1

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

MID TERM PROJECT

Submission Due Date:

28th October 2013

Enterprise
Resource
Planning
[Document subtitle]

Executive Summary
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems integrated management of information
across an entire organizationembracing finance, accounting, production planning and
development, manufacturing, sales, customer relationship management, etc. ERP
systems automate this activity with an integrated software application. ERP provides
information flow between all business functions inside the organization, and controls
connections to outside stakeholders.1
Independent of the size of the company, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
system can either boost or doom a company, if implemented successfully or
unsuccessfully. There is a great deal of supporting evidence from the literature, mainly
from large manufacturing and service organizations. 2
In this paper, writer try to find six ERPs software which are suitable to small, medium,
and large companies. They are: SAP, Supply Chain Management Software, QAD,
SYSPRO, EnterpriseIQ, and Microsoft Dynamics. Then at the end, writer will
recommend which software that can be the most suitable for medium company with
several arguments.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/E/ERP.html

A. P. Kakouris, G. Polychronopoulos, (2005) "Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System: An Effective Tool for Production
Management", Management Research News, Vol. 28 Iss: 6, pp.66 - 78

Table of Contents
Table of Contents......................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 4
Literature Review......................................................................................................................... 5
Methods....................................................................................................................................... 9
Result and Discussion................................................................................................................. 9
Conclusion................................................................................................................................... 9
References................................................................................................................................ 10

Introduction
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) softwares have become a key feature of
businesses to integrate various functions across the organizations. There are lots of
definitions for ERP in the literature. Many of the definitions for ERP focus on such
properties

of ERP as

integrating

processes,

enabling

optimization

across

the

organization, elimination of complex links between computer systems, providing a

common IT infrastructure, linking through the supply chain, adapting best industry and
management practices for providing the right product at the right place at the right cost,
tracking the status of a company's day-to-day activities, achieving consistency and
efficiency through standardization, enhancing of market value and firm performance
through efficiency and effectiveness gains, providing a quicker response to customer
requirements and creating common measures.
ERP softwares are notorious for their large size & huge databases. They tend to slow
down desktops & laptops sold to the general public because these computers have
limited RAM capacity for portability purposes. In many cases, computers loaded
with ERP softwares are huge mainframe computers. This has leaded to many vendors
offering their services on the cloud. That is software as a service (SAAS).One of
the ERP vendors of the study, is such an example. The other vendor offers services for
free in two ways - SAAS or as an executable file of the ERP software.3

Shukla, Ram. (2012). NOVEL APPROACH TO COMPARE OF AN ESTABLISHED OPEN-SOURCE ERP AND A NEXT
GENERATION CLOUD COMPUTING ERP. Researchers World.

Literature Review
A. SAP
Specifically SAP R/3 includes ERP client/server computing, business processes
over the

Internet, object

technology,

and system

implementation

and

customization. Translated from the German. SAP is a registered trademark

of SAPAktiengesellschaft Systems, Walldorf, Germany.
Although SAP R / 3 has been widely used as a means to transform business
processes and systems, not all IT organizations start their implementation have
achieved their intended results. However, practice has shown that the success of
leading basically depends on adequate management of complex implementation
context, which requires changes in the organization in key areas related to
strategy, business processes, IT, structure, culture, and management systems.4

B. Supply Chain Management Software (SCMS)

Supply chain management software (SCMS) is a business term which refers
to a whole range of software tools or modules used in executing supply chain
transactions,

managing

supplier

relationships

and

controlling

associated business processes. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supplychain management (SCM) have been growing in popularity across various
industries. New initiatives in resources planning, electronic commerce and
extended supply chain drive the trend among corporations towards integrating
strategic business applications. ERP systems assist enterprises in automating
and integrating corporate cross-functions such as inventory control, procurement,
distribution, financing and project management. Through information sharing,

Majed Al-Mashari, Mohamed Zairi, (2000) "The effective application of SAP R/3: a proposed model of best practice", Logistics
Information Management, Vol. 13 Iss: 3, pp.156 - 166

SCM enables supply-chain partners to work in close coordination to facilitate

supplier-customer interactions and minimize transaction cost. 5

C. QAD
QAD Inc. a provider of enterprise software and services for global manufacturers,
announced plans for hosting its annual customer conference, QAD Explore 2013
in San Antonio, Texas, May 6-9, 2013, at the Marriott Rivercenter.
According to a release, QAD Explore is a conference designed exclusively for
global manufacturers. Attendees will gain insight into strategies for
manufacturers, while benefiting from learning and networking opportunities
alongside peer companies. Additionally QAD Explore affords an opportunity to
discover the latest capabilities offered by QAD to users of QAD Enterprise
Applications.6

D. SYSPRO
SYSPRO, the leading provider of visionary, pragmatic ERP software, announced
that SYSPRO is winning new ERP customers via the ability of the SYSPRO ERP
solution to accommodate mixed-mode manufacturing methodologies, including
make-to-stock, make-to-order, engineer-to-order and batch process, as well as
exacting distribution requirements. According to SYSPRO USA President Joey
Benadretti,

"Multi-product

and

multi-divisional

entities

which

maintain

geographically dispersed manufacturing and warehousing facilities are turning

to SYSPRO, preferring the efficiencies and uniformity as well as the
administrative cost-containments enabled by a single software solution."

Antonio C. Caputo, Pacifico M. Pelagagge, Federica Scacchia, (2003) "Integrating transport systems in supply chain management
software tools", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 103 Iss: 7, pp.503 - 515
6
Anonymous. (2012). QAD Releases Details of QAD Explore 2013. Close-Up Media, Inc.

Most recently, he notes, Layton Manufacturing, Salem, OR-based manufacturer

of

asphalt

paving,

home

moving

and

food

processing

equipment,

selected SYSPRO ERP to streamline company operations, including mixedmode manufacturing and customer management. According to Layton General
Manager John Layton, the company's migration to a mixed-mode manufacturing
entity

forced

it

to

seek

new

Enterprise

Resource

Planning

(ERP) software capable of facilitating such diversification.7

E. EnterpriseIQ
EnterpriseIQ 7.8.1 features more than 900 new tools and reports across all
aspects of the software with a development focus on providing functionality and
efficiency.
Understanding

the

need

to

stay

lean

and

competitive,

the

latest EnterpriseIQ release focuses on tools that keep manufacturers accurate

and proactive. The new features enhance all aspects of the software including
quality management, statistical process control, shop floor performance,
customer relationship management, scheduling, human resources and much
more. A small sampling of the enhancements that contributed to IQMS' win: an
easy-to-use mobile application, RealTime Process Monitoring, an automated VIN
generator and flexible sales configuration templates. 8

F. Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: "MSFT") announced that Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012
is available to customers around the world in 25 countries and 23 languages.
Kicking off a series of more than 100 global launch events celebrating the
general availability of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, CEO Steve Ballmer
7

Anonymous. (2011). SYSPRO; SYSPRO Mixed-Mode Manufacturing, Distribution Expertise Winning Customers, Food Weekly
News via NewsRx.com
8
Anonymous. (2011). IQMS Wins 2011 American Business Award for Best New Manufacturing Product of the Year. Close-Up
Media, Inc.

and Microsoft Business Solutions President Kirill Tatarinov joined industry

experts, customers and partners to share how technology innovations enable
companies to be more agile, breaking down the barriers and limitations of
outdated enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions.
The flexible architecture of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, which includes built-in
capabilities for multiple industries and geographic regions, lets people make
quick and easy changes to processes and personal experiences to fulfill the
shifting needs of their business, no matter how complex the organization. The
simplicity of the Microsoft Dynamics RoleTailored experience gives people across
the company the information they need to do their job, access to
the Microsoft productivity tools they use every day, and built-in, contextual
business intelligence, empowering better decisions. And because Windows
Azure-based cloud services, such as Rapid Start, Site, Payment and Commerce
services, are directly accessible from within Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, ottheir
private cloud or on-premises deployment.9

Anonymous. (2011). Application Software Companies; Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Launches Worldwide. NewsRX.

Methods
Writer uses literature Review as the research methods for this paper. Literatures
were got mostly from Online Journal. Writer explains a little about eight ERP
softwares, and then classify them before decide which is the most suitable
software for medium company.

Result and Discussion

Based on the Literature Review, writer classifies the softwares for small, medium,
and large company.
a. Small Company: b. Middle Company: SCM, SYSPRO, and EnterpriseIQ.
c. Large Company: SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, QAD

Conclusion
Based on the literature review and writers analysis, EnterpriseIQ is the best on
for medium company. Because it has complete features than another middle
companys softwares.

10

References
Anonymous. (2011). IQMS Wins 2011 American Business Award for Best New
Manufacturing Product of the Year. Close-Up Media, Inc.
Anonymous. (2011). Application Software Companies; Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012
Launches Worldwide. NewsRX.
Anonymous. (2012). QAD Releases Details of QAD Explore 2013. Close-Up Media,
Inc
Anonymous. (2011). SYSPRO; SYSPRO Mixed-Mode Manufacturing, Distribution
Expertise Winning Customers, Food Weekly News via NewsRx.com
Antonio C. Caputo, Pacifico M. Pelagagge, Federica Scacchia, (2003) "Integrating
transport systems in supply chain management software tools", Industrial Management
& Data Systems, Vol. 103 Iss: 7, pp.503 - 515
Majed Al-Mashari, Mohamed Zairi, (2000) "The effective application of SAP R/3: a
proposed model of best practice", Logistics Information Management, Vol. 13 Iss: 3,
pp.156 - 166
P. Kakouris, G. Polychronopoulos, (2005) "Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
System: An Effective Tool for Production Management", Management Research News,
Vol. 28 Iss: 6, pp.66 78
Shukla, Ram. (2012). NOVEL APPROACH TO COMPARE OF AN
ESTABLISHED OPEN-SOURCE ERP AND A NEXT GENERATION CLOUD
COMPUTING ERP. Researchers World.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/E/ERP.html