OpenMFG, the leading provider of open source-based enterprise solutions for
small manufacturers and distributors, announced the long-awaited version 2.0 of
its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. Major enhancements include
multi-currency capabilities, a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
module, as well as significant new functionality in the solution's
Manufacturing and Scheduling module.
OpenMFG's flagship product is an advanced ERP software solution built with open
source components, such as Qt, the Linux operating system, the PostgreSQL
database, and the OpenRPT report writer. Available OpenMFG modules include
Inventory Management, Product Definition and Costing, Work Order Management,
Manufacturing and Scheduling, Capacity Planning, Purchase Order Management,
Sales Order Management, Shipping and Receiving, Project Management, Sales
Analysis, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, a full General Ledger, and
now, Customer Relationship Management.
According to Ned Lilly, chief executive officer at OpenMFG, this latest software release - actually
the fifth major release of the software - enables the company to expand globally, horizontally and
vertically. "To date, we have primarily focused on the United States market, but now with full
multicurrency support, and a growing international community of partners and translators, we can
compete worldwide," said Lilly. "The new CRM module, our most requested feature, is the
beginning of some major new horizontal functionality across multiple industries. And the MPS and
Buffer Management subsystems expand our leadership position in the manufacturing vertical."
Manufacturing Improvements
While earlier versions of OpenMFG had strong support for Material Requirements
Planning (MRP), version 2.0 now features a full Master Production Schedule
(MPS) and Forecast capability. MPS works in parallel with MRP, and enables
high-level sales and operations planning by product or product family. As a
result, companies can be more proactive and strategic in planning, particularly
with regard to items with long lead times.
The M/S module has been further strengthened with the addition of OpenMFG Buffer
Management. This new feature draws upon the Theory of Constraints model and lean
manufacturing concepts to provide users with more flexibility and control over their
manufacturing process. By defining "buffers" around time, inventory and
capacity, Buffer Management provides companies with the flexibility to reprioritize and
reorganize manufacturing to address production bottlenecks or accommodate unforeseen
circumstances.
CRM
Also included in version 2.0 is a new CRM module with robust incident management
functionality for tracking and managing customer communications and trouble tickets.
Incident Management is fully integrated with a user-by-user "To Do" manager
(also new in 2.0), as well as various existing OpenMFG functionality such as lot and
serial number inventory history, detailed customer history and billing information, and
visibility into the manufacturing schedule
Another often-requested feature is a truly universal address book that stores all contact
information and addresses in one place for the entire system. Now an "Account"
can be any or all of the following: prospect, customer, vendor, partner, or competitor.
Accounts can have an unlimited number of sub-accounts, contacts, and addresses. And
automated OpenMFG tools make the import of contact information from legacy CRM systems
easier than ever.
Multi-Currency
With the addition of multi-currency capabilities in version 2.0, multi-national
customers can now conduct their business in as many different currencies as
they need. Currency rate conversion is maintained in the system, and any
fluctuations (e.g. between order time and receipt of payment) are posted to a
variance account in the general ledger. Prior to the release of version 2.0,
OpenMFG customers in Canada, the U.K., and India have been actively testing and
using this feature.
Under the company's innovative hybrid license, customers and partners have full
access to the application source code, and any enhancements made to the product
flow back to OpenMFG for review, quality testing, and possible incorporation
into the baseline product. Over 90% of the new functionality in version 2.0 was
either developed directly by a customer, or underwritten by a customer (with
development by either a reseller partner or OpenMFG itself).
One Canadian customer, Pemla Inks of St. Leonard, Quebec, partnered with OpenMFG on both
the multi-currency capabilities and CRM module. They also added functionality that
supports a percentage-based Bill of Materials, crucial to companies in process flow
manufacturing industries such as inks. Paul Tatham, Vice President of Operations at
Pemla, noted, "OpenMFG's community-based development approach allowed us to secure a
sophisticated ERP solution to replace a legacy, dysfunctional system. Pemla was looking
for a product that could be deployed quickly at an affordable cost, and fit with our
Linux migration plans. OpenMFG was the right solution." In addition to assisting
Pemla in its implementation project, OpenMFG's local partner in Quebec, AS Plus
Informatique, also contributed a French translation of the software; Pemla currently runs
users in both English and French.
About OpenMFG
OpenMFG, LLC develops next-generation enterprise resource planning (ERP)
software applications powered by open source software such as Linux,
PostgreSQL, and Qt. OpenMFG products give companies visibility into costs,
supply chains, processes, inventory and financial operations with a lower cost
of ownership than competing products, and are sold to end-user customers
through a global network of value added partners. For more information, please
visit the company Web site at www.openmfg.com.
--
Ned Lilly
President and CEO
OpenMFG, LLC
119 West York Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
tel. 757.461.3022 x101
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.openmfg.com
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