Selecting software

4 Great Things ERP Software Can Do for Your Job Shop

job shop

If you’re considering ERP software, whether you’re looking to change vendors or buy your first system, it’s helpful to think about what it should do for your shop. What will make a particular ERP system a good fit for your job shop? The four points below are a great place to start.  Helps You Get Your Job…

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How Job Shop Goals Lead to the Right ERP Software

let shop goals be your guiding star

Before you start looking at ERP software, it’s helpful to have goals for what you want the software to do. These goals act as your shop’s North Star when you’re looking at ERP software. Most ERP systems will make your shop better in one way or another. However, if you want to be sure it’s…

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Get the Right ERP Software with Great Training and Support

online training and support

When buying new ERP software, training and support are some of the most important parts of deciding which company to buy from. You need effective training to be able to use the software you just bought. In addition, a responsive support team is important for when you have questions after you start using the software….

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An Opportunity for Change in Your Job Shop

time to make changes in your shop

We’re going to continue to see the impact from COVID-19 for a long time. Your shop has probably already had to make changes, and you may have to make more. As long as you’re making changes in your shop, it may be time to think through some improvements you’ve been considering. These improvements can be…

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Top 10 Most Popular Blog Posts in 2019

blog posts

As we welcome 2020, we also take one last look back at 2019. Below are our top 10 blog posts from last year. It looks like many people wanted to make their shops more efficient, figure out scheduling, and improve their shop overall. Then again, who wouldn’t? Let’s get started with the tenth most popular…

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The Best Part of Having an ERP System

the best part of using an erp system in your shop

The best part of having an ERP system is how much it improves your shop. How it makes your shop better depends on what you need it to do and how you use it. For example, you may need an ERP system that tells you exactly where your jobs are so you can meet tight…

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5 Ways Technology Helps Your Shop’s Bottom Line

using quality technology in the shop

We’ve all heard that technology can make our lives better, but it can be hard to know, specifically, what technology to use. There are plenty of examples of technology that can be used in a job shop. Some things, however, work better than others. Below are five examples of technology that can do wonders for…

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Why Your Shop Needs Quality Software

quality software

When you don’t have too many jobs, it’s easy to keep an eye on the quality of your products, but when you start getting more jobs, it becomes more difficult. You need to make sure that everything that leaves your shop meets your standards, but without some sort of quality tracking software, this can be…

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How a Legacy ERP System Could Be Holding Your Shop Back

man using upgraded ERP system

If you’ve been using the same ERP system for several years, it might be time for an upgrade. When you bought your system, it was probably on the cutting edge of shop management systems, but technology changes quickly. If you’ve had the same ERP system for several years without updating it, you have a legacy…

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How to Avoid Implementation Failure: Stick to Your Goals

Which is easier, following driving directions with each turn marked, or knowing that you need to head west, generally? As anyone who’s used a GPS knows, you’ll get where you’re going much faster with detailed instructions. The same holds true for implementing an ERP system. However, for implementation, your road map is actually a list…

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An ERP System That’s Just Right

right fit

You’re probably familiar with the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Goldilocks tries the bears’ oatmeal, chairs, and beds throughout her tour of their house. She’s looking for the one that’s not too big or too little, but is just right. Looking for an ERP system is kind of like that. Some systems are…

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How to Choose the Right ERP Software

It’s hard to run a shop when you’ve got too much work and you need to keep everything on time. It’s also hard to run a shop when you don’t have enough work and you need to figure out how to get more. In each instance, ERP software can be what makes the difference for…

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What Are The Benefits of a Web-Based ERP Solution?

web based erp

You need an ERP solution to manage your shop, drive efficiency, and boost your bottom line. Making the decision to implement manufacturing ERP software is only the first step in the process, however. After you decide you need ERP, the next big question is whether to implement an in-house solution or utilize a web-based ERP…

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Cloud ERP or On-Premise: Which Is Right for You?

cloud erp shoptech software

Considering new ERP software for your machine shop? Only a few years ago, the search for new ERP software would have been focused on which provider was right for you. Today, there’s an additional question you’ll need to address first: Do you want software installed on-site or cloud ERP? The ERP software has changed dramatically…

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The 1 Question You Must Ask Before Buying Machine Shop Software

If you’ve recently decided to explore software options for your machine shop, that could be a wise decision. The difference between a successful shop and a shop that’s just barely making it is that the successful shop has a process that maximizes efficiency and eliminates waste. Software is often the engine that drives that process….

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Machine shop software: Does yours make the grade?

  Your ERP software can make all the difference between delivering on-time and being profitable versus missing customer deadlines and losing money. And it’s not just enough to have ERP software. You also need the right software for your shop, and you need to utilize it to its fullest capabilities. The good news is you…

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Shorten learning curve with virtual training for job shop software

There’s no doubt that job shop software can improve your shop’s efficiency, productivity, and overall profitability. However, just having the right software isn’t enough. You also need to make sure your team members are using it properly. Even the best software won’t produce results if your workers aren’t implementing it to its fullest capabilities. Most…

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Speed up your job shop software implementation

Do you dread the idea of implementing new job shop software? Have you purchased software that’s subsequently gone unused because you don’t know how to manage the transition? You’re not alone. For many job shops, the challenge isn’t in finding the right software; it’s in implementing the new software. Most job shop owners see the…

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How to write off your job shop software investment

It’s that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about the holiday season. Rather, it’s the time of year when business owners all over the country are making end-of-year decisions to anticipate and plan for next year. Part of that “taking stock” of your business includes what kind of investments for the future you…

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6 big reasons why software for small job shops makes sense

Of all the reasons I hear from job shop owners on why they’re not using a manufacturing software package, the most common one is that they think it will cost too much. Especially for the small job shop – which, by the way, represents the vast majority of the job shop market and the bulk…

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E2 sharing and learning at IMTS 2014

Ever since we started writing Job Shoptalk, we’ve been working hard to share information about contract manufacturing and the make-to-order manufacturing industry. We can all learn from each other, and this forum is a great way for us to address some of the issues and topics that percolate with our market. We may not have…

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What’s the best shop management software for your job shop?

We were at a machine shop trade show recently and I had a very direct question come from one of the conference attendees. After sizing up our booth he leaned in and asked, “So who’s got the best shop management software here at the show?” What job shop software providers wouldn’t jump at the chance…

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What's the Best Shop Management Software for your Job Shop?

We were at a machine shop trade show recently and I had a very direct question come from one of the conference attendees. After sizing up our booth he leaned in and asked, “So who’s got the best shop management software here at the show?” What job shop software providers wouldn’t jump at the chance…

Read more »