Read this article below and the bold questions: ERP System Enables Gearmaker to Achieve Needed Agility.

Summarize the factors that made the ERP system successful in Gearmaker.

Apply the same ERP analysis process to a company of your choice and describe the potential impact on its operations

For years, Gear Motions managed its business with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that lacked the ability to track data in real time. It relied on users to manually input data in order to update the system. Because of this, changes to schedules or supplier deliveries could render it useless. Without real-time information on stock and machine space availability, the companys ability to accurately quote potential customers suffered at a time when customer demands were increasing. Three divisions comprise western New Yorks Gear Motions, which distributes its products domestically and abroad. The companys services include gear grinding and cutting; turning; milling and drilling; broaching and keyseating; inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) grinding; ID honing; and inspection. It can manufacture gears ranging from a fraction of an inch to as large as 6 feet in diameter. Providing this array of services became increasingly difficult to schedule and cost because customers want product a lot quicker than they used to, says plant manager Dan Bartelli. Jobs that used to take eight to 10 weeks to complete are now expected in three to five weeks, he says. The time crunch provided a significant challenge to the business. Cutting machining time in half meant that supplier delays and machine scheduling could significantly affect its ability to meet customers demands.

Making Information Accessible To remedy this, Gear Motions turned to Global Shop Solutions ERP system, which was able to provide accurate, up-to-date information on all aspects of the companys operation. According to materials manager Dan Sierotnik, Information from suppliers automatically updates, and it pulls information from different parts of the company together to make scheduling more intuitive. Various modules comprise the software to provide detailed information about the shop, including which jobs are in progress, who is logged into a machine, what order a user is working on and how far along a job is. According to Suzanne Waters, director of accounting and information technology, the ERP system helps get the product out faster by providing a more global view of the shop floor. It also helps us order and purchase