Sage, the UKs leading vendor of business software solutions for small and mid-market businesses, is extending its range of specialist applications for the manufacturing industry, with the launch of four new modules for its powerful mid-market ERP solution, Sage Line 500. The four new modules are aimed at specifically extending and enhancing the scope of Line 500 in the areas of manufacturing and distribution.
The modules - Product Management, Works Orderless Production, the Manufacturing Extension Pack and Production Scheduling - form the foundations of the expanding Sage Advanced Manufacturing Suite, and are available immediately for all customers using Sage Line 500 Version 4.0 and above.
"Sage currently has over 80,000 customers who benefit from our manufacturing knowledge and experience" explains David Karlin, managing director, Mid Market Division, Sage UK. "The four new modules of the Advanced Manufacturing Suite show our continuing commitment to developing Sage Line 500 into the best business management package available for manufacturing companies,"
The Product Management module provides Engineering Change Control, Version Control and Build Standard Management capabilities and is fully integrated with Work in Progress, Works Orders and Material Requirements Planning modules.
Product Management will allow manufacturing companies to control parts right from initial introduction, throughout their complete lifecycle and even into their planned obsolescence. The module also tracks all changes made to Bills of Materials and Routes to be managed and audited - which is essential for companies wishing to add value to their business and gain ISO9000 or BS5750 accreditation.
Works Orderless Production has been specifically designed to support fast moving manufacturing environments that use 'lean' initiatives, Just In Time and Kanban techniques whilst allowing users full control over their specific manufacturing processes. For example, the entire backflushing process can be automated with Works Orderless Production. This allows users to specify the type and exact quantity of product built, and for the associated Bill of Materials to be automatically exploded, calculating and issuing the components required. All of this is completed without a works order and from a single simple entry screen.
A series of nine manufacturing enhancements have been included in the Manufacturing Enhancement Pack. These are all designed to bring greater functionality to Sage Line 500 and include functions such as: multi location stock drill down enquiry, aggregate Bill of Materials reporting and purchase order print with bill of materials.
The fourth new module, Production Scheduling, powered by Preactor, helps to balance capacity constraints with customer demand. This enables manufacturers to map multiple constraints for any processes, machines, labour or other items that are part of the facility. Scheduling conflicts can then be resolves by running What if?` scenarios and comparisons.
Sage has been able to introduce these four modules for Line 500 users after recently purchasing the Source Codes of the products from Defacto Solutions and Preactor.
"The Advanced Manufacturing Suite has specific benefits that manufacturers need to get the most out of their business activities," explains David Karlin. "The purchase of the modules from Defacto Solutions means that these benefits can now be reaped by Sage Line 500 users."
The Advanced Manufacturing Suite is now available for delivery to all Sage Line 500 (Version 4.0 and above) users.
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