ERP and SCM systems integration: The case of a valve manufacturer in China

Manymodern organizations integrate enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain management (SCM) systems, as they work in a complementary fashion. This often results in technical and organizational challenges. Neway, a Chinese organization, recently went through this complex process. This required efficient procurement and management of hardware, software, and human resources for successful completion. The integrated system was found to improve operations, foster a paperless environment, and provide efficient inventory tracking and picking. It also had several tangible benefits, including reduced lead time and improved inventory accuracy. ERP and SCM systems integration is still a novel concept for a Chinese manufacturing organization. Our case study details the organization’s experience, identifies challenges that were faced, and describes solutions adopted to overcome them. 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 540 568 7094; fax: +1 540 568 3273. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (I. Bose), [email protected] (R. Pal), [email protected] (A. Ye). 1 Tel.: +852 2241 5845; fax: +852 2858 5614. 2 Tel.: +86 21 6126 7601; fax: +86 21 6126 7603.