Machine Design Magazines Feature Manufacturing ERP Authored by TR Cutler 

Thomas R. Cutler (www.trcutlerinc.com) is the President & CEO of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based TR Cutler, Inc., the largest manufacturing selling firm worldwide. Cutler is the founder of the Manufacturing Media Consortium of 2000 journalists writing about trends in manufacturing. Cutler is the lead spokesperson for the ETO Institute (www.etoinstitute.org). Cutler authored a feature for the October issue of Machine Design.

Roger Meloy of Encompix Inc., (www.encompix.com) an Engineer to Order (ETO) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software maker based in Cincinnati, said, "Ask most develope engineers what an ERP system means to them and you are likely to hear nothing or more work," One reason for the perception: Most ERP systems are not integrated with CAD. Thats because traditional ERP systems were developed for repetitive, make-to-stock manufacturers where there is a clear demarcation between design and production.

In this environment design engineers create a merchandise in CAD. After testing and prototyping, the item goes to engineers who tailor it for mass production and create a bill of materials (BOM). The BOM is based solely on how an item is to be manufactured, not on its develope , all of which takes place in ERP software. The develope engineer throughout the process has little or no interaction with the ERP system. Once a design is frozen there is little interaction between the design and production departments.

In ETO firms the role of design engineer is very different. Such businesses generate products specifically for individual customers. Design and manufacturing departments work together more closely. In many cases product develope continues through production (design in process), incorporating several engineering changes along the way. These changes might be driven by the customer or by the manufacturer, necessitating a seamless flow of data between engineering and production.
Integrated CAD-ERP software lets ETO businesses pass data both ways and handle engineering changes in both systems. Without it, designers are constantly re-keying data from CAD to ERP software, which wastes valuable engineering time or requires additional staff.

ETOs, unlike repetitive manufacturers purchase items only one instant for a particular job. Typically the engineer will specify the product and its manufacturer, bypassing the ERP system altogether. Makers of ERP systems that collaborate with Product Life Cycle (PLM) vendors may address these needs.

Encompix
www.encompix.com
Roger Meloy
513-733-0066