Aerospace Software

Aerospace companies require ERP software that is specific to their industry. An aerospace software solution meets customer demands while adhering to high levels of compliance and quality control.

Aerospace manufacturers must adhere to project schedules and budgets with tight control over labor and materials costs. The aerospace software must surpass standard ERP functionality and address all these requirements associated with DCAA, CAS, and FAR compliance.

Aerospace Software Requirements

• Complete job costing
• Integration with AutoCAD
• Estimating
• Engineering
• Multi-level bill of materials
• Revision levels
• Engineering change notices (ECN)
• Original vs. current budget
• Actual vs. estimated cost for project components
• Tracking of percentage of completion
• Calculations for cost-of-sales and revenue earned
• Contract manufacturing
• Contract accounting
• Contract inventory management
• Milestone based billings
• Role based security
• Audit trail

As we have discovered in our experience with more than 150 ERP solutions, each ERP software package has its strengths and weaknesses. Below is a summary of a small sub-set of data from that database, which our project teams use to help clients select the right ERP software for their organizations.

This table below identifies the generalized functional strengths of each of the listed ERP solutions for Aerospace and Defense manufacturing and distribution. Our ERP software selection process leverages more detailed information from our database to conduct a more thorough assessment of software fit with each client’s business requirements.

ERP Software Packages for Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing and Distribution

Aerospace and Defense Software Functionality IFS
A&D
Modules		 ESS
Finesse		 Epicor
for
Aerospace		 JD Edwards Cincom
Enterprise
Program
Management		 CIMA
A&D
Manufacturing		 Syspro Deltek
Cost Point
Standard ERP Functions
Standard Accounting High High High High High High High High
Payroll Low High High High Low Low Low High
Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) High High High High High High High High
Project Management High High High High High High High High
Configuration Management High High High High High High High Low
Bar code and Label Printing High High High Low High High High Low
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) High Low High Low High High High High
Reporting with Drill Down High High High High High High High High
Quality Process – Non-Conformance Material High High High High High High Low Low
General Requirements
Document Management and Version Control High High Low High High High High High
Roles-based Security High High High High High High High High
Support Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) High High High High High High High High
Program-based Reporting for Procurement Status, Kitting, Build, and Test Status High High High High High High High High
Capture as-built Configuration High High High High High High High Low
Job Costing within WBS High High High High High High Medium High
Key Differentiating Requirements
Historical Labor Hours, Costs, and Bill of Materials High High High High High High High High
Alternative Part Numbers High High High High High High High High
Capture Kitted Part Traceability Data High High High High High High High High
Engineer-to-Order High High High High High High High High
Make-to-Order High High High High High High High High
Make-to-Stock High High High High High High High High
Consigned Kits High High High High High High High High
BOM Change Order Tracking (ECN Management) High High High High High High High High
Shop Floor Movement and Tracking by Serial Number High High High High High High High High
Track Non-Conforming Materials with Full Audit Trail High High High High High High High Low
Functional Specific Requirements
Manage Opportunities High Medium Medium Medium Low Low High Medium
Plan and Manage Program High High Medium High Low Medium High Medium
Design Medium Medium Medium High Medium High Low Low
Procurement High High High High High Medium High Medium
Manage Inventory High High High High Medium Medium High Low
Build and Test High Medium High High Medium Medium High Low
Financial and Cost Accounting Medium High High Medium Low Low High High
Non Conforming Material (NCM) High High High High High High Low Low

Disclaimer: For illustrative purposes only. Assessment for your unique needs may vary based on specific business processes and requirements. You will want to develop more detailed requirements as part of your software evaluation and selection process.

Panorama’s ERP consultants provide a complete service offering that can assist your organization throughout the process of ERP selection, ERP implementation and organizational change management.

Our consultants are aware of the potential pitfalls of ERP selection projects and can help hedge against project cost overruns, software that is misaligned with business needs, and lack of return on investment. Panorama’s team has industry-specific expertise that helps achieve measurable business improvements.

Recent clients in this industry include Boeing, SEAKR Engineering and DRI Relays.

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