Efficiency and precision are crucial in the world of injection molding and the plastics manufacturing industry. Whether you’re managing supply chains or overseeing operations, achieving optimal productivity hinges on meticulous planning and execution. For a long time, to get even moderate efficiency, manufacturers were handling this piecemeal and manually. Technology can make it easier, but you need the right tech, at the right price, that works with you and not against you. We believe Acumatica’s manufacturing edition and its powerful Bill of Materials (BOM) fits the bill for plastics extremely well.
What is a Bill of Material (BOM)?
A Bill of Materials (BOM) is a comprehensive list detailing all the raw materials, components, and assemblies required to manufacture a product. Essentially, it serves as a blueprint for product creation, specifying every item and subassembly, along with their quantities, needed to bring the finished product to fruition. A BOM is crucial not only for production planning but also for inventory control, cost estimation, and quality management. It ensures that all team members have a clear, unified understanding of what materials are necessary and how these materials are utilized throughout the manufacturing process. In the context of modern manufacturing environments, an accurate BOM is fundamental to operational efficiency, helping businesses maintain streamlined production workflows and minimize material wastage.
BOMs are a built-in feature in Acumatica’s manufacturing edition. It easily allows plastics manufacturers to define the components, assemblies, and subassemblies required to produce their finished products. Businesses in industries like plastics manufacturing, where intricate processes such as injection molding demand precise coordination of materials and resources find it extremely valuable for their business operations. Want to know more about why you should give it a look? Read on!
Why Should Plastics Manufacturers Use Acumatica BOM?
- Enhanced Supply Chain Efficiency: If you struggle to keep track of your inventory levels and materials, utilizing Acumatica’s BOMs can help. You can manage your supply chain more efficiently, with the detailed breakdowns of all the components needed for manufacturing. It ensures you always have the right materials at the right time minimizing downtime and reducing the risk of production delays caused by stockouts or overstocking.
- Improved Production Planning: Production planning in plastics manufacturing can be a complex task, especially when dealing with multiple products and complex designs. The BOMs in Acumatica simplify this by offering a clear, structured view of your production requirements enabling you to plan more effectively, allocate resources efficiently, and meet your production targets consistently.
- Accurate Cost Estimation: Do you know what the exact cost of producing each unit of your product is? With Acumatica, you can attain precise cost estimations by factoring in the costs of raw materials, labor, and overhead. This transparency helps you set competitive pricing, control costs, and improve your overall profitability.
- Streamlined Injection Molding Processes: Injection molding, a common manufacturing process in the plastics industry, involves several stages and requires precise coordination. Acumatica BOMs support this by enabling you to create detailed BOMs for each stage of the injection molding process. This ensures that every component is accounted for, and each step is meticulously planned, resulting in higher quality products and reduced waste.
- Better Quality Control: Quality is paramount in every manufacturing business. Acumatica aids in maintaining high-quality standards by providing a framework for consistent production. By specifying the exact materials and processes required, it reduces the likelihood of errors and ensures that every product meets your stringent quality criteria.
How Do Acumatica BOMs Work?
Step 1: Define Your Products and Components
Start by defining all your products and their respective components within Acumatica. This includes raw materials, intermediate assemblies, and subassemblies.
Step 2: Create Detailed BOMs
For each product, create a BOM that outlines all the components required, including quantities, specifications, labor, and processing instructions. In Acumatica, certain materials are associated with operations and the system can backflush for you automatically.
Step 3: Integrate with Other Modules
Integrate your BOMs with other Acumatica modules such as Inventory Management, Production Management, and Costing. This ensures seamless data flow and real-time updates across your entire ERP system.
Step 4: Monitor and Optimize
Continuously monitor your production processes using the data provided by Acumatica BOM. Identify areas for improvement and optimize your operations for greater efficiency and cost savings.
The best thing – you can export everything to Excel and import it back in if you need to. What a game changer!
Learn more – watch the short video and see the power of Acumatica BOMs.
“Parallel Solutions has provided great value to our business. They are very knowledgeable and have been extremely helpful with many projects related to our ERP software. They are easy to work with and very proficient at customizing the software to align with our business practices. They take the time to understand our needs and listen to our questions and then provide technical solutions to fit our requirements. I feel that the Parallel Solutions team cares about our organization and have been great partners in our success.”
~ Jim Brightbill, IT Manager, polycase.
Ready to Transform Your Manufacturing Operations?
Parallel Solutions can assist you in getting the tools you need for your business. We have the experience you need in ERP solutions for Distribution and Manufacturing industries, and we know plastics. With supply chains becoming more complex every day, choosing the right ERP system and partner is crucial.
Let us show you why plastic manufacturers are choosing Acumatica ERP to enhance efficiency, improve production planning, and maintain quality control. By leveraging this powerful tool, you can stay ahead of the competition and drive your business towards greater success.
