ERP software drives performance initiatives

Comprehensive manufacturing and supply chain management software has enhanced scalability and performance, updated core manufacturing and supply chain functionality.

Epicor Software Corporation has introduced more features and functionality for Epicor Vantage, the company's comprehensive manufacturing and supply chain management (SCM) software system.

Epicor Vantage is built using a true service-oriented architecture (SOA) that enables continuous performance initiatives, real-time connectivity between supply-chain applications and partners, and greater business agility for make-to-order (MTO) and mixed-mode manufacturers and distribution companies.

Building on its strong SOA foundation, this latest version of Epicor's manufacturing and supply-chain platform provides enhanced scalability and performance aimed at supporting the needs of larger organizations with up to 2,000 concurrent users.

Significant technology upgrades support the latest releases from Microsoft Corp, including Windows Vista, enabling customers to take advantage of new technologies to boost productivity and collaboration.

General manager of Microsoft Worldwide Manufacturing, Charles Johnson, said: "Because most people in business are already familiar with Microsoft technologies, Epicor is able to use products such as Microsoft .NET 3.0, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and Windows Vista to deliver enterprise solutions that require less ramp-up time to use, and which customers find very flexible and scalable." He added: "We are pleased to be working with Epicor to provide customers with innovative technology solutions that both improve customers' operations and lower their total cost of ownership".

Additionally, Epicor Manufacturing now offers expanded third-party application integration via Epicor Service Connect, Epicor's standard business process orchestration engine that enables organizations to simply and easily configure integration among applications to best fit their business needs.

Senior director of product marketing, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management at Epicor, Rodney Winger, said: "For years, Epicor's manufacturing solution has been designed to successfully meet the needs and requirements of midmarket manufacturers.

Today we are increasingly focused on adding features that also address the needs of larger, global manufacturers; this functionality also helps our progressive midmarket manufacturing customers address many of the same challenges larger organizations are dealing with".

With this latest release, Epicor told Manufacturingtalk that it delivers new and enhanced functionality for both core manufacturing and supply chain operations.

Notable enhancements in the areas of planning, scheduling and production management facilitate a streamlining of these processes from an operational perspective.

Enhanced Global Finite Scheduling offers real-time assessment of present and short-term plant or warehouse capacity as defined by on-hand resources (material, machines, labor, etc).

The software also provides improved visibility into material and capacity needs for planning purposes.

In real-time, organizations now view material constraints with full links to information such as purchase order, job and lead time in conjunction with short horizon days of supply, offering improved material requirements planning (MRP) performance.

Expanded supply chain functionality includes enhanced support for international and export shipments throughout the order-to-pack and manifest shipping process.

The new phantom pack feature provides the ability to multiple case pack all items on an order for quick and efficient pack processing.

* Epicor Tax Connect now available to manufacturers - additionally, Epicor manufacturing customers can now leverage the company's new on-demand sales tax management service, Epicor Tax Connect USA).

An innovative Web services-based sales tax automation solution, Tax Connect is a full-service sales tax solution that eliminates the tedious work and complexity of calculating, collecting, reporting on and remitting taxes across multiple jurisdictions within the USA and Canada.

The solution assists manufacturers in keeping compliant with changing jurisdiction- and commodity-specific taxation rules, and provides for automated generation of sales tax return reports.

* Realizing the true benefits of SOA - more than 1,500 manufacturers are now leveraging Epicor's SOA manufacturing solution, including Commercial sheet-fed and web offset printer, Spartan Graphics, Incorporated, the first manufacturer to go live on the new version.

Epicor Vantage has been an integral part of Spartan Graphics business since 1996, with all aspects of the company's daily operations relying on the system.

IT Director for Spartan Graphics, Todd Hofert, said in Epicor's report to Manufacturingtalk: "Spartan Graphics has grown and acquired a number of companies since our initial implementation of Epicor.

Our ultimate goal was to have a standardized ERP solution across all of our companies.

Each of our companies share centralized accounting and IT functions, and standardizing on a single platform was an appealing option to reduce staffing requirements and the cost of training staff".

Hofert continued, "The SOA-built Vantage solution offered the flexibility that we needed to tailor the solution to our unique business needs.

This flexibility has allowed us to not only achieve our standardized ERP goal; it has allowed us to improve many business processes resulting in improved efficiencies and greater information availability.

These improvements include better inventory controls and management, streamlined purchasing functions, automation of many routine tasks, integration of data with our sister companies through the use of multi-site management, as well as improved access to critical information required to communicate effectively with our customers.

We also intend to extend this information directly to our customers through the use of Customer Connect, allowing us to offer a level of custom service our competitors are unable to provide".

* About Epicor Software Corporation - for 20 years, Epicor has been a recognized leader dedicated to providing integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and supply chain management (SCM) software solutions to midmarket companies around the world.

With the acquisition of Scala, Epicor is a global leader in the midmarket serving over 20,000 customers in over 140 countries.

Epicor leverages innovative technologies like Web services in developing end-to-end, industry-specific solutions for manufacturing, distribution, services, and hospitality that enable companies to immediately drive efficiency throughout business operations and build competitive advantage.

With the scalability and flexibility to support long-term growth, Epicor's solutions are complemented by a full range of services, providing a single point of accountability to promote rapid return on investment and low total cost of ownership.

Epicor's worldwide headquarters are located in Irvine, California with offices and affiliates around the world.

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