We are talking to Joey Benadretti, President of SYSPRO ERP solutions to discuss how US manufacturer can keep up with the international competition. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions Joey! Let's dive right in.  What do you think is the best way for US manufacturers to remain competitive in today's volatile market?

Joey Benadretti: With an ever-increasing influx into the US of lower-priced merchandise that's being produced in foreign countries, competing on the basis of price is no longer an option. However, US manufacturers can still compete in a way that has undercut other practices and kept competition alive-product differentiation and service.

What kind of software does SYSPRO offer that can aid manufacturers in maximizing each of their product's potential?

Joey Benadretti: A SYSPRO study of manufacturers utilizing the SYSPRO Product Configurator revealed that it not only speeds order turnaround, but produces profit gains for electronics and other manufacturers by enabling them to offer products customized to specific customer requirements. The data was compiled from 100% of all customers using the SYSPRO Product Configurator. Some customers even reported margin gains as great as 20%.

How exactly does the SYSPRO Product Configurator work? What are some of its advantages?

Joey Benadretti: The SYSPRO Product Configurator enables complex electronic and other manufactured products and their components to be configured "on the fly" during order entry. It allows the configuring of labor and materials using "rules based" question and answer screens and is fully integrated into the SYSPRO Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) suite.

Does the SYSPRO Product Configurator avoid disrupting the traditional factory environment?

Joey Benadretti: The Product Configurator will not permit order takers to proceed to the next step until the prior step has been configured correctly, thus ensuring compatibility with quality. In addition, the Product Configurator maintains a library of common configurations, enabling repeat orders to be readily processed. It also includes the option to convert configured selections into a standard inventory link part to SYSPRO production modules.

How is the system integrated into a customer's system and, more importantly, for use by their clientele?

Joey Benadretti: SYSPRO e.net solutions enables SYSPRO customers to embed the SYSPRO Product Configurator into their e-commerce applications, allowing their customers to order configured items over the internet.

What other specialized SYSPRO software modules come to mind that enable US manufacturers to compete?

Joey Benadretti: By providing mechanisms, audit trails and archives, the SYSPRO Engineering Change Control functionality for example, gives Medical Device Manufacturers ready access to documentation on prior product versions. In this manner, the manufacturer has the ability to address questions relating to product defects in older product versions, while also enabling the manufacturers to easily revert to the production of prior product versions. This can easily be done to suit the requirements of a particular customer or conform to FDA requirements.

Any final notes on SYSPRO or some of your software?

Joey Benadretti: By utilizing innovative software solutions, such as those within SYSPRO ERP software, US-based manufacturers can successfully compete with foreign competition and thrive.

Thank you for your time.

For more information about Joey Benadretti, please visit the website at www.syspro.com, read the blog at www.responsibleerp.com, or connect with Joey on LinkedIn.