Page 44 - Plastics News January 2026
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BUSINESS NEWS
5. Provide Repeatable, Transferrable Quality analysis is known as capable-to-promise (CTP).
and SPC Records Similar to artificial intelligence (AI) tools, CTP uti-
lizes an ERP system’s material resource planning
Manufacturing and inspection processes operat- and scheduling capabilities to analyze various
ing under the supervision of an ERP system are procurement and production scenarios. It gen-
systematically documented. This data capture erates a promise date that considers constraints
can include timestamp signatures, material vali- and suggests changes to help complete produc-
dation dates, operator names and histograms of tion earlier.
process parameters. Since the software over-
sees the workflow, it inherently retains concise Once the BOM and delivery timelines are es-
records of events. tablished, material resource planning (MRP) and
scheduling systems must execute the procure-
Information gathered by the ERP system is inval- ment, allocation and management of required
uable for internal operations. It lets manufactur- production resources. This process may raise
ers backtrack to identify root causes of issues, new questions for management and customers:
and it supports continuous improvement initia- Is the job progressing on schedule? What are
tives. Moreover, the records offer customers ev- the actual cycle times? Have any unexpected
idence that a plastics processor has robust pro- delays occurred?
cedures, controls and documentation in place to
honor its commitment to quality products. Production monitoring employs sensors to track
and log a job’s production cycles. It captures crit-
6. Deliver Timely and Accurate Product ical data points, such as when processes began
Delivery Data
and ended, how long they ran and their cycle
Transparently informing customers about order efficiencies. This valuable information empowers
status is vital for becoming a preferred supplier. plastics processors to address issues proactive-
A significant aspect of transparency is predict- ly. For example, if delays occur, the ERP system
ability – i.e., providing a reliable answer to the can provide insights into whether cycle times
question, “When will the product be ready?” were faster or slower than anticipated, giving
managers a clear understanding of factors af-
Predictability begins with the initial quotation fecting delivery times.
and extends through the sales order to the bill
of materials (BOM). The BOM contains not only The integration of production monitoring into
the raw materials required for the finished prod- ERP systems enhances real-time communica-
uct but also the tooling, machinery, labor and tion with management and customers, providing
secondary operations necessary for production. continuous updates on project statuses.
These items are subject to lead times, compet- Conclusion
ing resource demands and other constraints
that require thorough analysis before promising In a challenging market with fierce competition,
accurate delivery dates. plastics processors who want to differentiate
and solidify their reputation as industry leaders
The functionality for performing such detailed
44 PLASTICS NEWS January 2026
