The Business Benefits of Service-Oriented Architecture: A Guide for Manufacturing Executives

Manufacturers in make-to-order and mixed-mode production environments must satisfy increasingly demanding customers by continually reducing lead times, increasing quality and reducing costs - all while addressing ever more stringent government regulations. To achieve a competitive advantage in this environment, they must optimize their internal operations and the entire supply chain.

The right technology can play a major role in this effort. Yet existing legacy and ERP solutions are not up to the task. These systems are incomplete, difficult to modify in the face of changing business conditions, and unable to furnish the visibility necessary to streamline enterprise and supply chain operations.

This white paper describes new enterprise applications for make-to-order and mixed-mode manufacturers. These integrated, manufacturing enterprise applications are built on a services oriented architecture (SOA) and incorporate modern business rules and business intelligence to furnish flexibility, interoperability, and visibility. With these solutions, manufacturers can improve productivity, streamline the supply chain, reduce costs, achieve regulatory compliance - and thereby enhance customer service and increase their competitive advantage.

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