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• Is your company suited to ERP in the cloud?

  If you're a startup with simple data and don't require tons of customization, the cloud could be a perfect fit. Here are a few other qualities of the most cloud-compatible companies. Continue Reading

• Learn the ins and outs of activity-based costing

  Activity-based costing (ABC) helps you understand the profitability of all product lines. Here's how ABC may benefit you. Continue Reading

• When does it make sense to deploy a demand signal repository?

  A demand signal repository can aggregate sales data to help business users make better short-term demand planning decisions. But is a DSR right for your needs? Continue Reading

• Which demand planning tools are right for your company?

  Should companies use the built-in planning capabilities of an ERP system, or select from best-of-breed demand planning tools? An expert debunks some myths about the pros and cons of each, and outlines best practices for choosing the right approach. Continue Reading

• What's the true definition of demand management?

  The demand management market can be difficult to navigate because of the over-abundance of terms for technology and processes. What do companies really need to know about the various categories of demand management? Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • Kaizen (continuous improvement)
  • supply chain security
  • inventory management
  • general ledger (GL)

  • ERP (enterprise resource planning)
  • ERP finance module
  • material requirements planning (MRP)
  • production planning

  View All Definitions

• How can manufacturers improve field service operations?

  Equipment providers and distributors are shifting their focus to improving field service. What are some best practices and technologies that can boost customer engagement and increase sales?Continue Reading

• Manufacturer finds success with cloud-based ERP system

  When it came time for international expansion, Shaw Industries turned to a cloud-based ERP system. The company couldn't be happier.Continue Reading

• How green manufacturing processes can boost the bottom line

  Sustainable production and supply chain practices are not just good PR -- they often help the bottom line by cutting resource consumption and opening up new lines of business. Those benefits aren’t the only drivers toward greener, most sustainable ...Continue Reading

• Manufacturing operations management merges ERP and MES

  As integrated manufacturing systems evolve, a new term -- manufacturing operations management -- signifies the merger of ERP and MES.Continue Reading

• Lean and sustainability strategies meld for supply chain transformation

  Some manufacturers are expanding lean and sustainability strategies to the supply chain to reduce waste and bolster efficiencies, but extending these practices outside a company's four walls won't be easy.Continue Reading

• ERP hardware and infrastructure: Laying the groundwork for excellence

  In this ERP Essential Guide, discover how to find the right ERP hardware and infrastructure to support a robust business application system.Continue Reading

• Top treasury management software features for buyers

  Hyoun Park lists critical features finance managers should look for when evaluating treasury management software.Continue Reading

• liquid logistics

  Liquid logistics is a specialized material-handling and transportation discipline that is used when moving liquid products through a supply chain.Continue Reading

• Supplier performance management (SPM)

  Supplier performance management (SPM) is a blanket term for any business practice that is designed to manage, measure and analyze the performance of a supplier or suppliers in a network.Continue Reading

• enterprise accounting software

  Enterprise accounting software is technology that keeps track of an organization's financial transactions and data.Continue Reading

• supplier risk management

  Supplier risk management is the process of identifying, assessing and controlling threats to an organization's capital and earnings that are caused by the organization's supply chain. Continue Reading

• inventory optimization

  Inventory optimization (IO) is a strategy for balancing the amount of working capital that's tied up in inventory with service-level goals across multiple stock-keeping units (SKUs).Continue Reading

• Anaplan

  Anaplan is a Web-based enterprise platform for business planning. Anaplan is also the name of the company that created the platform. Continue Reading

• maker movement

  The maker movement is a cultural trend that places value on an individual's ability to be a creator of things as well as a consumer of things.  Continue Reading

• makerspace

  A makerspace is a community center that provides technology, manufacturing equipment and educational opportunities to the public.Continue Reading

• GMP (good manufacturing practice)

  A good manufacturing practice (GMP) is one that conforms to the guidelines set by the regulatory agencies that control authorization and licensing for the production and sale of food, beverages and active pharmaceutical products.Continue Reading

• 4-D printing (four-dimensional printing)

  4-D printing is additive manufacturing that prints objects capable of transformation and, in some cases, self-assembly.Continue Reading

• revenue recognition

  Revenue recognition is a tenet of corporate financial management that defines when a company officially accounts for revenue.Continue Reading

• Seven considerations before launching driver-based planning

  When getting started with driver-based planning, Rob Livingstone recommends taking an inclusive approach and defining accountability.Continue Reading

• Buying ERP: Top 10 midmarket ERP systems

  This buyer's guide provides a rundown of the top 10 midmarket ERP systems out there today.Continue Reading

• Maximize the ROI of ERP projects with an ERP center of excellence

  An ERP consultant with experience helping organizations establish ERP centers of excellence answers some basic questions.Continue Reading

• Excel tip: Fill Handle tricks

  Microsoft Excel consultant Bill Jelen, aka 'MrExcel,' shows how to use the Excel Fill Handle to extend series.Continue Reading

• digital modeling and fabrication

  Digital modeling and fabrication is a design and production process that marries 3-D modeling or computing-aided design (CAD) software with additive and subtractive manufacturing.Continue Reading

• ERP consolidation and integration

  Maintaining multiple ERP systems can be challenging. But should all businesses have only one ERP system?Continue Reading

• profit and loss statement (P&L)

  A profit and loss statement (P&L), also known as an income statement, is a financial report that shows a company's revenues and expenses over a given period of time, usually a fiscal quarter or year.Continue Reading

• financial modeling

  Financial modeling is the construction of spreadsheet models that illustrate a company's likely financial results in quantitative terms. Financial models can simulate the effect of specific variables so that the company can plan a course of action ...Continue Reading

• FAQ: Understanding and leveraging 3PL providers

  In this FAQ, learn all about third-party logistics (3PL) providers and what they can offer manufacturers.Continue Reading

• Preparing a budget for service-oriented departments in three steps

  HR and IT provide services to other departments, which makes preparing a budget a bit more complicated than usual.Continue Reading

• tooling

  Tooling, also known as machine tooling, is the process of acquiring the manufacturing components and machines needed for production. Continue Reading

• rapid prototyping

  Rapid prototyping is the speedy creation of a full-scale model.  The word prototype comes from the Latin words proto (original) and typus (model).Continue Reading

• Updates of cloud-based applications not as automatic as they may seem

  According to experts, some of the onus still falls on users to update cloud-based applications, despite vendor promises of automatic upgrades.Continue Reading

• product lifecycle management (PLM)

  Product lifecycle management (PLM) is a systematic approach to managing the series of changes a product goes through, from its design and development to its ultimate retirement or disposal. PLM software can be used to automate the management of ...Continue Reading

• Secrets to PLM implementation success

  PLM implementation has the potential for sweeping business transformation, yet practitioners advise targeting specific pain points and building on those early successes.Continue Reading

• What's the state of the art in ERP trends?

  Users shared their pain, and editors went looking for answers in this essential guide to trends and technologies in ERP applications.Continue Reading

• An essential guide to M2M technology for manufacturers

  M2M technology can automate the warehouse by enabling manufacturers to communicate in real time and remotely track and monitor their supply chains.Continue Reading

• FAQ: Back to basics with ERP 101

  In this FAQ, find answers to the most common ERP questions. Learn about different types of ERP modules, the software selection process and more.Continue Reading

• Before buying GRC tools, build framework and clear requirements

  When implementing governance, risk management and compliance tools, start small and know that GRC projects are ongoing endeavors that require upkeep.Continue Reading

• How business process redesign is affecting ERP

  In this expert tip, learn how business process redesign fits into the ERP implementation process and the role that business process management plays.Continue Reading

• financial consolidation

  Financial consolidation is the process of combining financial data from several departments or business entities within an organization, usually for reporting purposes. Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of global supply chain management

  How much do you know about global supply chain management? Take this short quiz and find out.Continue Reading

• A guide to warehouse management systems technology

  Warehouse management systems technologies are changing, and this guide examines the latest trends and innovations.Continue Reading

• Mining the general ledger for financial analytics

  To support financial analytics, IT staff must know its way around the general ledger. Here's how to read GL entries.Continue Reading

• financial controller

  A financial controller, also referred to as financial comptroller, is a senior-level executive who usually reports to an organization's chief financial officer (CFO).Continue Reading

• What is IT's role in the order to cash cycle?

  The order to cash cycle is an important business process with numerous steps. It's vital for IT to know the system and choose the right software.Continue Reading

• financial reporting

  Financial reporting is the process of producing the reports, called statements, that disclose an organization's financial status to management, investors and the U.S. federal government.Continue Reading

• IT's role in treasury management: A tutorial

  Treasury management is a vital function in any organization. An informed IT department is the best bet for accuracy, compliance and data availability.Continue Reading

• last mile of finance (LMOF)

  The last mile of finance is composed of the management processes that finance executives perform after the monthly, quarterly or annual close to prepare for financial reporting and disclosure. Continue Reading

• General ledger tutorial: GL basics and software options

  An expert lays out general ledger basics and tells where to find the best GL software.Continue Reading

• BPaaS (Business Process as a Service)

  Business Process as a Service (BPaaS) is a form of business process outsourcing (BPO) that employs a cloud computing service model.Continue Reading

• integrated business planning (IBP)

  Integrated business planning (IBP) is a strategy for connecting the planning functions of each department in an organization to align operations and strategy with the organization's financial performance.Continue Reading

• Adaptive Insights (formerly called Adaptive Planning)

  Adaptive Insights (formerly called Adaptive Planning) is a cloud-based corporate performance management software (CPM) vendor headquartered in Mountain View, California.Continue Reading

• Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR)

  Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) is the process reference model used across industries as a supply chain management diagnostic tool.Continue Reading

• upcharge

  An upcharge is an additional fee that is added to a bill after a contract has already been negotiated.Continue Reading

• SCEM (supply chain event management)

  Supply chain event management (SCEM) refers to software that is used to manage events that occur within and between organizations or supply chain partners.Continue Reading

• quality function deployment

  Quality function deployment (QFD) is the translation of user requirements or requests into designs. The goal of QFD is to build a product that does exactly what the customer wants instead of delivering a product that emphasizes expertise the builder...Continue Reading

• Fast Guide to acronyms used in manufacturing

  These acronyms are often used in internal communications within a manufacturing environment.Continue Reading

• product information management (PIM)

  Product information management (PIM) is a classification of software products that support the global identification, linking and synchronization of product information across heterogeneous data sources.Continue Reading

• SC sustainability

  Supply chain sustainability is a holistic perspective of supply chain processes and technologies that goes beyond the focus of delivery, inventory and traditional views of cost.Continue Reading

• profitability analysis

  Profitability analysis is a component of enterprise resource planning (ERP) that allows administrators to forecast the profitability of a proposal or optimize the profitability of an existing project.Continue Reading

• contract management software

  Contract management software is a program or series of related programs for storing and managing legal agreements such as contracts with vendors, leases and licensing agreements.Continue Reading

• open source ERP

  Open source ERP refers to an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software model in which the public has access to the source code of the system.Continue Reading

• Basel III

  Basel III is a set of standards and practices created to ensure that international banks maintain adequate capital to sustain themselves during periods of economic strain.Continue Reading

• EDIFACT

  EDIFACT (ISO 9735) is the international standard for electronic data interchange (EDI).Continue Reading

• AR-to-GL reconciliation

  AR-to-GL (accounts-receivable-to-general-ledger) reconciliation is a process commonly used to balance accounts in bookkeeping, particularly within an Oracle relational database. Continue Reading

• financial data management

  Financial data management (FDM) is a process and policy, usually assisted by specialized software, that allows an enterprise or institution to consolidate its financial information, maintain compliance with accounting rules and laws, and produce ...Continue Reading

• procurement software

  Procurement software is a computer program or suite that allows an organization to automate the processes of purchasing materials and maintaining an inventory of goods.Continue Reading

• BAI2 file format

  BAI2 file format is a specialized and standardized set of codes used for cash management by the Bank Administration Institute (BAI).Continue Reading

• X9 (ASC X9)

  ASC X9, Inc. (X9) is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) organization responsible for the development of all financial services standards in the United States.Continue Reading

• treasury management

  Treasury management is the administration of a company’s cash flow as well as the creation and governance of policies and procedures that ensure the company manages risk successfully.Continue Reading

• SWIFT FIN message

  SWIFT FIN is a message type (MT) that transmits financial information from one financial institution to another.Continue Reading

• SQL-ledger

  SQL-Ledger (SL) is a Web-based open source double-entry accounting system that is used primarily in the retail and manufacturing sectors.Continue Reading

• spreadsheet controls

  Spreadsheet controls are a set of steps that an organization's accounting personnel can take to ensure accuracy and integrity of financial records and bookkeeping procedures.Continue Reading

• ISAE 3402

  ISAE (International Standards for Assurance Engagements) 3402 is a global assurance standard for reporting on controls at service organizations.Continue Reading

• GR/IR clearing accounts

  A GR/IR (goods-receipt/invoice-receipt) clearing account is a bookkeeping device that can be used when goods arrive before the invoice is generated, or when an invoice arrives before the goods are delivered.Continue Reading

• ghost asset

  A ghost asset is a fixed asset in a general ledger (GL) that cannot be accounted for because it is physically missing or otherwise rendered unusable.  Continue Reading

• GASB

  GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) is private not-for-profit organization that seeks to establish and improve the standards of accounting and financial reporting for U.S. state and local governments.Continue Reading

• financial management system

  A financial management system is the methodology and software that an organization uses to oversee and govern its income, expenses, and assets with the objectives of maximizing profits and ensuring sustainability.Continue Reading

• financial application

  A financial application is a software program that facilitates the management of business processes that deal with money. Continue Reading

• financial supply chain management

  Financial supply chain management (FSCM) is a set of software tools and processes designed to enhance an organization’s product flow, maximizing profitability and minimizing expenses.Continue Reading

• EDGAR

  EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) is an online public database from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).Continue Reading

• e-invoicing

  E-invoicing (or electronic invoicing) is the delivery of bills and related information by an enterprise to its clients using electronic communications, usually the Internet.Continue Reading

• e-filing (electronic filing)

  E-filing is the electronic submission of information that is required by law.Continue Reading

• cost-benefit analysis software

  Cost-benefit analysis software is a computer program or suite that assists personnel in the complex task of determining whether or not a proposed plan or project will pay off.Continue Reading

• chart of accounts (COA)

  A chart of accounts (COA) is a financial organizational tool that provides a complete listing of every account in an accounting system.Continue Reading

• BIC (bank identifier code)

  A bank identifier code (BIC) is a unique identifier for a specific financial institution.Continue Reading

• asset liability management

  Asset liability management (ALM) is the administration of policies and procedures that address financial risks associated with changing interest rates, foreign exchange rates and other factors that can affect a company’s liquidity.Continue Reading

• accounts payable

  Accounts payable is a liability account in the general ledger (GL).Continue Reading

• account

  An account is a unique record for each type of asset, liability, equity, revenue and expense.  Continue Reading

• replenishment

  Replenishment refers to the movement of inventory from upstream -- or reserve -- product storage locations to downstream -- or primary – storage, picking and shipment locations.Continue Reading

• yard management system (YMS)

  A yard management system (YMS) is a software system designed to oversee the movement of trucks and trailers in the yard of a manufacturing facility, warehouse, or distribution center.Continue Reading

• Andon

  An Andon is a visual control that indicates the status of a machine, manufacturing line or process.Continue Reading

• vendor-managed inventory (VMI)

  Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) is an inventory management technique in which a supplier of goods, usually the manufacturer, is responsible for optimizing the inventory held by a distributor.Continue Reading

• Manufacturing operation management (MOM)

  Manufacturing operation management (MOM) is an approach of overseeing all aspects of the manufacturing process with a particular focus to increase efficiency.Continue Reading

• ABC classification

  ABC classification is a ranking system for identifying and grouping items in terms of how useful they are for achieving business goals.Continue Reading

• work in progress (WIP)

  Work in progress (WIP), also called work in process, is inventory that has begun the manufacturing process and is no longer included in raw materials inventory but is not yet a completed product.Continue Reading