Automating Business Processes for To-Order Manufacturers

Thomas R. Cutler | April 13, 2006

In a Make-to-Stock environment, business processes can remain stable and unchanged for many years, or until a new product line is developed. In a To-Order environment business processes are significantly influenced by the nature of the order or contract being executed. No only can each order or contract involve different types of processes, but the value of contracts can have a significant influence.

Automating business processes streamlines operations thus minimizing overhead costs and enforcing disciplines based on best practices. Together this helps preserve the integrity of the business data and ensures that users of the ERP (enterprise resource planning) system adhere to the processes that are set by the business.

Many difficulties in business process management relate to “off-system” manual tasks, such as notification, investigation, authorization, and follow up. VISIBILITY.net has the ability to automate business processes through the use of workflow templates, making it easier to control and administer standard processes through the necessary steps.

According to Stephen Carson, Executive vice president with Visibility Corporation, “VISIBILITY.net provides businesses with strategic insight, ability to differentiate, increased productivity and the flexibility needed to achieve business goals. Improved communication with suppliers, partners, customers and employees, through an easy to use electronic interaction, dramatically optimizes business processes, increases responsiveness and enables new levels of achievement throughout the enterprise”.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for the Complex Manufacturing sector, non-repetitive manufacturing, has been less than effective in accomplishing these strategic advantages until VISIBILITY.net. Business integration, comprehensive functionality, collaborative capabilities, global features and compliance based controls enable effective decision making, increased organizational productivity, and a system infrastructure optimized for profitable business growth.

Complex manufacturers have more than fifty percent of their business in international markets. The need to access the dynamic communication interface has never been stronger according. Strategic advantages across the entire enterprise must include Operations Management, Technology, Business Performance Management, Collaboration, Material & Production Planning, Financial Management, Customer Relationship Management and Engineering & Product Lifecycle Management.

Visibility Corporation (www.visibility.com) is a leading developer and supplier of business software solutions designed for the unique needs of project-based, engineer-to-order and to-order manufacturers. Visibility's Enterprise Application solutions help midsize manufacturers of complex products operate their businesses effectively. Visibility has an extensive customer base throughout North America and Europe and has the strongest representation of ERP among complex manufacturers.

VISIBILITY.net is an integrated ERP solution and more. Offering unparalleled functionality and integrated workflow, this browser-based solution cost effectively delivers the power of .NET-based Web services for use with either a Microsoft SQL Server™ or Oracle® database. Conducting business any place, any time, any where is a reality, deployable with unprecedented flexibility.