| Role of ERP and CAD Integration Clarified for ETO | | | | design engineer is very different. By its nature an ETO |
| Environment from Leading ERP Vendor | | | | company builds a unique product designed to meet the |
| The current issue of includes a feature article by | | | | specification of a single customer. The two worlds of |
| contributing editor, Thomas R. Cutler about ERP and | | | | design and manufacturing are closely linked. In many |
| CAD integration in the ETO (Engineer-to-Order) | | | | cased the design of the product continues through the |
| Environment. Chuck Stewart is Executive | | | | product process (design-in-process), incorporating a |
| Vice-President of Engineer-to-Order (ETO) Enterprise | | | | multitude of engineering changes. These changes can |
| Resource Planning (ERP) software Encompix based in | | | | be driven by the customer or by the manufacturer. In |
| Cincinnati, Ohio. Stewart said, If you ask design | | | | this environment a seamless flow of data between |
| engineers what an ERP system means to them, you | | | | engineering and production is critical. An ETO company |
| are likely to hear something like nothing or | | | | must integrate CAD and ERP. |
| more work. | | | | is for manufacturers and suppliers of industrial, factory |
| According to Cutler’s feature, traditional ERP | | | | and process automation, motion control, machine |
| systems were developed for the repetitive, | | | | control, process control and instrumentation products |
| make-to-stock manufacturer, where there is a clear | | | | and services. attracts engineers, programmers, |
| demarcation between design and production. In that | | | | designers, technicians and other professionals who |
| environment the engineer designs the product in a | | | | specify, purchase and use control systems, software, |
| CAD application. After testing and prototyping, the | | | | robotics, sensors and other supporting products to |
| product is released to production, which is managed by | | | | automate machines, equipment and factories in both |
| the ERP system. | | | | discrete and continuous manufacturing processes. |
| Stewart asserts in the February issue of | | | | Encompix ( has filled the manufacturing software |
| Automation.com, The design engineer has little or no | | | | requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since |
| interaction with the ERP system and works quite | | | | 1992. The company name reflects the commitment to |
| happily in a CAD environment. Following the work of | | | | developing business application solutions that |
| the design engineer, a production engineer then | | | | encompass the complex areas of project-based and |
| creates a bill of materials (BOM), based on how it will | | | | job-based manufacturing. Encompix provides ETO |
| be manufactured, not on how the product is designed. | | | | manufacturers with a competitive advantage by |
| | | | | improving bottom line results. |
| In the Engineer-to-Order (ETO) world the role of the | | | | |