Selecting ERP software for engineering-to-order (ETO) manufacturing

What should a manufacturer operating in an engineering-to-order (ETO) environment look for when selecting an ERP package?

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ETO brings the design and manufacturing automation worlds together. Integration to computer-aided design (CAD) and ERP becomes a critical requirement in a world of ERP software built for repetitive manufacturing. In addition, the unique orders and tight time frames also require strong collaboration with suppliers. One approach to address both concerns may be to integrate with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems. In any case, it's best to work out ETO demonstrative scenarios and test the prospective products.

This was first published in June 2009