A key goal in replacing legacy systems, beyond Y2K compliancy, was to create a single integrated solution linking their various manufacturing plants throughout the world and providing management with a single consolidated general ledger. Well, it's a simple concept that is not so easy to execute. Just ask anyone who's been involved with a global SAP implementation. But, this is where it all began. Suddenly, the executive office is able to rapidly access production numbers and have immediate access to the latest inventory, as well as other key asset levels.
Management can now better manage with more information.
Access to better information changed the power base within manufacturing companies forever. Manufacturing companies were typically ruled by operations and engineering. This is not the case today because the president and CFO are no longer dependent on delayed information from the field and operations. The CFO can now dissect the costs of the business and begin to connect pieces of the information puzzle. Better understanding of regional habits to match production requirements with the existing facilities is a primary goal.