Manufacturing software is an essential part of any modern manufacturing operation. It helps with everything from inventory management to production planning and ERP systems. As the industry changes, so do the needs of manufacturers themselves.
In this article, we will talk about challenges manufacturers face, top manufacturing software trends, and the 3 best technology providers for manufacturers in 2022.
Challenges Manufacturers Face in 2022
Over the past few years, manufacturers have faced several challenges that have impacted their business models including a pandemic, disrupted supply chains, war-induced geopolitical changes, and persisting inflation globally.
The competition is fierce in all industries and it’s getting more intense by the day. As a result, manufacturers need to be on top of their game at all times or risk being left behind by competitors who can innovate faster than they can keep up with. This means being able to adapt quickly to new technologies and trends to survive in this highly competitive environment.
How Has the Manufacturing Software Landscape Evolved?
The Manufacturing software landscape is changing. Today, companies can create a new kind of experience for their customers. They can control the manufacturing process and make it adaptable to change. This means that they can change their manufacturing process on the fly, offering products in multiple colors or materials at a moment’s notice. They could even switch from one material to another based on customer feedback—without having to wait for a production run!
The new era of manufacturing will be focused on speed and flexibility, which will allow companies to quickly respond to trends in the market. This also means that they’ll need more efficient systems for tracking inventory, so they can predict demand and plan accordingly.
One of the biggest changes is likely to be found in supply chain management systems. Instead of simply tracking shipments as they happen, these systems will have tools that allow them to make decisions about where each item should be shipped based on its location and other factors like time-to-delivery or cost-effectiveness.
Top Manufacturing Software Trends in 2022
The following trends in manufacturing software are geared toward making production processes more efficient.
- Improving productivity and quality – Manufacturing software is being used to optimize processes to improve both productivity and quality.
- Improving safety – Manufacturers working on projects with hazardous materials or dangerous equipment, are using cutting-edge tech like IoT sensors and RFID tags to achieve efficient monitoring and tracking.
- Improving efficiency- With consumers demanding quicker delivery times, companies are employing automation processes to improve speed while reducing costs.
In this context of current challenges, evolving landscape, and new trends, we have identified 3 important manufacturing software providers that will not only help manufacturers survive but also keep them competitive for years to come.
SAP Solutions
SAP Manufacturing Solutions is a suite of software for manufacturing companies offering flexibility and scalability as well as complete visibility into the business.
While the product is comprehensive, it can be too expensive for small and medium manufacturers and requires training to be able to use the product.
Katana
A relatively new entrant, Katana is a cloud-based manufacturing ERP software solution that offers a fully integrated, multi-application platform. It provides a single source of truth for all your manufacturing data, so you can have full visibility into your entire operation.
Katana has been getting good traction from small, medium, and large manufacturers who want to streamline their operations with an easy-to-use solution available on any device. Katana makes it simple to track production across multiple facilities, has easy-to-follow workflows, and has a flexible approach to building products, variants, and bills of materials(BoM). A great knowledge center and good customer support make it much easier for small and medium manufacturing businesses to start optimizing their operations on Katana quickly.
MS Dynamics 365
Microsoft Dynamics 365 helps manufacturers manage their business processes including sales, marketing, operations, and customer service.
While the ERP has a well-streamlined quote, sales order, and invoicing, the software can be expensive and unaffordable for small and medium manufacturers. Also, the software has limited workflows and dashboard analytics customization and like SAP’s solution requires training and IT experts to start using the product effectively.
There is no doubt that manufacturing is undergoing a technological revolution. As technologies like ERP, 3D printing, IoT, and AI become more popular, manufacturers must make sure they are aware of these trends so they can stay competitive in the market.