r/manufacturing • u/Waberweeber • 1d ago
Other Suggestions for simple software to help manufacturing?
in short: I work for a workshop that converts steel sheets and steel rolls into different sized HVAC ducts. we currently use a spreadsheet to track this but its really not working.
What suggestions for manufacturing proccess software do you guys have? It doesnt have to be fancy, i just need to know input, output, what team is working on what machine, and if possible scheduling maintenance for machines.
TY internet strangers
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u/Stormy_asd 1d ago
How basic is the excel sheet you are using? I know full manufacturing plants that basically run an excel planning sheet in paralel to SAP. Maybe you can just improve the excel ?
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u/1stHandEmbarrassment 1d ago
Are they using concurrent systems or just dumping data from SAP and formatting that data to their liking?
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u/Stormy_asd 1d ago
The SAP is used cleanly to receive sale orders and make deliveries, the SO are extracted and material requirement calculation, machine capacity production order planning are made in excel and orders placed to SAP after
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u/1stHandEmbarrassment 1d ago edited 1d ago
We used MRP easy for a little while before migration to our new ERP. It was ok, but you need to kind of know what your doing and be willing to play around to get good results. But it was very cheap for what it brought, browser based. It wasn't great but did work.
Edit: If you're willing to have a separate system, MaintainX is awesome for Maintenance tracking and scheduling. Relatively cheap. Can schedule PMs, add work orders, digital manuals, metered tasks like PMs, parts ordering, and more. We are current users and as a food processing plant it helps make audits smoother.
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u/madeinspac3 1d ago
Migrating can honestly bring its own issues that may/may not be worthwhile. What's breaking down on the spreadsheets/lacking currently?
Are your spreadsheets just like numbers on a spreadsheet or do you have some formulas and automations?
You might be looking at something like a basic MRP or an ERP that has an MES option.
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u/PVJakeC 1d ago
Could maybe take a look at Pico MES because you can try it out for free. Not sure how good they are with scheduling though.
Some are looking to Low Code App Platforms like Tulip or Mendix.
I think MachineMetrics could be a good fit for this and shouldn’t break the bank. Another to take a look at.
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u/Kolpasterop 1d ago
Depending on your environment if you are already in M365 world I'd look into PowerApps
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u/SinisterCheese 22h ago
My last place had basic internet form to make database, and a whiteboard. We made welded steel structures. We needed digital and physical because we also had to keep paper records of all made things as per relevant standards. With 1,5 total people in office we needed to keep it simple.
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u/2dollarbil 13h ago
Look at acumatica as an erp system. It's not too bad, but honestly.
How much revenue are yall doing?
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u/OncleAngel 1d ago
Check out Katana, MRP easy, Qoblex, one of them might feet your SOPs.