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MRP II / ERP Successful Implementation Methodology
The following is a short summary of a half-day seminar on the subject of
successfully implementing MRP II systems. The author / presenter has spent 11 years
implementing and assisting others to implement as the companies project leader, the
software supplier and as an independent consultant. These are the 3 main players in an
implementation and all have specific defined roles and responsibilities to play in any
successful implementation.
These three parties need to work closely together to ensure a successful
implementation. Some of their roles and responsibilities are as follows: -
The roles and responsibilities of the Implementing Company are: -
- To ensure the implementation team is fully educated as to what MRP II is as an operating
system for the business, what the benefits will be and how they should correctly tackle
the implementation.
- To fully understand the scope of the project and the time that employees will need to
devote to the project and their additional education and training.
- To be realistic about the time frame of the project plan.
- To set up a proper project structure with a steering committee, task forces and a full
time project leader.
- To provide and commit the resources necessary, money and men, to allow for a successful
implementation to take place.
- If the company has not been through a successful implementation, to understand the need
to seek guidance in the form of an external counseler or consultant who has successfully
been through the process.
- To fully understand the role of the software supplier.
The roles and responsibilities of the Software Supplier are: -
- The role of the software supplier is not to implement the software, that is the role and
the responsibility of the company implementing.
- The software suppliers role is to provide integrated financial, distribution and
manufacturing software that functionally performs according to the agreed specification.
- To provide software training as and when required during and after the period of the
implementation.
- To correct reported software bugs as quickly as possible.
- To advise on hardware suitable to run the required software modules for the number of
required users.
- To amend, modify or write addition systems to suit the companies requirements.
- To attend project steering committee meetings
The roles and responsibilities of the Manufacturing Systems Consultant are: -
- To initially ensure that the company and its employees are sufficiently educated in
manufacturing systems prior to the initial search for software.
- To assist the company is drawing up a specification for the systems required.
- To advise and assist the company during the short listing, justification and ultimate
selection of software.
- To assist and advise the company in setting up a steering committee, task forces, and in
selecting a project leader.
- To ensure that the task force leaders and their teams have sufficient education and
understanding to perform the task required of them in the time allowed.
- To advise management of the career path education requirements of all employees to
ensure they have the necessary background to drive the ultimate systems implementation
competitively.
- To assist and coach the Project Leader is making sure the project stays on track and to
ensure he maintains realistic expectations.
- To attend all project steering committee meetings and task force meetings as required.
- To assist and advise the company in setting up a realistic project plan and budget for
software, hardware, education and training.
In addition, the seminar also covers subjects such as: -
Measures of implementation success
Types of implementations
Prerequisites for a successful implementation
Supporting change in the organisation
Organisation commitment
Data accuracy
Classic implementation steps
Organising the project
Creating the project plan
Education and training requirements
Why most MRP II systems fail
Implementing after a previous failure
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