Looking For Info About ERP MRP Software?Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) are software based business management and production planning and inventory control systems. While the ERP products offer solutions to address all facets of the business operation, MRP products are primarily useful to help manage manufacturing processes. While it would be technically possible to conduct MRP process by hand, it is not common, and the activity has become wide spread only with the advent of computerization. ERP MRP software is typically found in medium to large sized businesses, although small business is now seeing the need to use the products, and the software vendors are responding to that need by offering software packages that are affordable and useful to the smaller enterprise. A typical MRP system is designed to meet three objectives. First, the system should help the business maintain the very lowest possible level of inventory. Second, the system should allow managers to insure that materials and products are available on demand, not only for production, but also for delivery as needed. Finally, MRP software should assist in the full scope of plant manufacturing production, scheduling and maintenance activities, as well as produce effective delivery schedules and organize purchasing. MRP packages originally became widely available in the late 1980's, and today the selection is vast. An MRP will typically include modules for inventory management application, bill of materials management, work order generation, sales and materials quotes, sales input, confirmed order processing, the full range of accounts receivable function, all accounts payable processes, quote requests, on demand inventory statistics and purchase order processing. MRP programs will usually provide fairly comprehensive and cost effective methods for managing supply chain activities by assessing the required amounts of raw materials needed (including spares), as well as products, production time, and / or contracted services. Some have WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) interfaces, which permit the user to custom design reports (usually available for print and / or export) while viewing their data on the screen. Additionally, shipping and production labels, purchase orders, invoices and packing lists can usually be generated by the user to print on blank paper or custom forms. Multiple page or multiple type purchase orders, customer invoices and packing lists processes are included in most packages. Often, the MRP software allows items to be added to the inventory database directly from the sales function, bill of materials option, or purchase order sections. Most programs allow for easy set up of bar code label printing. |