Manufacturing software solutions come in all formats and configurations. Some focus on the production side of manufacturing, including tasks such as shop-floor scheduling and job costing. Others deal with the customer service component, including warranty management and the return or replacement of products. Still others cover the accounting tasks that are common to nearly every business sector.

While many of these software solutions are useful in and of themselves, the issue that arises when using one or several of them involves compatibility. When an order comes in, for example, the sales team records the transaction in its software program. If the production department is using a different program, however, employees in that area will have to re-enter the information into their own system. Once the project is completed and the payment comes in, the accounting department will have to create a new record of the account--using their own software--in order to process the funds.

The repeated entry of information for just one order wastes a lot of company time. Not only is the process inefficient, but it can lead to keystroke errors that can be very costly should the wrong item be manufactured or the customer be charged for the wrong amount. In order to avoid such a scenario, it's best to get everyone in your company working from the same information--located in the same program.

Here at Bowen & Groves, our M1 software has become an industry favorite due to its multitude of integrated features. This manufacturing enterprise resource planning (ERP) system allows for reduced data entry and increased productivity for all staff members. For more information about this system, contact us at sales@bowen-groves.com or 866-617-6389.