Manufacturing can be a complicated business. With many moving parts involved, having the right tech stack at your disposal is key to the success of your manufacturing business. That’s where software for manufacturing companies comes in.
Today we’re talking about the different types of manufacturing software, their benefits, the best tools out there, and the key features you should look for in software for manufacturing companies.
Manufacturing software includes all digital tools that help manufacturing companies manage operations and their manufacturing processes. This includes inventory, project, sales, and sales floor management, as well as production planning and resource allocation.
Software for manufacturing companies helps automate and streamline processes that businesses would otherwise complete manually, saving time, effort, and money.
Types of manufacturing software
There are many different types of manufacturing software available, and below are just a few of the ones most commonly used by manufacturing companies:
The manufacturing software businesses use depends on needs, goals, and operations flow.
11 of the top software platforms for manufacturing companies
Keep reading to learn about some of the top manufacturing software platforms available today, from ERP to CAD.
ERP software
ERP, or enterprise resource planning software, is a type of software that companies use to manage day-to-day business tasks and operations. This includes accounting, supply chain management, workflow management, and more.
NetSuite
Pricing: Quote available upon request
Netsuite is a top ERP system helping companies streamline their business processes and gain visibility into their operations and performance. From one application, you can manage inventory, operations, distribution, and more.
SYSPRO
Pricing: Quote available upon request
With SYSPRO ERP, you can gain a comprehensive view of your business activities, from supply chain to financial management. SYSPRO helps you manage data and gain insights into your business that can help you grow.
SAP Business One
Pricing: Quote available upon request
A top ERP for small businesses, SAP Business One is an affordable ERP solution that can help you manage your entire business from one platform. Through SAP Business One, you can use integrated business intelligence to collect real-time data and make the right growth decisions for your small business.
CRM software
Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a digital platform businesses use to better manage customer and business data. With a CRM, businesses can build better relationships with their customers, clients, and leads.
Nutshell
Pricing: Starting at $16 per user per month
Nutshell is a top CRM solution provider for manufacturing companies because of its user-friendly interface, integration options, and in-depth reporting and analytics.
We understand that manufacturing businesses thrive on a steady client base, so we’re focused on providing companies like yours with the tools necessary to build strong, long-lasting relationships with customers.
With reporting and analytics tools fueled by real-time data, your team can stay on top of who and what is driving revenue for your business. Integration opportunities allow you to connect Nutshell with business software you’re already using so you can funnel all your data to a single platform.
Odoo
Pricing: Starting at $24.90 per month
Odoo provides open-source CRM software to help your manufacturing business expertly track leads and close sales opportunities. With actionable data at your fingertips, your team can make accurate sales forecasts and gain a full understanding of your business and customers.
MES software
An MES, or manufacturing execution system, helps businesses optimize their manufacturing process by monitoring and documenting the production lifecycle. With an MES system, manufacturing companies can better improve quality control and even reduce inventory and costs.
MasterControl
Pricing: Quote available upon request
MasterControl is a modern MES system that’s cloud-based, easy to use, and fast to implement. With analytics and dashboards fueled by real-time data, your team can have end-to-end visibility into all of your business operations.
Katana
Pricing: Starting at $99 per month
Another cloud-based MES solution, Katana takes in real-time data so you’re always on top of production operations. With robust reporting and analytics tools, your manufacturing team can manage multichannel orders from one platform and spend less time transferring data between systems.
QMS software
QMS software, or a quality management system, helps businesses streamline their manufacturing and ERP operations by providing the necessary procedures, resources, and processes. With the help of QMS software, manufacturing businesses can effectively measure and improve the quality of their products.
Qualio
Pricing: Quote available upon request
Qualio is an easy-to-implement QMS system that’s designed to grow with your business through its scalable platform. With dozens of integrations available, your team can continue using critical business applications while managing it all from a reliable platform.
Greenlight Guru
Pricing: Custom quote available upon request
Greenlight Guru is more than just a generic QMS. Through its purpose-built platform, you can track quality and risk management with ease. This way, you can get back to focusing on the work that matters most to your business.
CAD software
Computer-aided design, or CAD, refers to the use of computers to help manufacturers create two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) renderings of their designs. Through CAD software, manufacturers can better visualize their designs and improve, modify, and optimize them.
Solid Edge
Pricing: Starting at $110 per month
From 2D to 3D drafting, Solid Edge is a portfolio of product development tools meant to help you manage every aspect of your manufacturing process. With solutions for engineers, designers, startups, and more, Solid Edge allows for flexibility when it comes to the drafting and design process.
Autodesk Fusion 360
Pricing: Starting at $70 per month
Autodesk Fusion 360 is an integrated cloud CAD platform that helps businesses streamline their production process with automated workflows that save time and costs. With your team unified on one platform, you can continue creating and innovating through a data-driven CAD solution.
Key features to look for in manufacturing software
Before comparing the best software for manufacturing companies, you should know what features to look for to help improve your manufacturing operations. Read on for some key features of manufacturing software you should consider when browsing manufacturing software.
Automation
Automation is a powerful tool found in software specifically designed for the manufacturing industry (and others!) that helps businesses streamline operations to save time, money, and effort.
Often found in manufacturing software like CRM and ERP systems, automation eliminates certain manual processes to reduce errors in data entry and increase productivity.
Production and reporting analytics
Look for manufacturing software that has production and reporting analytics features so you can track production and always know what’s happening within your company through reporting tools.
Production and reporting analytics helps you better oversee manufacturing operations, track production schedules, make better time estimates, and ensure smooth production.
Inventory and product management
Ensuring the quality of your products and managing your inventory is an integral part of your manufacturing business that you have to oversee every day. With manufacturing software that includes inventory and product management features, you can improve the quality of what you’re manufacturing and better detect any product defects or issues.
Cost tracking
Just as important as managing your inventory is keeping track of your production and manufacturing costs. Look for manufacturing software with cost-tracking tools so you can stay on top of what you’re spending to create the products that will bring revenue back in for your business.
Choose a CRM that knows manufacturing
Did you know over 1,000 manufacturing companies use Nutshell CRM to build better relationships with their customers? Nutshell is a user-friendly platform that takes the headache out of CRM implementation so you can continue doing what you do best—growing your business.
See why we’re a leading CRM solution for manufacturing companies by starting a free trial of Nutshell today or attending a live demo.
