Downloads, Webinars

ERP for Manufacturing: Dead-end or Destination?
presented by Gerhard van Niekerk (SAP) and Ed Sullivan (EnteGreat) on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 at 11AM EST.

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Presentation Overview:
Extending ERP environments into manufacturing has been a challenging and risky initiative. Business demands, such as new
product introductions, mass customization, supply chain execution, regulatory compliance, scheduling synchronization, and order fulfillment are driving direct connection of ERP platforms with manufacturing execution environments. Proactive companies are now focusing on the next phase of their ERP campaigns to extend the functionality of their ERP investment into manufacturing.

But how can they be sure that these initiatives will deliver the expected results and properly manage the associated risk? While
ERP to manufacturing integration initiatives were possible in the past, the available tools were limited and the integration challenges were significant. Now, through SAP NetWeaver, as well as EnteGreat"s project methodologies specifically focused
on addressing manufacturing centric issues, these initiatives can be accomplished with far greater confidence.

Manufacturing is by nature a diverse and rapidly moving environment, dealing with uncertainty and exception management regularly. Tackling the extension of SAP environments into manufacturing requires a thorough appreciation for the manufacturing domain, as well as expertise in the systems tools, integration techniques, and application methods that deliver real business value for both the enterprise and plant-based stakeholders. Understanding this is crucial for determining where and how to extend the SAP environment and when to leverage the capabilities of various integration tools and 3rd-party products.

Extending SAP solutions into manufacturing offers enormous business opportunities, but also poses unique challenges that
must be proactively addressed in order for the solution to deliver lasting operational performance improvement. What's required
is a holistic approach that balances the strength of the SAP platform with the unique needs of the manufacturing environment to create a practical solution that works for both the enterprise and plants.

About the Presenters
Gerhard van Niekerk, SAP's US Field Services Director for Chemical, Oil & Gas and Mining, has 22 years of experience in Process Industry operations and management. For the past 6 years, Gerhard has been part of the SAP Process Sector Team; during this time, he has been active in numerous accounts within the Mining, Oil & Gas and Chemical sectors, brokering collaboration between ERP, MES and Specialist Systems. Gerhard holds a BSc degrees in Chemistry and Computer Sciences, BSc Hons degree in Biochemistry, Hons B(B&A) and MBA with focus on Operations Management Systems, and an MSc in Mineral Resource Management, with a focus on the power of the "horizontal" integration of Mineral reserves and the Supply Chain, as well as the `vertical~ integration of production plant activities to the corporate strategy of commodity producers.

Ed Sullivan, Principle Consultant for EnteGreat, has over 19 years of experience designing, developing, and implementing
manufacturing and supply chain system solutions in a variety of industries, including Pharmaceutical / Bio-Tech, Chemicals, Metals, and Food & Beverage. A significant portion of Ed's experience has involved the integration of enterprise environments with manufacturing execution and supply chain operations. He has a BS IE and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MS IE from Arizona State University. Ed is also a registered professional engineer and APICS member with both CPIM and CIRM certifications.

Request a CD copy of this Webinar - please click here.