Examine these seven aspects of your business and take action so you can improve your manufacturing processes before the competition gets ahead of you.

1. 7 Warning Signs
You Need to Heed
to Improve Your
Manufacturing
Processes
Examine these seven aspects of your
business and take action so you can
improve your manufacturing processes
before the competition gets ahead of you.
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2. So all’s ticking along smoothly with your business . . . Or is it? Take some time to examine
seven key aspects that need to be addressed if you are to keep moving forward.
Your technology is
starting to show its age
Your business is changing
the way it works
Your business is
enjoying rapid growth
There’s increasing
frustration from users
of your software
Customer complaints
are on the up
Your IT manager is
approaching retirement
Your current software
supplier is switching
their focus away from
firms like yours
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3. 01. Your technology is starting to show its age
ERP has played a key role in improving manufacturing processes for over three decades and it’s
come a long way in that time. But many businesses are still making do with the software they
bought a long time ago when demands and technology were different.
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4. The financial crisis of 2008 deferred many businesses from replacing ageing systems. This
disruption to the natural buying cycle means many manufacturers are today running truly
dated ERP systems. Operators are having to ‘make do and mend’ or find shortcuts to bypass
system gaps.
Half of ERP users are using a release at
least two versions behind the current
release, meaning their applications are
at least four years old. Four years is a
long time in technology.
01. Your technology is starting to show its age
ERP has played a key role in improving manufacturing processes for over three decades and it’s
come a long way in that time. But many businesses are still making do with the software they
bought a long time ago when demands and technology were different.
www.sanderson.com

5. 02. Your business is enjoying rapid growth
Bulging order books bring frantic activity, where increasing inefficiency is masked by rising
output. Business might be profitable, but nowhere near as profitable as it could be.
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6. Manufacturing output in the UK is forecast to grow by 0.1% in 2013, 3% in 2014
and 2.4% in 2015.
2013
0.1%
3%
2.4%
2014 2015
02. Your business is enjoying rapid growth
Bulging order books bring frantic activity, where increasing inefficiency is masked by rising
output. Business might be profitable, but nowhere near as profitable as it could be.
www.sanderson.com

7. 03. Customer complaints are on the up
Today’s customer is more demanding than ever. Add to that the challenge of working with
manufacturing processes designed for the last decade, or even the last century, and it’s no
surprise if your customer satisfaction levels are falling.
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8. Social media means negative feedback is becoming more public.
One in five people now post
reviews online.
More than one in ten will
complain through social media.
03. Customer complaints are on the up
Today’s customer is more demanding than ever. Add to that the challenge of working with
manufacturing processes designed for the last decade, or even the last century, and it’s no
surprise if your customer satisfaction levels are falling.
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9. 04. Your current software supplier is switching
their focus away from firms like yours
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10. Every ERP vendor has its
sweet spot in the market,
perhaps firms of a particular
size or industry. If your firm
has moved outside this spot,
or your supplier has changed
their focus, your future
manufacturing needs could
best be met by someone else.
04. Your current software supplier is switching
their focus away from firms like yours
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11. 05. Your business is changing the way it works
You’re moving into new markets. You’re expanding your product range. You’re selling to different
customers or buying from new suppliers. You’re adapting to newer technologies, to changing
consumer tastes, to updated regulations.
You need to be continually evaluating your business and looking for ways to improve your
manufacturing processes in today’s marketplace.
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12. We always overestimate the change that will occur in the
next two years and underestimate the change that will occur
in the next ten. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction.
Bill Gates
05. Your business is changing the way it works
You’re moving into new markets. You’re expanding your product range. You’re selling to different
customers or buying from new suppliers. You’re adapting to newer technologies, to changing
consumer tastes, to updated regulations.
You need to be continually evaluating your business and looking for ways to improve your
manufacturing processes in today’s marketplace.
www.sanderson.com

13. 06. There’s increasing frustration from users
of your software
The people who operate your ERP system can often spot opportunities to improve your
manufacturing processes but are held back by increasingly antiquated functionality. Failure
to move forward risks losing their goodwill as well as endangering profits.
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14. It’s hardly possible to build anything if frustration,
bitterness and a mood of helplessness prevail.
Lech Walesa
06. There’s increasing frustration from users
of your software
The people who operate your ERP system can often spot opportunities to improve your
manufacturing processes but are held back by increasingly antiquated functionality. Failure
to move forward risks losing their goodwill as well as endangering profits.
www.sanderson.com

15. 07. Your IT manager is approaching retirement
Like ERP systems, IT managers can’t go on for ever. Because they are an integral element in
your manufacturing processes, careful planning is needed to ensure the change minimises
disruption. At the same time, this change also presents an opportunity for improvement.
www.sanderson.com

16. Retirement of baby boomers in the next
few years will create a workforce shortage.
75% of firms believe these shortages
will impact on their ability to expand or
improve productivity.
07. Your IT manager is approaching retirement
Like ERP systems, IT managers can’t go on for ever. Because they are an integral element in
your manufacturing processes, careful planning is needed to ensure the change minimises
disruption. At the same time, this change also presents an opportunity for improvement.
www.sanderson.com

17. Things to consider:
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18. Things to consider:
The typical lifespan of an ERP system was five to seven years
but 2008’s downturn disrupted the natural replacement cycle.
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19. Things to consider:
The typical lifespan of an ERP system was five to seven years
but 2008’s downturn disrupted the natural replacement cycle.
Half of ERP users are using a release at least two versions
behind the current release.
www.sanderson.com

20. Things to consider:
The typical lifespan of an ERP system was five to seven years
but 2008’s downturn disrupted the natural replacement cycle.
Half of ERP users are using a release at least two versions
behind the current release.
Manufacturing output in the UK is forecast to grow.
www.sanderson.com

21. Things to consider:
The typical lifespan of an ERP system was five to seven years
but 2008’s downturn disrupted the natural replacement cycle.
Half of ERP users are using a release at least two versions
behind the current release.
Manufacturing output in the UK is forecast to grow.
When did you last re-evaluate the ERP system’s value to your
business, both for current and future growth?
www.sanderson.com

22. Part
01
50 Shades of ERP
Growing Pains
E R Paynes
Need some pointers to help you identify
whether your business could be doing
better with a new ERP system? Download
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50 Shades of ERP - Growing Pains
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