shortlist design cover.qxp:Layout 1 11/5/09 11:58 Page 25 A special report from Shortlist 2009 business systems business lean systems lean CAD CAM IT & network enterprise automation supply chain chain supply systems factory and PLM infrastructure systems In partnership with SL09-contents-foreword.qxp:Layout 1 7/5/09 16:21 Page 26 IT Shortlist 2009: in print and online forecasting systems – now much more affordable. Equally, on the infrastructure hortlist 2009 is our annual reference directory of IT side, it’s about getting the IT systems, software, ICT consultancy and service providers. infrastructure more flexible, in tune with SOur objective in this special issue is to make your task of business requirements that are now far defining, finding and shortlisting IT suppliers as fast, easy and more likely to change than stand still. effective as possible. Where does that leave the IT We start, however, by looking at what’s happening in these industry’s relatively arcane (but, behind difficult times. On page 28 you’ll find our examination of the the scenes, increasingly important) market for manufacturing IT, with a review of preferred programmes – such as cloud computing, choices, as seen through the eyes of an online study among virtualisation and SaaS (software as a service)? They still your peers. matter, but today’s economy clearly demands fast ROI from IT Looking at manufacturers’ investment plans for IT, for projects able to make demonstrable improvements in the only example, suggests a surprisingly healthy picture, with budgets areas that still matter – cash flow, profitability and mostly unchanged against last year, but 37% planning modest competitiveness. or even significant increases. And it’s not all aimed at cost That said, next you’ll find examples of current IT projects on Foreword cutting, either. You’ll see that streamlining operations is the page 31 – the objective being to provide useful clues to number one driver, followed by achieving competitive improvements currently underway at manufacturers in several advantage. However, only a tiny minority are investing in IT for industries and regions. lean manufacturing or other transformation projects. As for supplier shortlisting, your first port of call is opposite That sets the tone for today’s top IT – and thus the choices on page 27: the alpha list by function. Look for the you might want to consider. For example, APS (advanced functionality you require to find appropriate suppliers for your planning and scheduling) has come from practically nowhere shortlist and then go to the pages indicated. to be the number one investment for our times, with Starting on page 33, you will then find details on key maintenance management software not far behind. providers of solutions, systems and services – in alpha order by Clearly, the focus now is tightly on making manufacturing company name. Everything is covered: from providers of ERP planning and production better – in line with the drive for systems to supply chain management systems; APS to product streamlined operations. And that preference continues lifecycle management (PLM) systems; and plant and factory throughout, with S&OP (sales and operations) tools at controls to shopfloor data capture systems. number three, as well as barcode-based shopfloor data Finally, remember the Manufacturing Computer Solutions collection systems and MES (manufacturing execution website at www.mcsolutions.co.uk. It’s a key adjunct to the systems) fourth equal. 2009 Shortlist in-print annual, providing fully searchable Meanwhile, if you’re wondering about business choices, the information access, as well as news and reference material – top tip today goes to business performance management both from MCS and filtered sites on the world wide web. (BPM) software, the so-called next-generation business intelligence. That’s followed by better demand planning and Brian Tinham BSc CEng MInstMC FSOE FIPlantE Overview system and service suppliers to Big picture IT manufacturing industry: The IT sector is awash with surveys, Access Supply Chain 33 white papers, thought leadership Epicor 35 pieces and the rest – but what do real Exel Computer Systems 37 people think? Brian Tinham reports IFS 39 on our own online research 28 Infor 41 K3 43 Manufacturing focus 31 Maxima 45 Preactor 47 Profiles Rent-IT Systems 49 Here, we profile the offerings of leading SAP 51 26 May 2009 www.worksmanagement.co.uk SL09-contents-foreword.qxp:Layout 1 7/5/09 16:22 Page 27 IT Shortlist Contents Contents by function To find the suppliers most relevant to your project requirements, simply use the listing below Product data management Business intelligence Exel Computer Systems 37 Access Supply Chain 33 IFS 39 Epicor 35 Infor 41 Exel Computer Systems 37 Maxima 45 IFS 39 SAP 51 Infor 41 Maxima 45 Factory/plant systems SAP 51 Access Supply Chain 33 Exel Computer Systems 37 CRM systems IFS 39 Access Supply Chain 33 Infor 41 Epicor 35 K3 43 Exel Computer Systems 37 Maxima 45 IFS 39 Rent-IT Systems 49 Infor 41 SAP 51 Maxima 45 SAP 51 Process industry systems Access Supply Chain 33 Time & attendance IFS 39 Access Supply Chain 33 Infor 41 IFS 39 Maxima 45 Infor 41 SAP 51 Maxima 45 SAP 51 Enterprise systems Access Supply Chain 33 Supply chain systems Epicor 35 Access Supply Chain 33 Exel Computer Systems 37 Epicor 35 IFS 39 Exel Computer Systems 37 Infor 41 IFS 39 K3 43 Infor 41 Maxima 45 K3 43 Rent-IT Systems 49 Maxima 45 SAP 51 Preactor 47 Rent-IT Systems 49 Planning/scheduling SAP 51 Access Supply Chain 33 Epicor 35 IT & network infrastructure Exel Computer Systems 37 K3 43 IFS 39 Maxima 45 Infor 41 K3 43 Consultancy services Maxima 45 Access Supply Chain 33 Preactor 47 Maxima 45 Rent-IT Systems 49 SAP 51 www.worksmanagement.co.uk May 2009 27 SL_overview.qxp:Layout 1 7/5/09 15:57 Page 28 Big picture IT The IT sector is awash with surveys, white papers, thought leadership pieces and the rest, but what do real people think? Brian Tinham reports on our own online research ost of us know it’s prudent to do planning modest increases for the coming 12 (APS) software (70%). That is an outstanding a sanity check on pretty much months, while no fewer than 15% say they’re vote of confidence in a technology that has anything that’s put about as on track for significant increases in spending. certainly been ramping up operations Mreceived wisdom. That’s Only 19% are cutting back at all – and only managers’ consciousnesses in recent years, particularly the case where serious 2% seriously. but has never hitherto received anything like investment in IT is the issue, and especially Surprised? So were we, given the scale of that backing. during a serious downturn, when cash and background noise around slashed spending Second – and another very interesting credit are tight, and the pressure is on to cut plans, particularly across the manufacturing result – is maintenance management, with short-term costs. sectors, with their well-reported woes. That just under half (49%) making the Fact is, there’s no end of advice out there said, where is this extra slew of money being recommendation for investing in better – but almost all of it should come with a spent? Not so difficult, this one, you would systems here. Such enthusiasm for what has health warning, declaring vested interest. think – it must be on projects geared to cost- traditionally been a Cinderella function And much of the rest, while no doubt cutting, right? Wrong. Turns out, the number appears to indicate a sea change in our reflecting the honest opinions and one stated driver for IT investment today is to perception of such systems’ abilities to interpretations of senior consultants and streamline business operations (34%). deliver those key stated business objectives – analysts, hails from an almost exclusively IT Achieving competitive advantage is number streamlining operations and delivering perspective, so fails to factor in the bigger two (19%), with cost-cutting down at number competitive advantage. picture of manufacturing business reality. three (17%). At first sight, that appears to Next favourite is sales and operations Hence, perhaps, the recent unrelenting reveal relatively healthy business activity, but (S&OP) software tools (43%), followed at emphasis on cloud computing SaaS the picture is less rosy when it comes to other fourth equal by barcode-based shopfloor (software-as-a-service) and virtualisation (to reasons. Only around 6% are investing in IT to data collection systems, lean and/or Six name but a few) as key technologies, ripe for supporting lean manufacturing, or other Sigma extension systems, manufacturing adoption. And ditto for service orientated business transformation projects. That’s a execution systems (MES) and supply chain architecture, Web 2.0, business activity shame, because it implies that relatively few management software, each recommended management (BAM) software and the rest – currently have the stomach for initiatives that by 34%. Which together seem to fly in the all pitched as sure to deliver rapid return on demonstrate even substantial ROI, if that’s face of the relatively small numbers investment. Well maybe. But that’s why we tied to the long term. As for the rest, a similar indicating investment for business commissioned our own online survey among figure say they want to streamline their IT transformation projects – until you remember readers. We wanted to establish what real infrastructure, and just 4% say they’re that what we’re looking at is essentially a people (your peers) think, and to look for gearing up for growth. wish list, not a will list. correlations that might point to winning It’s also worth looking further down the combinations of IT most likely to match your Manufacturing operations IT list, because in eighth place (still with 30%) company’s current issues and business So what do our encouragingly proactive is downtime monitoring and analysis strategy.