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DELMIAworks (formerly IQMS) ERP is developed specifically for SMB and large discrete and batch process manufacturers in the aerospace, medical device, automotive, food and beverage, consumer products, plastics, packaging, and electronics industries.Structu...Read more about DELMIAworks
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Global Shop Solutions provides a comprehensive suite of enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools and solutions designed to help manufacturing businesses streamline their operations and improve efficiency. Their ERP software is available in both cloud-based...Read more about Global Shop Solutions
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OptiProERP with SAP Business One is a complete ERP solution for small and midsize manufacturers and distributors. SAP Business One is an ERP platform designed for small and midsize companies with over 70,000 customers. OptiProERP with SAP Business One deli...Read more about OptiProERP with Sap Business One
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Epicor Kinetic is a global, cloud-focused cognitive ERP solution built for manufacturers, driving profitability through real-time insights, people-centric AI, and seamless collaboration. Positioned at the core of your business applications, Kinetic leverag...Read more about Kinetic
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Epicor Connected Process Control is a web-based solution that streamlines the production process. It provides digital work instructions and connects to various shop floor devices to capture data and enforce quality standards. The solution guides operators ...Read more about Epicor Connected Process Control
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Royal 4 Enterprise is an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution with built-in modules for distribution, manufacturing, planning, inventory management, reporting and company financials. It serves midsize to large enterprises and is recommend...Read more about R4 Enterprise
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SyteLine is an enterprise resource planning software created specifically for engineer-to-order, make-to-order, make-to-stock, and mixed-mode manufacturers. Customers in both discrete and process manufacturing can benefit from this solution. SyteLine enab...Read more about SyteLine
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Now more than ever before, executives and other leaders in US manufacturing companies need the best information and controls to make the best decisions regarding their operations. You’ve undoubtedly heard terms like Industry 4.0, IIoT, or even Smart Facto...Read more about HYDRA X
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Infor VISUAL is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System with end-to-end functionality built for manufacturing organizations looking for a complete solution that supports the entire operational lifecycle, from planning to sourcing, creation to delivery...Read more about Infor VISUAL
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AcctVantage ERP is an agile, pain-free ERP system built for distributors, manufacturers and online retailers. Get all of your departments on the same page. Built for growing small & mid-sized businesses with inventory looking to grow with minimal disrup...Read more about AcctVantage ERP
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ALERE ERP, brought to you by TIW Technology, is a robust, modular manufacturing package that offers accounting, manufacturing, inventory management, CRM, service, analytics, document management, and data acquisition. Designed for discrete manufacturing com...Read more about ALERE
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Lead Commerce is an integrated order management suite that offers applications like inventory management, merchandise planning, and customer relationship management. The solution helps small and midsize businesses streamline and automate workflow by provid...Read more about Lead Commerce
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ShopVue is an on-premise shop floor control solution designed for job-centric discrete manufacturing businesses. It offers labor tracking production planning, machine monitoring, component control and time and attendance tracking functionalities within a s...Read more about ShopVue
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IFS Cloud is a composable enterprise software application that orchestrates customers, people, and assets to reduce complexity, cost and risk as you plan, manage and optimize critical asset availability, strive for operational excellence and workforce prod...Read more about IFS Cloud
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ProShop is a machine shop and manufacturing process management solution designed for small and midsize manufacturers. It offers enterprise resource planning (ERP), manufacturing execution system (MES) and quality management system (QMS) functionalities wit...Read more about ProShop ERP
Simio is a cloud-based and on-premise production planning and simulation solution designed to help aerospace, healthcare, manufacturing, maritime, mining, supply chain and various other industries capture detailed constraints and variations within systems ...Read more about Simio
XL Productivity Appliance is a cloud-based and on-premise overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) software that helps manufacturing businesses of all sizes track production and calculate asset utilization. Its key features include downtime calculation, statu...Read more about Vorne XL Platform
FactoryLogix is a manufacturing solution suitable for businesses of all sizes. Key features include manufacturing execution, quality management, product lifecycle management, supply chain management, supplier management, asset management, customer manageme...Read more about FactoryLogix MES
MRPeasy is a versatile cloud-based ERP system for small and scaling companies (perfect for up to 200 employees). The software offers a complete ERP solution with robust production planning and inventory management functionalities in an easy-to-use interfac...Read more about MRPeasy
Intuiflow automates your planning and enables you to: focus on true priorities, unleash operating cash, and increase your service levels while optimizing your inventories! The solution integrates with all ERPs and can be easily deployed on-premise or in ...Read more about Intuiflow
VisualCron is an automation task scheduling tool with over 300+ various tasks to choose from to create both simple and very complex, automated jobs. Some examples of popular tasks used are: SQL, email, Powershell, FTP, executing (locally or remote), copyin...Read more about VisualCron
Asprova APS is a production scheduling system designed for factories, enabling high-speed creation of multi-product and multi-process production schedules. It offers seamless integration with ERP systems and the ability to pull data from various flat files...Read more about Asprova
Rootstock Software is a global provider of manufacturing cloud ERP on the next-generation Salesforce Platform. It is purpose-built for mid-size discrete manufacturers, with powerful MRP, who are looking to digitally transform on a future-proof platform. Th...Read more about Rootstock Manufacturing ERP
Cetec ERP is a manufacturing enterprise resource planning software built for small and medium sized businesses. Cetec ERP's cloud-based software is designed to help these companies efficiently manage all aspects of their manufacturing company and solve com...Read more about Cetec ERP
Designed for businesses in electronics, furnishing, food & beverage, cosmetics and other industries, Katana is a cloud-based manufacturing solution that helps manage sales, purchasing and production processes to maintain optimal inventory levels in real ti...Read more about Katana Cloud Inventory
This detailed guide will help you find and buy the right aerospace manufacturing software for you and your business.
Last Updated on March 16, 2023In this buyers guide, we'll cover:
Aerospace manufacturing software is a tool to help companies manage the entire production and supply chain process for commercial and non-commercial contracts, from sourcing and ordering parts and materials from suppliers, to designing, assembling and shipping finished products.
These specialized manufacturing systems and ERP suites are also designed to track and maintain the compliance, regulatory and licensing obligations for manufacturers bidding for aerospace and defense contracts (including ITAR, MMAS, and FedRAMP compliance).
Four types of customers comprise the market for aerospace manufacturers: defense, civilian aviation, government space technology and civilian space technology. Often used as the primary example of precision engineering, the industry is now under financial pressure. For a firm to assure continued success, it must focus on three things: shortening the time to move a product from development to production, increasing the efficiency of the supply chain and increasing efficiency of the production process.
A main area for concern is import/export restrictions. For example, some products from aerospace manufactures must conform with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). And items on the United States Munitions List (USML) require a Department of State export license—while products for the Department of Defense (DoD) must meet military specifications. Products destined for space must also be specially qualified. Aerospace manufacturers must comply with the EPA’s National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Aerospace Manufacturing and Rework Facilities.
There are many critical components in an aerospace manufacturer’s software suite, such as: inventory, manufacturing planning and scheduling, order entry and fulfillment. Customer relationship management (CRM) is also key, specifically for those dealing with producing and shipping items that are restricted. Payroll and personnel modules have requirements to track which employees work on what products and help maintain current information on employees’ security clearances. Accounts payable and general ledger are standard. Many aerospace manufacturers, and in particular those that are units of larger firms, use enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. In this industry, cloud-based, software-as-a-service software systems are uncommon because of security concerns, but are increasingly common in smaller firms that do not manufacture restricted products.
In evaluating software, aerospace manufacturers should consider the following functions to meet their unique requirements:
Aerospace manufacturers need transparency into suppliers’ systems. Order status, supplier inventory, current pricing, order entry and payment can all be integrated between supplier and manufacturer. | |
Integrated design and production | Design systems should identify off-the-shelf parts and generate bills of materials once the design is complete. Advanced systems will introduce costing models into the design process so that revisions will automatically update projected cost of production. |
ITAR compliance and USML | The system should produce all reports required for ITAR compliance. Advanced systems will automatically notify if a customer attempts to order a restricted item. System should identify which products are subject to State Department registration fees. |
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) compliance | The system should support the process for applying for FAA certification. It should also produce compliance reports for production runs as necessary. |
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) registration | Any electronic device sold in the United States that emits radio frequency interference (RFI) must be registered with the FCC. The system should produce the information required to complete the registration process and provide updates if the design changes. |
Scrap management | There are two parts to scrap tracking. First is minimizing the amount of scrap by laying out job to make the most efficient use of material. The second is tracking recyclable scrap through to resale to the scrap yard. |
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance | Aerospace manufacturers are specifically addressed by NESHAP. The system should prepare all EPA compliance reports. |
Security | If the manufacturer produces restricted items, information about the products, processing and materials should be restricted to authorized personnel. Information should be encrypted. |
Personnel management | The system should track which employees are eligible to work on which projects. It should also track current status for each employee, including security clearance and, if applicable, H1-B visa status. |
Subcomponent management | Teams or subcontractors making subcomponents may not know the nature of the final product. The system should enable authorized workers to access required information but nothing about other subcomponents or the final product. It must also support high-level managers in tracking overall progress on each project. |
Materials tracking | Department of Defense specifications require that all components for each product be documented throughout the entire lifecycle. The system should identify every item from inventory through assembly to final delivery. |
Recall management | The system should support product recalls by identifying which runs are affected and which customers received them. |
Engineering change management | The system should track engineering changes and their impact on manufacturing time and cost-per-unit. It should also be easy to enter the changes into the system so that the changes can flow to other products and the overall production schedule. |