Successful ERP integration no simple
matter
Since most of our customers run ERP systems along with the CAD and
data management software that we offer, we at Hagerman & Company have
developed some perspective on and experience in the ERP market. At
Hagerman & Company, questions we often get in regard to ERP are, “Can
you integrate with my ERP system?” or “What ERP systems can you
integrate with?” With all modern ERP systems and CAD software packages
(AutoCAD, Inventor, SolidWorks, etc.), this is really a non-issue. From
a technical standpoint, all CAD software (and their associated data
management tools) can communicate with all modern ERP systems.
Depending on the systems involved, ERP integration is typically
accomplished via one of the following file formats such as:
- ASCII text
- XLS or CSV
- Database format (Access, SQL, etc.)
- XML
Using one of the above file formats, a simple mapping can be set up
between the fields present and required in each system so that the
required information is written out by the output system either manually
or automatically to a specific location on your network. The input
system can then be set up to either manually or automatically read the
data.
One thing we feel that it is best to avoid is “direct” ERP integration.
Data should never be written from your CAD software directly into the
ERP system’s database tables. The entire industry has realized this and,
for the most part, moved away from this type of solution. The reasons
for this are:
- Risk (Writing data directly into the complex table structure or
your ERP system can corrupt the system)
- Restrictions on updating software (If you have things tied too
closely together, you may be prevented from or be forced to upgrade
your CAD or ERP software or both in order to maintain integration
between the two)
- It is much harder for 3rd party software providers to provide
direct integration with complex 3D design packages such as Inventor
and SolidWorks rather than AutoCAD
The ability for all modern CAD software to communicate with all modern
ERP systems does not mean that ERP integration is a trivial issue. It is
indeed a complex issue; not just a “technical” issue, but really a
“workflow” issue. Some of the main issues to resolve in ERP integration
include:
- Which system (CAD or ERP) “owns” the data?
- Who will input the data? (Engineers, another department,
multiple departments, etc.)
- Will the BOM output from CAD need to be modified or will the CAD
model contain the final complete BOM including all fasteners,
packaging materials, lubricants, instruction manuals, etc.?
- If the BOM gets modified after CAD work is complete, does the
modified BOM need to be passed back to the CAD model/drawing?
- What will employees in manufacturing use to obtain BOM info?
(CAD drawing or ERP system)
- Is data input into CAD and passed to ERP, vice versa or both?
- What data fields are input into which systems, when and by whom?
- Who is responsible for and able to add new items to the ERP
database?
- How is the initial input of items and BOM’s handled and synched
between the systems?
- How are revisions to items and BOM’s handled and synched between
the systems? Is it necessary and, if so, how is each system notified
that a change is in progress in the other system?
- How often will data be updated and synched between the systems?
(Immediately upon change, hourly, daily or when manually triggered)
- What is the trigger event for data input/output between the
systems?
To successfully resolve these complex issues, we feel it is necessary to
work together as a team with multiple departments within your company,
such as engineering, IT, manufacturing and finance, along with your ERP
provider and a CAD/data management provider such as Hagerman & Company,
Inc., with extensive experience helping customers resolve these issues.
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