CMTC Manufacturing Blog

Change is a cycle in itself, and organizations go through various cycles throughout their lifetime. Whether it's automating processes, introducing specialized equipment, streamlining redundant tasks and people who perform them, or simply relocating a physical plant, changes are inevitable. 

Answering the question of what kind of changes your manufacturing operation could best benefit by is a bit like asking to know the future.

That’s because the best answer to the question would take into account a number of future factors, including:

1. What could happen in your target market
2. What’s going on in your industry
3. How your manufacturing business best works to achieve net profit

It is conventional wisdom that ERP is among the most high-risk projects for businesses with respect to broken budgets and schedules. It has been said that ERP implementations are the second hardest thing a company ever does, right after the pain and risk of starting up. Many executives these days have personally experienced or have in-depth knowledge of the damage an ERP implementation project, which has gone wrong can cause a company. As a result, many of those executives have become reluctant to take on the risk to the business and maybe jeopardize their own careers with an incorrect decision.

Every year brings about new and more efficient processes that manufacturers can take advantage of in order to increase and enhance their upcoming projects. For example, a project management methodology might be used to implement a new software program or install new machinery. For your project to be successful, it has to include change management to ensure acceptance from the people using it. In addition, the project needs to support the corporate strategy. Managing projects can then be viewed as a three tier aproach that is selected and pioneered by a leader and implemented by employees through change management.