Share article:
“We need a new ERP”
“Our Planning System is rubbish”
“A warehouse management system will solve all our problems”
Here at Chasm, we build bespoke systems for our client’s specific needs and demands, so it’s always a good day when we sell a project and agree to build a new platform or sign off the installation of an ERP upgrade. CEOs and MDs are naturally people of action, but sometimes the right call is to tell the client to just calm their jets for a moment.
We know about the foolish man who builds his house on sand. Well, this adage lends itself to the successful delivery of a system too. Every system relies on 4 important factors: system, master data, transactional discipline, and the competence of the people responsible for driving value.
It obvious that it’s hugely important that you buy the right software for your business. We can help, either building something unique or going out to market and sourcing the best solution for your needs.
Do you want an entirely new system, or just an upgrade? Do you really know what you need? Have your process mapped your systems and identified critical operations and gaps in the process (a hundred spreadsheets, anyone?). It is essential that you undertake the due diligence in selecting any system… and yes, this takes some time.
Chasm are experts at giving our clients informed and independent advice on prospective software solutions and ensuring they’re not hoodwinked into buying something they don’t need.
The next crucial consideration is Master Data. Are your item cards up to date? Are you using the latest manufacturing standards? Are your BOMs accurate with the correct yields baked in? How is your inventory setup?
I know, scary, right?
There is probably work to do to get your data fixed and ready for the new system. We can help here also. Whether it’s getting accurate run-rates from the factory floor to a full BOM rebuild, we have done it many times before. Let us lend a hand. Getting the right foundations before you start implementing a new system saves time and vastly improves the value from your investment.
You have fixed your Master Data and you’re ready for a new system. But calm your jets! How do you know the same poor operational disciplines won’t hobble your shiny new software in days or weeks? Simply replacing a spreadsheet with a hand-scanner does not fix a factory. Sometimes it is necessary to go back to basics to retrain and audit transactional discipline.
Chasm often runs operational improvement activity alongside our system projects. We put our people on the floor, across every shift, making sure that transactions are correct and timely, and that the local leadership function knows the importance of data accuracy at every level. This helps bake-in good disciplines. With hundreds of physical movements in a busy factory every day, it can take very little time for poor disciplines to ruin inventory integrity.
Another consideration is NPD and change management. Do you have strong processes around communicating changes to the right stakeholders? This often trips up businesses, especially those in periods of growth. Things happen so quickly. But there are still important steps to take to ensure that your system accurately reflects the realities of the operation. Buying the wrong raw materials or the wrong quantities is unfortunately a regular occurrence in businesses with weak change management processes. We help our clients implement a robust critical path for NPD and build links between development teams and the custodians of their master data.
And last but certainly not least… Are your decision makers ready for the new software and the opportunities it presents?
The outputs of any new system are what you’re really buying when you embark on a system project. You want faster and better decision making. You want less waste and better customer service. This journey is not just one of moving from one system to another. It’s a journey for your entire business and making sure that the right people are looking at right right data and making the right calls.
At Chasm we embed our experts alongside our client teams and develop your people with the new technology. The right system in the wrong hands will not give you the return you’re expecting on your investment. We will ensure that your team ask the right questions and make the right decisions.
An IT project is a significant investment for any business. Whether it’s a new planning and scheduling system, or implementing live transactions in your ERP, good project management and excellent data hygiene are priceless steps in realising your hopes for your business.
So, if you’re thinking about how technology can help your business — give the experts at Chasm a call. But don’t be surprised if we ask you, politely, to calm your jets.