IFS World - NA Edition Email Newsletter

In this month's interview episode of the IFS Radio Network, IFS expert Mike Auer discusses how poor usability p

revents many companies from getting the most out of software used to manage maintenance and maximize value of their capital assets. Like its sister application ERP, EAM systems can be too complex to allow for truly optimal results. But while ERP solutions often have grown more complex and convoluted over time as vendors keep tacking on new functionality or acquiring and integrating various products, EAM tends to present usability problems for entirely different reasons. Auer describes the problems stemming from poor EAM usability and argues for consistent, integrated systems for work management, inventory management, human resources management and other disciplines in order to streamline processes and enhance system usability.

"I think what you see over on the EAM side is that in the maintenance organization, people use a point solution to manage their work orders and the scheduling or planning, but then also use another system to manage their inventory and potentially another system to handle their purchasing. So instead of having an architecture that had kind of evolved over time, it might be the case where you are working in two or three different systems that have different flows and different navigation. If you do have an in-house, custom-built solution, it may be that evolution over time where things have grown and it has gotten a little clunky but typically the off-the-shelf stuff is just working across diverse systems... From a usability standpoint, you have the issue of different navigation (from one point solution to the next) but then you also have the opportunity or the pain of having to manage two different systems and keep both of them up-to-date with the correct information."

- Mike Auer, IFS Senior Business Analyst

Forrester's US & Global IT Market Outlook: Q4 2009 Shows Positive Signs

Executive Summary: "The tech recovery has started in the US and around the world. Q4 2009 IT market indicators showed an end to declines, setting the stage for stronger growth in 2010. The US IT market is set to grow by 8.4%; the global IT market in US dollars will grow by 7.7%.

Computer equipment and software will be the strongest product categories, with PCs, peripherals, and storage equipment leading the computer category and operating system software and applications setting the pace for software...On an industry basis, US manufacturers, financial services firms, utilities, and healthcare will see the strongest growth in 2010."

Welcome IFS customer

TOMRA Systems ASA, a leading global provider of recycling systems. TOMRA has selected IFS Applications, a modern comprehensive solution that will provide TOMRA with a more effective and more agile supply chain in its manufacturing units (Collection Technology division).

IFS Applications will replace TOMRA's existing business software, which was no longer able to meet the company's demands for an agile, future-proof industry-specific solution. TOMRA will implement IFS Applications components for financials, sales, purchasing, logistics, customer relationship management and manufacturing.

Insight on Manufacturing: Facebook in the Factory
Some manufacturers look to connect via social media

Insight on Manufacturing covered IFS' primary research project that was completed in Q4 of 2009. The article, which is featured in a read-in on this month's cover of the magazine, addresses how manufacturers are showing interest in ERP that has the look and feel of social media.

Looking to compare software functionality from one vendor to another?

Take the mystery out of the process and utilize the Comparison Tool from Managing Automation at www.managingautomation.com.

DESIGNED FOR AGILITY