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Business Process Improvement and ERP: Why It’s Wise to “Stay the Course”
This is inevitable with the “ebb and flow” that comes with the cyclical nature of manufacturing. We’ve been working with a mid-market manufacturer who has run into a downturn in their business...
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Why Your Business Process Improvement Projects Don’t Have to Wait
Ultra has been teaming with a precision manufacturer and strategic supplier of precision machined parts and mechanical sub-assemblies. We’ve been enjoying the partnership, as we move the company...
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ERP System Selection: 4 Scenarios Worth Noting
The manufacturing companies we talk to are pressured to balance ERP system selection and business process improvement initiatives against challenging production schedules, customer demands and...
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Business Process Mapping as a Key to ERP Success
When it comes to examples of ERP success, our team can point to several previous engagements. A case in point is our engagement with Radio Flyer, a company known to most as the makers of “the original...
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Evolving ERP: Celebrating 20 Years of Business Performance Improvement
This year is the 20th anniversary of Ultra Consultants founding. It’s a milestone that provides a good opportunity to celebrate our successes, as well as consider the evolving ERP landscape. Ultra’s...
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An Effective ERP Selection Process is Within Your Reach
The manufacturing companies we talk to are pressured to balance ERP selection and business process improvement initiatives against challenging production schedules, customer demands and workloads. A...
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The ERP Project Plan: Enjoy the Journey to Success
Many of our blog posts address the technical aspects of an ERP project plan. We often make the case that a manufacturer can achieve significant business results when guided carefully through a...
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Three Pillars of Investment: Talent Management
In today’s dynamic world of business, our workforce is far more diverse and specialized than ever before – this means creating a workplace where top-tier talent can thrive while fostering an...
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Project Management Process Groups Continued: The Closing Group
According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) Guide, the purpose of the Closing Process Group is to conclude all activities across Project Management Process Groups to formally...
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The Business Improvement Process: Defining the Current State
In a previous blog, we explored the benefits an organization can derive from beginning the Business Improvement process. The first and debatably most important piece of the puzzle is the Project Team...
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Business Improvement Processes: Defining the Future State
In previous blogs, we have explored the benefits an organization can derive from Business Improvement processes (BPI) and the initial steps required to set up the project for success. The steps of a...
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Business Process Improvements: Project Management in the Trenches
In our previous blog covering the business process improvements, we covered the need to document the business case. Why did we ever decide to take on this monumental task with so much risk? This...
View ArticleChoosing the Right ERP Implementation Methodology for Your Company
In the last few years we have seen two different implementation methodologies emerge. When buying a new ERP system you should make sure you understand the methodology proposed by the vendor or...
View ArticleIdentifying the Right ERP Vendors to Interview
In this age of the Internet, identifying vendors should be easy. A Google search on the term “ERP Vendors” identifies 1,490,000 hits. Hmm… maybe not so easy. The problem is that there are way too many...
View ArticleImplementing a Business Process Improvement Culture – Part V – Business Case...
Can ERP Projects generate a business case? Not only can they, but they must. I treat the business case different than most. In the past the business case has been used to justify the project to...
View ArticleImplementing a Business Process Improvement Culture – Part IV – Define Future...
The most difficult step in business process improvement is the development of the future state. It requires an understanding of the weaknesses in the current process, and an understanding of what is...
View ArticleImplementing a Business Process Improvement Culture – Part II – Examine...
Business information process mapping is an important step in business process improvement, but it can become a complex and difficult activity. Before you began to map processes, your team needs to...
View ArticleBusiness Strategy – Where Does It Fit With ERP?
Many companies start a selection project by asking the users what they need in a new system. This approach will miss key requirements needed for the business to succeed with its business plan. The...
View ArticleImplementing a Business Process Improvement (BPI) Culture – Part I
In recent years, manufacturing companies have implemented a number of different methodologies in an attempt to improve manufacturing. Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma are just two approaches that have...
View ArticleImplementing a Business Process Improvement (BPI) Culture – Introduction
In the next few segments of this blog, I will address the process of implementing a continuous business process improvement culture in manufacturing companies. Some of you are in companies that has...
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