[4425] in sapr3-soft
Re: New SAP client seeking information
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Rob Bruce)
Tue Dec 14 16:25:33 1999
To: sapr3-soft@MIT.EDU
Date: 14 Dec 1999 15:21:49 -0600
From: "Rob Bruce" <robbruce@ozemail.com.au>(by way of SAP Moderator <sap-request@realtimeusa.com>)
Message-Id: <836cdd$4sp@nexus.netconcepts.com>
we're currently involved in this activity at the company I work for (in
Australia) which has 100+ manufacturing sites. Overall the major problems
are NOT SAP related they come from people not using or understanding the
system and what it can and cannot do.
The absolute key to implementing SAP is to have the local management team
totally on side. They may not agree with the decision 100% however they
must support it in public. Having been involved with the manufacturing side
(my background is manufacturing not IT) I will say quite clearly that SAP
works exactly as it is supposed to and provided your users follow their
training and are prepared to change. And therein lies the key, we can show
people how SAP will reduce inventories, we can even have SAP plan
accordingly but we CANNOT stop people from thinking they know better.
Consequently we hire consultants who advise that inventory is too high and
it should be reduced and SAP is blamed. Amazing really.
Take the time with your process models at the outset, make sure they are
comprehensive and easily communicated to the relevant audience and that will
be a good start. Make the training business relevant and don't spend too
much time on the fluffies, have trainers deliver not just SAP training but
MRPII 101, 102, 201.... until you have a well drilled workforce.
Well trained and well led there are a LOT of benefits that accrue to factory
efficiencies but they are very easily lost due to either factor being
absent. Given that manufacturing tends to be somewhat remote from the
central functions of a company control and support can be difficult to
achieve.
Best of luck, it's a pretty long road but well worth it if done properly
regs
Rob
