantly reduce the administrative burden associated with processing orders, helping to keep jobs on time. By only having to enter information once and not having to transfer pieces of paper physically between departments, hours of administration will be saved in the early stages of the job. Similarly, the ability to analyse production standards at each stage will help managers identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. In order to successfully navigate the challenges manufacturers are currently facing, and ensure profitability long-term, your scheduling and planning department needs to be running as efficiently as possible. At ECI, we are seeing an increasing number of manufacturers considering specialist software, such as ERP systems, to help navigate these challenges, drive performance improvements and increase overall revenue. www.ecisolutions.com

“No matter the size or nature of your manufacturing business, the decision to implement new technology should not be taken lightly and it’s important to conduct a thorough analysis of what’s working, the processes that need to be improved and your wider business aims.”