ERP for the plastics industry

An ERP system in the plastics industry can only score a few points with the standard PPS functions. Although they are necessary as a basis, the industry-specific ERP requirements take centre stage. These are split in two directions: the commercial requirements and the technical requirements of the plastics industry.

In all technical fields the plastics industry places enormous demands on the ERP system. Here, the actual practical suitability of the system must prove itself in continuous series production. The best way to do this is with effective production preparation.

Cavities in the plastics industry

Firstly, all cavities of the mould should be listed in the ERP in their number. Cavities are the number of products that can be manufactured with one mould cycle. The number of cavities can thus be included in the planning of resources.
In the plastics industry, decisions always have to be made about machine utilisation. If the ERP system processes, the Production order If the machines can be brought forward or split up, it is possible to organise the staffing of the machines much more flexibly and react quickly to changing requirements. It is also possible for the machines to send the number of products manufactured online to the ERP system.
Normally, a certain amount of granulate is reused in the plastics industry. The proportion that enters the production cycle must be able to be generated in quantity and value by the ERP.

Blanket orders and call-offs

Commercially, an ERP in the plastics industry mainly has to manage blanket orders and call-offs. These framework agreements are completely different, which is why an ERP system in this industry should have as many options as possible for these blanket orders. In order to fulfil the customer's individual requirements, the call-offs should be imported directly into the ERP. This avoids errors and relieves the burden on the sales department. It is a great advantage if the ERP can allocate whether the moulds belong to the customer or the plastics manufacturer. It is also essential to have a powerful module for the calculation the high prices in the plastics industry.

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