What is Manufacturing Management Software?
Manufacturing Management Software (MMS) is a digital solution that streamlines and optimizes various processes in the manufacturing industry, from production planning to last-mile delivery. MMS consolidates data from different manufacturing stages for better decision-making, resource optimization, and improved coordination. With all these, operational managers can better schedule tasks, allocate resources, and monitor activities across the supply chain, leading to enhanced productivity and profitability.
Importance
The manufacturing process is multifaceted, encompassing various aspects, including product variety, design, process, and human factors. Manufacturing operations management software can help workers handle the complexities, ensuring they achieve their production goals within the budget and time frame initially allocated. Here are some specifics:
Improves Planning and Scheduling – Improves Planning and Scheduling – Production managers should consider machine availability, labor shifts, maintenance schedules, and logistics to optimize resource allocation, minimize idle times, and guarantee timely product delivery. Automation is necessary since manually coordinating these processes leads to mistakes and inefficiencies.
Enhances Inventory Management – The smallest inaccuracy in inventory spreadsheets can eat into the company’s allocated budget. Manufacturing task management software keeps digital stock catalog, raw materials listing, and storage availability, and makes the information readily available across teams, preventing stockouts and excess inventory.
Increases Visibility into Operations – Monitoring tools provide real-time insights into production progress, resource utilization, and quality metrics. All those enable better decision-making, particularly when responding to disruptions or changes in customer demand.
Facilitates Quality Control and Assurance – Inconsistent quality control processes result in countless reworks, product recalls, and reputational damage. By integrating quality management systems into the company’s production manufacturing management software, they can reduce defects and adhere to quality standards.
Improves Customer Service – Aside from optimizing the supply chain process to ensure timely product delivery, the software also has robust analytics powered by business intelligence and omnichannel capabilities. It helps CX teams engage their target market to create new value and provide technical support that drives brand loyalty.
Key Features
Finding an effective solution can be challenging because there are several options with similar features, including manufacturing ERP solutions, manufacturing execution systems (MES), and material requirements planning (MRP) software. However, understanding the company’s specific needs and comparing those against the manufacturing process management software’s capabilities can help make the selection process easier. Here are the features to look for in an effective manufacturing management solution:
Digital Checklists for Manufacturing Workflows
Document Management
Production Planning and Scheduling
Resource Allocation
Inventory Management
Quality Control and Assurance
Supply Chain Visibility
Supplier Management
Equipment Monitoring and Maintenance Tracking
Reporting and Analytics
Integrations (e.g., with ERP, CRM, and QMS)
Mobile Accessibility with Offline Capabilities
How to Choose the Right Manufacturing Management Software
Each MMS described in the list can effectively address the everyday challenges in manufacturing operations and contribute to the company’s overall efficiency, quality, and competitiveness. Before making your final choice, take another look at your options in the list below:
Manufacturing Management Software | Free Version | Paid Plan | Mobile App |
SafetyCulture | Yes | $24/user/month* | Yes |
Sage | No | Contact for pricing | Yes |
Acumatica | No | Contact for pricing | Yes |
Syspro | No | Custom quote | Yes |
Plex Systems | No | Custom quote | Yes |
Tangle | No | Contact for pricing | No |
Aptean | No | Contact for pricing | Yes |
* billed annually