Finding the best software for your manufacturing business can be a daunting task especially for businesses in developing countries like Kenya, Uganda, and other African countries. That is precisely because tech-enhanced manufacturing is still a growing trend in Africa and many CEOs and managers do not have prior experience of this advanced technology.
However, advanced technology is drastically reshaping the manufacturing industry. Artificial intelligence, automated tech, and IT-powered solutions fuel what has come to be known as Industry 4.0. From Big Data to virtual reality, manufacturing is experiencing a technological transformation that is improving productivity, profitability, and safety. Uganda, Kenya, and the rest of Africa are no exception to this great trend.
That said, to find the best and robust manufacturing management software, we have put up a list of the best 5 manufacturing software you can deploy today to move your manufacturing business to the net level.
Infor Industrial Manufacturing Suite
Infor is the world’s leading ERP software developer. They specialize in developing business software for industry-specific niches. More than 6,800 industrial manufacturers in 167 countries drive productivity with Infor solutions. In general, Infor has over 67,000 customers and 2,000 partners worldwide.
Infor has been supporting the manufacturing industry for over 30 years and they have developed a number of business specific software for manufacturing. You can get the entire suite or select a solution specific to your needs.
Discrete manufacturers around the world use CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise to gain the visibility they need to quickly respond to customer, supplier, and regulatory needs—no software customizations required.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Automates processes for bidding, contracting, execution, and revenue recognition
- Innovate faster and more efficiently
- Manage production planning and scheduling
- Coordinate aftermarket service and maintenance
- Optimize production scheduling
- Improve product quality
- Built on highly flexible, scalable architecture that enables manufacturers to be agile and in-sync with fast-changing customer expectations
Powered by SyteLine®, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution with more than 30 years of experience supporting SMB manufacturers, CloudSuite Industrial is an end-to-end ERP solution for both discrete and process manufacturers, providing predictive analytics, collaboration, lean production tools, and integration options. Infor CloudSuite Industrial is a true mixed-mode application for engineer to order, configure to order, highly repetitive, process, and service-based manufacturers. CloudSuite Industrial helps manage complexity and growth, while enabling organizations to gain performance improvements in customer service, productivity, and cost control.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Innovate faster and more efficiently
- Manage production planning and scheduling
- Coordinate aftermarket service and maintenance
- Optimize production scheduling
- Improve product quality
- Built on highly flexible, scalable architecture that enables manufacturers to be agile and in-sync with fast-changing customer expectations
With Infor EAM, a comprehensive asset management solution built on more than 30 years of experience, you get asset management, materials management, and procurement tools to help you solve your critical asset performance challenges. Advanced analysis tools will help you take the data you already have and turn it into quality equipment decisions. This modern, configurable EAM solution gives you the flexibility to integrate data with your other enterprise applications, so you get a single view of your company on any device. With Infor EAM, you’ll be able to optimize all your asset management processes, facilitate root cause failure analysis, leverage enhanced visualization capabilities, and turn asset management into a competitive advantage.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Maximize the reliability and performance of assets
- Predict equipment failure and carry out preventative maintenance
- Comply with strict legal and environmental regulations
- Streamline purchasing and procurement
- Track labor costs and reduce downtime
Optimize every aspect of labor management and productivity with Infor® Workforce Management. Strategically enhance workforce planning, execution, and analysis with an engaging, industry-specific, enterprise workforce management software solution built on a proven technology platform that delivers time and attendance, demand-driven scheduling, workforce scheduling, and absence management tools.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Enable your people to access workforce data anywhere, anytime
- Track employee time and get the right data to payroll—every time
- Leverage vertically specialized shift- or demand-driven scheduling tools
- Take advantage of intuitive, industry specialized software for budgeting, planning, and forecasting labor demand
Infor CPQ helps sales teams, partners, and distributors sell complex products more quickly with a rules-driven platform designed for visual quoting and dynamic pricing, to instantly produce a configuration-specific list price, dealer cost, and quoted selling price. Orders are automatically passed to your business system via enterprise integration.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Sell complex products faster with quick and accurate quotes on-demand
- Accelerate product innovation
- Optimize your supply chain to improve demand planning and purchasing
- Bring your products to life with a visual selection and configuration experience
- Complete visibility into real-time data
Infor® Supply Chain Management solutions deliver intelligent, real-time supply chain orchestration by digitalizing end-to-end supply chain processes, allowing companies to gain real time visibility that empowers data-driven decisions and optimal delivery to customers on time.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Reduce costs across the supply chain, including minimized waste and transportation costs
- Achieve a single version of the truth to drive actionable insights
- Reduce invoice processing and transportation lead times
- Increase on-time and accurate shipment order rates
- Increase team productivity and reduce expenses within the warehouse
Infor® PLM Discrete is a comprehensive product lifecycle management (PLM) solution for high tech and electronics, automotive component, industrial manufacturing, and aerospace and defense manufacturers that seamlessly integrates with ERP and CAD systems.
HIGHLIGHTS
- PLM management for MTO, CTO, ATO, and project-based businesses
- Out-of-the-box interoperability with ERP, CAD, and manufacturing systems
- Real-time reporting and analysis capabilities
- Automated workflows
- Role-driven retrieval and information reuse
Book FREE consultation to understand how Infor can work for you.
Flaxem is infor’s official partner in Uganda, Kenya and E.Africa
2. Oracle Manufacturing NetSuite
NetSuite’s manufacturing management software supports your business, supply chain, and manufacturing processes from the factory floor all the way to the top level management (just like Infor above). Helping companies automate and centralize processes across departments.
Some of NetSuite features include;
- CRM which controls all customer interactions
- Product Data Management capability which centralizes all product data in one place, simplifies the design process, and reduces time to market for new products.
- Planning and Scheduling to ensure you have inventory in the right place at the right time and automatically balance demand and supply,
- Supply Chain capability to control and monitor your outsourced manufacturing processes as easily as if they were your own.
- Production Control: Create, release, update and monitor work orders throughout the production process.
- Shop Floor Control: Get real-time updates from the shop floor via our interactive tablet application and traditional barcoding.
- Procurement: Manage your vendors and purchasing processes with visibility to ensure you get the best price and delivery combination
- Order Management: Take orders with the confidence that you’re selling the right product at the right price from the best location
3. Global Shop Manufacturing Software Solutions
Global Shop Solutions is targeted at the heavier industries, such as machine building, aerospace, plastics, rubber, wood manufacturing, and similar fields. The production management software boasts a number of tools customized to your company’s needs.
Some features of Globla Shop Solutions include; Accounting Software, Business Intelligence Software, CAD Interface Software, Materials Management Software, Company Messaging Software, CRM Software, Customizable ERP Software, eCommerce Software, HR & Payroll, Inventory Software, Label Printing Software, Paperless Software, Preventative Maintenance Software, Product Configurator Software, Project Management Software, Quality Control Software, RFID Technology, Sales Software, Shop Floor Data Collection, Version Management Software.
4. Sage
Sage 100 is an innovative, flexible solution for growing businesses with robust features to increase your productivity.
Build the system you need from a broad suite of modules including financial, business intelligence, human resources, customer relationship management (CRM), eBusiness, manufacturing and distribution. Adapt your system using innovative codeless customization to enforce your business rules. Processes run through a single central system for a complete overview of your planning, inventory management, sales, finance and people management.
It’s now more important than ever for manufacturing businesses to focus on controlling costs, increasing profitability, and guaranteeing product quality
5. Acumatica
Designed with small and midium sized companies in mind, Acumatica Manufacturing ERP software integrates manufacturing, inventory management, and accounting to help businesses ensure raw materials are available to production, manage the manufacturing process, maintain revisions, and track the financials.
Acumatica ERP software for the manufacturing industry integrates with our distribution, financial, and CRM modules to effectively support all major business areas.
Product features include;
- Financial Management
- Customer Relationship Management
- Project Accounting
- Inventory Management
- Bill of Materials and Routing
- Business Intelligence
- Sales Order Management
- Production Management
- Purchase Order Management
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
