ERP systems enable organizations to plan for orders and profitability by providing manufacturers with a real-time picture of their financial status. With an ERP system in place, companies can track orders from receipt through production and delivery in order to gain a better understanding of inventory levels, delivery lead times and production bottlenecks.
PLM is a business system that provides control of the product record across all development stages-from concept to shelves. With a PLM system in place, a company can manage product data and documentation including innovation process, specifications, RFP, formulation, packaging and labeling, regulatory compliance and product and range portfolio. A PLM system also enables a company to track any changes to product information and communicate revisions to partners involved. PLM solutions provide a robust platform performing as a unique repository to offer a “single version of the truth” to all participants.
PLM and ERP complementarities
ERP and PLM systems are complementary tools that communicate with each other. PLM assists in managing products and once final specifications are approved, the information is forwarded to the ERP system to allocate resources and implement a financial plan. ERP uses PLM data to help companies manage financial concerns.
PLM and ERP : integration
At the next level, integrating product lifecycle management into ERP systems will enable:
- Higher levels of product / promotion innovation
- Improved collaboration between participants
- Shortened time to market through a more integrated process
- Reduced cycle time and errors due to manual transfer of data between the PLM and ERP systems
