Epicor
Taking the Risk Out of the Supply Chain

Businesses need the visibility and agility to make data-driven decisions during a supply chain disruption to deliver products and profits while leveraging the cloud to expedite data sharing and access. Enter the intelligent ERP.

The performance of global supply chains relies on the combination of interdependence and interconnectedness to deliver goods and services to consumers. This is aided by predictable buying habits, access to goods, and consistent shipping patterns.

However, recent global events like COVID-19 and 2021’s Suez Canal blockage have exposed the vulnerability of supply chains, forcing businesses to re-evaluate how they can de-risk their business networks to ensure customers get their products on time while maintaining quality and profits.

Some companies have chosen to reroute their entire networks. Globalised supply chains have enabled companies to source the cheapest quality components, materials, and products. However, lengthy networks that span multiple countries increase the risk of disruption. Near-shoring and reshoring of production are becoming increasingly common as companies seek more control over risk factors by moving production closer to the end consumer. It is an example of intelligent decision-making that can be enhanced by hard numbers.

“Data sharing across extended supply chains, facilitated by cloud ERP software, provides businesses with greater accuracy in planning and execution, from production to fulfilment, which is accessed anywhere at any time,” says Andy Coussins, executive vice president at Epicor.

Predictive insights into the expected fluctuations in supply and demand allow manufacturers and distributors to quickly adapt and avoid stock-outs or excess stock.

“These visualisation solutions keep supply chains moving by bringing data to life, providing manufacturers with insights in context, specifically for the function they’re tasked with,” Coussins adds. “Epicor’s dashboards can be configured to an individual’s role, so they have the latest relevant information available as and when needed.”

This expedites the decision-making process and ensures a right-sized supply chain so that the right amount of product is in the right place at the right time.

Transferring supply chain data and business-critical applications from on-premises solutions to the cloud can also increase resilience against threats like cyberattacks by tapping into Epicor’s partnership with Microsoft to leverage the Azure platform.

Although businesses have no control over the timing or duration of major events, such as natural disasters or wars, many of them are proactively adopting pre-emptive steps to reduce shutdown periods when they occur. One strategy is to broaden their supply base—if disruptions impact one geographic region, organisations must quickly shift sourcing to alternate providers.

To do so, these key supplier relationships and the ability to send electronic orders must be in place ahead of unforeseen disruption. Epicor’s supplier portal ensures that a diverse community of suppliers is available to fulfil demand, regardless of how the supply chain is disrupted. However, partnering with the right suppliers can be complex, and due diligence is required.

Dashboards on historical supplier performance, such as order accuracy, fulfilment rates, on-time shipment, and payment history, help organisations to align with the most reliable trading partners throughout their supply chain.

Reliability also comes in the form of the production and maintenance of reliable products.

“Fines and production shutdowns can occur if minimum requirements or regulatory mandates are unmet. The cost of quality issues is then passed down the supply chain, often to the consumer,” says Coussins.

To support quality assurance, Epicor has developed Advanced MES solutions and digital work instruction solutions (Epicor Connected Process Control)—driving productivity, quality, and worker safety that are embedded in the production process and deliver greater oversight into quality events—when there are issues with products, components, or ingredient quality in the manufacturing lifecycle.