BPR Helping ERP or ERP Helping BPR
Djoki EWANE, Consultant, Cameroon, Member
1. Implementing an ERP system requires the company to have all its process properly organized, in order to have the ERP to function properly.
For example, in an industrial company, certain processes need to work in a specific interrelated way:
- Production requires raw materials and derives product demand from clients (sales).
- Production also implies maintenance, so there is a need for spare parts. That requires procurement.
While implementing an ERP, these processes must be realigned to fit with the system. Maintenance for instance, needs to reorganize and describe all the ranges of maintenance. If not, the system will not deliver its best as far as maintenance, spare parts procurement, and inventory management are concerned.
2. On the other hand, in order to implement a BPR initiative, supporting it with an ERP system is not a must, but it is a possibility.
Therefore, to answer your question, depending on the organization of your processes, ERP can oblige you to perform a BPR. But you can achieve a successful BPR improvement without using an ERP system.
