It’s a wonder that process manufacturers haven't developed a collective inferiority complex by now. After all, what industry group more than process manufacturers has had such a hard time getting people to understand who they are, what they do, and what kind of software solutions they need. Why? A lot of people just don’t get what process manufacturing is and how it differs from discrete manufacturing. Then, to add to the confusion, there’s mixed-mode manufacturing, which contains some elements of process and some elements of discrete manufacturing. And if all that isn’t enough, some discrete ERP vendors have marketed so-called ‘process’ ERP solutions that are really nothing more than re-jigged discrete manufacturing solutions—which, not surpisingly, perform poorly for most process manufacturers.
All this said, it seems to us a little clarity and good advice is in order. So here is some handy research to explain exactly what process manufacturers are, the major challenges and opportunities they face, and how they can find the ERP solutions that best serve their unique manufacturing needs.