Downloads, White Papers

Native Integration: Why Manufacturers Need a Deeper Level of Systems Integration
by John Clemons, EnteGreat

Request a copy of this paper - please click here.

Paper Overview
Some manufacturers have invested in integrating their ERP systems with the diverse plant level systems that support manufacturing operations, particularly MES, if they have it.  However most of this integration is pronounced complete when there is a simple, but functional, data transfer working between the systems that allows transactions to be completed on both ends.  This is not enough in many cases, and this simplistic type of interface begins to create a whole new set of challenges to systems sustainability and controlling support costs when it is all that is done.  In this paper, John Clemons explores a concept that EnteGreat calls "native integration", which suggests that the nature of these system to system interfaces needs to be looked at on a broader level, a level that takes into account managing master data, enabling workflows across system boundaries, and helping put data from different systems into context to support analysis and performance management.

Paper Outline

• Introduction
• The Basic Challenges of Systems Integration
• Using Native Integration to Manage Master Data, Provide Data Context, and Enable Workflows
  • Managing Master Data
  • Providing Data Context
  • Enabling Workflows
• Conclusion

About the Author
John Clemons, Vice President of EnteGreat, has over 23 years of experience in manufacturing, including work within the Food & Beverage, Consumer Products, Pulp & Paper, Steel, Specialty Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotechnology industries. John has spent his career working for industry-leading systems integrators and consultants, and he has done consulting work almost exclusively for Fortune 500 Companies. John's papers, industry press articles, and technical sessions have helped people throughout these industries gain a better understanding of manufacturing systems integration within the Enterprise IT environment. John has also co-authored the book "Information Technology for Manufacturing: Reducing Costs and Expanding Capabilities."

Request a copy of this paper - please click here.