Epicor: Unlocking Better Decisions from Production Data

Valve manufacturing rarely goes exactly to plan: A machining operation takes longer than expected, or a critical casting or forging is delayed. A component fails inspection, while an urgent customer order suddenly moves up the priority list.

None of these are unusual. The real challenge is how quickly the rest of the business understands what has changed and what it means.

Manufacturers manage complex production requirements, from engineered-to-order products and specialist materials to tight tolerances, testing and traceability. When shop-floor activity is disconnected from planning, inventory, costing and customer service, even a relatively small production issue can have consequences elsewhere.

A delay in machining a valve body, for example, may affect assembly and testing schedules. Material shortages can hold up several orders. Additional labour, rework, or machine time can change the true cost of a job. And when production slips, a delivery date promised to a customer may no longer be realistic.

If that information only becomes visible after the event, there is little opportunity to respond.

Connecting shop-floor activity with the wider business changes that.

When production data feeds directly into an ERP like Epicor Kinetic, planners can see progress against schedules and adjust priorities as conditions change. Inventory teams gain a clearer view of material requirements and availability. Actual labour, material and machine costs can be captured against jobs, giving the business a better understanding of margins.

Just as importantly, sales and customer service teams can base conversations with customers on current production information rather than chasing updates from the factory.

For valve manufacturers, where customers may have exacting specifications, documentation requirements, and firm project deadlines, that shared view can be particularly valuable.

The aim isn't simply to collect more data. Most manufacturers already generate plenty of it through production, inspection, testing and other processes. The value comes from connecting that information and putting it in the hands of the people who need to act.

By linking the shop floor with planning, inventory, costing and customer commitments, manufacturers can see problems earlier and understand their wider impact.

Because the sooner you know about production changes, the more options you have to help keep the job, and the customer, on track.

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