Manufacturing Software Small Business is the most important part of any manufacturing unit. Very few people are aware of how to optimize their productivity.
Manufacturing Software Small Business – free for small businesses, with manufacturers in mind.
Top 5 Reasons to Switch to an ERP Software
Before we get into the details, let’s cover a little bit about the benefits of good manufacturing software. Of course, the primary reason for switching to one of the top ERP systems is financial management. Indeed, the right system will provide you with measurable cost-savers while simultaneously helping to optimize your processes, so they’re more efficient and economical than ever. But there’s more to the story. Here are some more specific reasons to switch to ERP software:
It Provides Real-Time Data
Analytics are vital to any industry that wishes to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the consumer and the industry. One of the best parts about a good ERP is that it tracks data across many departments that you probably currently treat as separate entities, providing you with in-depth analytics so that you can tweak as needed to get the best possible results. This also helps you see how different functions affect one another.
It Enhances Customer Service
One of the things that many small businesses notice off the bat when starting out with an ERP is accuracy. Because you have detailed visibility of inventory, materials, progress, scheduling, shipping and more, there’s a much lower risk of error and disgruntled customers. Did you know that the vast majority of consumers (that is, 88 percent, according to a recent study) expect the ability to track their shipments? The right ERP software can provide you with accurate, automated order tracking for a happier consumer base, not to mention accurate inventory updates.
It Reduces Costs
All of these benefits work together towards one main goal — cost savings. A well-chosen ERP can save you money by reducing error, keeping customers happy, preventing inventory surplus or deficit, tracking expenses and write-offs and reducing operational costs by automating and monitoring all of your company’s finances. Of course, a system that saves you and your employees time will also save you big bucks by allowing you to allocate labor elsewhere.
It Helps Grow Your Business
At the end of the day, growing companies need more of everything, including labor, warehouse space, time and marketing. Most manufacturing software solutions work hard to optimize what you’ve already got and make space for more. For example, the right ERP could help you take advantage of your warehouse space so that you can store more goods without having to extend your facility’s footprint or invest in more storage. In short, they’re all designed for scaling businesses.
It Streamlines and Simplifies
Offering a real-time view of all your main processes under a single system, an ERP platform streamlines and simplifies many of your company’s operations. For many businesses, this means downsizing from various software solutions to a single one that puts all your primary functions under one umbrella. It also creates a central, company-wide hub that requires only a single software training for all departments.
Katana is a free production scheduling software that is funded by the European Union. The reason behind the software’s founding and implementation was to ease the reliance on spreadsheets for large orders. Also, keeping in mind the expenses incurred in running large ERP systems as well as poorly designed interfaces, the creators of Katana envisioned a market gap and addressed it.
The software is cloud-based and works with Small and Medium enterprises. With advanced smart manufacturing features, it distinguishes itself by helping a variety of industrial businesses – ranging from Apparel and Footwear to Gin Crafting. Katana MRP consists of costing, sales, and procurement tools to aid businesses to make quick decisions on production decisions.
Source – Katana MRP
Some feature of the free production scheduling software are as follows –
- Production Planning – Raw material tracking; drag, and drop interface, Real-time shop floor updates
- Inventory Optimization – Distributed inventory management; automated transactions; inventory control of raw materials; Reorder point tracking.
- Sales order fulfillment – Reprioritization of tasks; Bottleneck Tracking; Availability tracker (Raw Materials, finished goods)
- Manufacturing floor control
- Purchasing – Order analysis; On-Time purchasing
- Costing – Product margin calculation-based pricing; Product recipe cost analysis
- Multi-tool integration
Plex
Plex is a popular production scheduling software that focuses on lean production management philosophies, the finite capacity scheduling technique, material requirement planning to build the perfect production planning software.
The production scheduling system uses a mixture of Kanban cards as well as Advanced Planning and Scheduling systems to deliver optimum value to a consumer who has ordered production goods from the firm.
The entire system has been exclusively built to run only on the cloud. Furthermore, Plex assures customers that they will no longer have to wait for big updates from ERP software vendors – Plex assurance daily code updates which are easy to deploy to keep the system up-to-date.
The software’s utility has been backed by the Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association (MESA), while it is trusted by over 650 customers worldwide.
Source – PLEX
Some features of the Production Scheduling System are as follows –
- Production Finite Scheduling
- Closed-Loop Quality Management – Error Proof Quality assurance, Issue Management
- Inventory Management
- Production Management
- Kanban Pull Scheduling
- Finite Capacity Constraints Management
- Workforce Capacity Planning
- Integrated Barcode scanning
- Product Lot management
- Analytics Dashboard
Hubstaff
Manufacturing time tracking is essential for improving production.
Hubstaff Field is a trusted partner in the process of boosting your assembly line performance. Its real-time monitoring tools fuel better planning, team scheduling, and workforce management. With Hubstaff Field, you can conduct unobtrusive employee monitoring and GPS tracking. Data is automatically collected in online timesheets, which then feed into analytical reports.
It’s easy to clock in and out from any device — through Hubstaff apps — ensuring time cards are accurate and simple for your whole team to use.
Hubstaff also provides manufacturing businesses with easy online invoicing and payroll functionalities. This means you can handle timesheets and payments within the same dashboard. On the basis of the rich data collected, the platform also helps you handle better project budgeting.
For top-of-the-line tech that automatically clocks your team in and out when they get to work, try Hubstaff Field. For a simpler solution without GPS features, check out Hubstaff Time.
Pricing: There is a free plan with basic capabilities, but Time plans start at only $7/month per user. Hubstaff Field starts at $10 per user per month. There is a 14-day free trial.
NetSuite Manufacturing
Oracle’s NetSuite platform has a manufacturing solution, and it is one of the best manufacturing ERP software options on the market. It’s cloud-based and provides tools to handle all manufacturing processes, from the shop floor to the top floor. The most notable capabilities include customer relationship management (CRM), centralized product data, and efficient order handling.
NetSuite also empowers better production planning based on balancing supply and demand, procurement processing, and supply chain control. NetSuite caters to a wide variety of manufacturing businesses, from consumer goods to medical devices.
Pricing: depends on company size, but NetSuite’s base license costs $999 per month with access costs of $99 per user, per month.
Global Shop Solutions
Global Shop Solutions is another ERP option, which offers a different set of features in comparison with NetSuite. It 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, which you can match and mix to your company’s needs.
The most powerful features of Global Shop Solutions include CAD interface, inventory, job costing, product configurator, shop floor management, and quality control. In addition, the platform also provides manufacturers with CRM, company messaging, and advertising, among many other extra features.
Pricing: Available upon request
Fishbowl Manufacturing
Fishbowl Manufacturing is an ERP solution targeted at small and medium-sized businesses with suitable functionalities and pricing. The suite offers work and manufacturing orders, as well as advanced handling the bill of material costs. With Fishbowl, manufacturers can track their inventory across multiple locations. Inventory management is handled with useful features such as tracking and reorder points.
The platform allows you to create multilevel work orders, so you get visibility on production stages across the board. Fishbowl also supports part tracking, shipping, and sales and purchasing functionalities. Notably, it integrates with two popular work tools for SMBs: FreshBooks and Xero. In this way, you can handle your accounting processes from the ERP while using your preferred accounting app.
Pricing: Available upon request. There is a 14-day free trial.
ETO manufacturing software
Engineer to order (ETO) software allows manufacturers to create accurate quotes for custom goods that meet the exact specifications of their client. From a customer order the software is then able to produce a bill of materials.
ETO software manages inventory data, takes care of scheduling and monitors production. It uses current and historic information to estimate costs and lead times. It can assist with important processes like make-or-buy decisions by providing information on whether it is cheaper (or quicker) to produce components than to buy them.
Advantages: ETO allows for greater accuracy in a range of tasks – for instance providing quotes and scheduling production. It also frees up staff time by automating processes like planning, and purchasing materials.
Disadvantages: ETO systems rely on current data – including inventory levels, costs and lead times –so this must be recorded accurately. Most ETO software is on-premise, meaning an up-front IT investment, ongoing management, regular upgrades and the possibility of hardware failure. Some cloud-based ETO systems are available.
Who is ETO best for? Companies that manufacture specialist products such as industrial cranes, commercial HVAC equipment and fire engines.
EHS software helps manufacturers track and report on health and safety matters
Conclusion
Free Manufacturing Software for Small Business – If your company is looking for an affordable, user friendly software to manage data, you are in the right place. Our manufacturing software is designed with small business in mind. With this product you will be able to track inventory, perform purchase orders, run payroll and much more.