In addition to project management software, manufacturing businesses use several other software tools to manage their operations. Here are a few other software types that manufacturing companies often rely on:
Manufacturing execution systems (MES): Manages and monitors the overall manufacturing process, including machines, workers, schedules, and more.
Inventory management software: Keeps track of manufacturing materials that are necessary for the production process.
Supply chain management (SCM) software: Manages raw material suppliers, production needs and trends, and product distribution.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software: Robust systems that often cover many different functionalities. These can include project, resource, inventory, and financial management. It might also handle risk and compliance management, procurement, and supply chain operations.
Customer relationship management (CRM) software: Provides a client or customer database and manages customer communications. Also facilitates marketing, sales, and customer support activities.
Human resource management software: Provides an employee database and facilitates core HR tasks. Often has payroll, time tracking, resource allocation, performance evaluations features.