Do integrated systems equate to integrated software? Not necessarily. This may not be a popular view, but the plain fact of the matter is that one software provider cannot specialize in all your company needs and neither is it desirable that they should. With many software packages talking to each other via automated or semi-automated links, why not take the best from each field of expertise? You would not expect your accounts package to provide CAD, solidification, or spectrograph analysis; so why expect it to provide all your production requirements? Integration can be provided through a series of robust links between software packages that specialize in their own area. I'm not saying there shouldn't be a certain amount of crossover, for example its advantageous for your production system be able take on certain ‘accounting' functions that fall with the foundry specific arena, for example shipping, invoicing, credit and returns, in addition to the more obvious functions such as estimating and roll up job costing, all of these fall well within the remit of a production system (ERP/MRP) but they also contain valuable information that you should not have to duplicate in your accountancy system, and thus making sure they talk is essential. I have to question any system provider that purports to specialize in both accounts and foundry software, after all when you need support who are you talking to, a specialist in accounting or foundries?

So, let say you decide to go down the route of separate but joined systems, you've done your homework they all specialize in what they do and even better they all talk to each other; and now your all set for systems integration heaven – not quite. The last pitfall to avoid is the nature of the software itself. The providers of the software may specialize in their area of expertise but do they specialize in yours? This question is fairly muted for CAD, solidification, and even accounting software (to a certain degree) because by their very nature they tend to be specialist; but this assumption should not carry over to your production software. The more specific you can make this area (without going down the route of reinventing the wheel) the happier everyone will be and the more effective your integration will become. In this instance one size most defiantly does not fit all. Choosing production control software that meets the needs of ERP/MRP is not difficult, choosing foundry specific software that provides ERP/MRP functionality with the additional specific functionality required to keep a foundry humming is less straight forward. The choice is limited but worth making, the specialist knowledge, technical support, and in-depth understanding of your day to day issues is invaluable. As the creator and provider of Synchro 32 ( www.synchro32.com ) this is a subject very close to my heart, and one of which I feel strongly about.

So to summarise, implement independent and specific software, make sure it talks effectively with it neighbours, and provides a benefit that can be seen transparently across your company. Achieve this and costs will be reduced, savings and profits increased, and life will be easier, happier and even the coffee will taste better, although how you interpret, prioritise, and manage the resultant avalanche of information is entirely another matter…

Achieving the benefits of integrated foundry software - Part One

Die Casting Times
April/May 2007

	Team Spirit	Die Casting Times	Read Article	November 2008
	Generic ERP verses Cast Metal Specific ERP	Foundry Tade Journal	Read Article	November 2008
	How personal is your foundry software?	Die Casting Times	Read Article	September 2008
	A question of "Home grown or not?"	Die Casting Times	Read Article	July/August 2008
	Product Innovations	Modern Casting		December 2007
	So much information, so little time...	Die Casting Times	Read Article	July/August 2007
	Achieving the benefits of integrated foundry software - Part One	Die Casting Times	Read Article	April/May 2007
	Achieving the benefits of integrated foundry software - Part Two	Die Casting Times	Read Article	April/May 2007

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