The Difference Between Amper and an ERP System

Chances are, your factory uses an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. ERPs help manufacturers operate more efficiently in a number of ways. Amper FactoryOS has the same goal—so what’s the difference?

The biggest difference is that Amper can measure and optimize your labor and machines’ true performance, whereas ERPs cannot. Integrating Amper FactoryOS with your ERP will help you get more out of each software, so you can run your business better.

What are the benefits of an ERP for manufacturers?

An ERP is essentially a suite of applications that allows manufacturers to manage several aspects of their business. With this type of software, manufacturers better understand their operations. This allows them to find the best opportunities to streamline workflows. ERPs help with things like:

• Inventory management
• Supply chain management
• Purchasing
• Quote preparation
• Job tracking and management
• HR tasks like workforce scheduling and payroll

Today, most manufacturers have an ERP, whether on-premises or cloud-based. The majority of Amper customers certainly have them. Popular ones include systems by Oracle, SAP, Epicore, and ProShop, to name a few.

What are the shortcomings of an ERP?

As helpful as they are, ERPs are not a catch-all solution for manufacturing woes. That’s because they can’t identify the root causes of productivity issues. If you can’t identify the right issues, you won’t truly understand the reality of your shop floor operations. 

Loss of productivity in manufacturing most often stems from three things:

• Inefficiencies
• Capacity constraints
• Inaccurate standards

Because ERPs can’t report real-time production data (since they don’t connect to machines), they rely on people to report what’s happening on the shop floor. So if a machine goes down or a job starts lagging, an operator or admin has to log that data, reducing your ability to quickly identify and address issues.

If the ERP contains standards data, it can’t actually compare that to actual performance. Its only information comes from a person reporting how many parts were made during a shift. But what if the machine wasn’t even running that whole time? Anyone reviewing the data won’t be able to see if the actual cycle times match the target cycle times (and therefore correct any inaccuracies). 

So, despite their robust reporting capabilities and burgeoning AI/ML features, ERPs are actually only as timely and effective as the data they receive (much like ChatGPT and other AI tools). And this data they receive is manually entered, which inherently increases the risk for human error.

If the manual data going into an ERP isn’t accurate, then neither are the job quotes or delivery date estimates that are based off of them. And if those aren’t correct, then manufacturers are either leaving money on the table because of bad quoting or setting themselves up to miss on-time deliveries and harm customer relationships.

This is where Amper FactoryOS comes in.

What are the benefits of Amper FactoryOS for manufacturers?

Amper enhances your ERP data with real-time utilization, downtime, and cycle counting details, providing clear and indisputable insights into your operations. Unlike ERP systems, Amper FactoryOS layers real-time machine monitoring with workforce insights and comprehensive job tracking functionalities. This makes it easy to:

• Set and maintain accurate standards
• Receive instant alerts when machines go down
• Understand the projected date a job will finish
• Unlock hidden capacity by identifying top reasons for downtime
• Identify and quantify necessary capital expenditures, such as investments in new machines or hiring additional staff

And because Amper FactoryOS can be deployed quickly, you can see quick benefits without the lengthy implementation process associated with many ERPs. 

Why should I integrate Amper with my ERP?

The real magic happens when an ERP system and Amper join forces. Integrating the two systems allows manufacturers to harness the unique strengths of each platform, providing comprehensive visibility and control over every facet of operations. When you integrate the two systems, you’ll consolidate data, enhance your workflows, and improve quoting. 

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Consolidate data and reduce operator entry

When you integrate Amper FactoryOS with your existing ERP, you can streamline data management and minimize manual input required from operators. That’s all thanks to Copilot, Amper’s sleek and intuitive operator interface.

Operators no longer need to log what job they’re working on or what part they’re making. Amper can pull that data over from the ERP and automatically populate their tally sheets. Data like utilization and cycle counts are automatically tracked, so the operator has very little to enter and can actually focus on doing the job at hand. 

Plus, Copilot includes features that allow operators to easily request help directly from the shop floor, follow job progress, and see projected completion dates. These functionalities not only assist operators in their tasks but also encourage buy-in when it comes to implementing Amper on the floor.

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And because Copilot is specifically designed for operators, it’s much easier to use and interact with than most ERP outposts, so operators of all ages and technical abilities can learn how to use Amper faster.

But don’t take our word for it, check out how integrating Amper with SAP helped Ruland reduce manual entry and get operator buy in. 

Improve quoting for better margins

Another benefit of integrating the two systems is the ability to set and maintain accurate standards with confidence. If your ERP system provides unrealistic cycle times, you could be losing money and missing deliveries.

Amper FactoryOS can help you align your ERP with reality. By analyzing part and job performance, cycle time targets, and trends, AmperFactoryOS gives you the insights you need to optimize your standards. 

For example, if you see a consistent deviation from a set target, you can adjust your ERP settings for more accurate quotes.

Collecting and analyzing this data allows you to make your ERP reflect reality, resulting in better quotes and realistic standards that can be met on the floor.

Reaping the benefits without an ERP

Don’t have an ERP? Or maybe you do, but plan to upgrade soon and don’t want to integrate your current one? You can still get all these benefits without integrating Amper with an ERP. Amper allows you to upload CSV files and enter other kinds of data to track goals, jobs, standards, and more!

Bring these benefits into your shop

While ERPs and Amper FactoryOS serve distinct purposes, integrating the two offers manufacturers a holistic solution for operational excellence. By harnessing the real-time capabilities of Amper alongside the additional functionalities of ERP systems, manufacturers can unlock new levels of efficiency and agility for a more competitive edge in today's volatile manufacturing landscape.

We know these are big claims, so why not see for yourself? Schedule a demo today to chat with an Amper team member!

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