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Jack Shannon

Jack is the CEO of Visual South and has been working with ERP since 1996 when he bought it in his role as a Plant Manager. Since 1998 he has worked for Visual South with roles in consulting, sales and executive management.

Recent Posts

Infor ERP Evaluation Criteria – Fit & Functionality

By Jack Shannon on 10/14/20 10:15 AM

 

Video transcript

Hi, I'm Jack Shannon. If you're looking for ERP software, it's important that that software fits your company and has the functionality you need.

I know I stated the obvious, but sometimes you get so wrapped up in looking at what vendors have, you forget to evaluate them on what you need. So, let's talk about what Infor ERP has.

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Infor ERP Evaluation Criteria – The User Experience

By Jack Shannon on 10/14/20 10:00 AM


Video transcript

Hi, I'm Jack Shannon. If you're looking for ERP, I know that user experience is going to be important to you.

The user experience can be explained this way. How easy is it to use the software? I know this is an important issue not because of a survey that I read. I've been working with ERP and ERP users for over 30 years. It's reasonable that you want to have a better experience with your new ERP as compared to the experience you're having today. We understand this, Infor understands this, and this is what they've done:

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Are You Getting the Most Out of Your ERP?

By Jack Shannon on 9/28/20 2:18 PM

Video transcript

Hi, I'm Jack Shannon. Are you getting the most out of your ERP? More importantly, how do you know if you're getting the most out of your ERP?

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ERP vs. MRP: Which System is Right in a Manufacturing Environment?

By Jack Shannon on 7/1/20 10:00 AM

It’s really no contest

If you are looking for software to manage your small to medium-sized discrete manufacturing business and don’t know if you need MRP (material requirements planning) or ERP (enterprise resource planning), let me make this easy for you. You should look for an ERP system. Read on to learn why.

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You Won't Fix Your Manufacturing Production Schedule with a Stand-Alone Tool

By Jack Shannon on 5/19/20 10:00 AM

A scheduling pressure cooker

I used to be a plant manager, an operations manager, and a supervisor. I understand the importance of on-time delivery. If a company I worked for wasn’t tracking it, I started to. Anyone who reported to me also knew the importance of on-time delivery.

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What is the #1 Manufacturing ERP? (Hint, there is no #1)

By Jack Shannon on 5/6/20 10:00 AM

“Software first” is the wrong strategy

If you search the term “manufacturing erp,” the results show many articles that tout the best, or the top [insert number here] manufacturing ERP packages. I understand that this is advertising and there is only so much space to proclaim, “Look at us!” However, I see this “software first” mentality live through the sales cycle and even drive manufacturing ERP selection decisions. A software’s functionality should not be the first criteria when selecting a manufacturing solution. At best, it’s the second criteria. (In fact, I will make a case it’s actually tied for second.) I’ve spent over 35 years using, implementing, or selling manufacturing ERP, so I’ve learned a few things along the way. Read on and I’ll share them with you.

Topics: ERP research
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Work Order Management Process from Creation to Closing

By Jack Shannon on 3/11/20 10:00 AM

No works orders, no production

For a discrete manufacturer, work orders are the lifeblood of production. The work order authorizes the development of a product—it provides the production team with a method to create the product to meet the specifications for the demand it is fulfilling.

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A Straightforward Comparison of the Infor ERP Products

By Jack Shannon on 2/5/20 10:00 AM

Infor ERP products

Visual South sells, implements, and supports two Infor ERP products: CloudSuite Industrial (formerly known as SyteLine), and VISUAL. We are commonly asked, “What are the differences between the two?” That’s a reasonable, straightforward question, but the answer is much more nuanced because these ERP products are used to run manufacturing businesses, which are not simple and straightforward. At a high level, the two products feel similar; they are both ERP products with deep functionality. Also, at a high level, two manufacturers feel similar; they both make stuff. As you look deeper into the manufacturers, differences emerge and the same is true with the Infor ERP products. For this article, I’ll start by comparing what is similar between the two products and then work through the differences.

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3 Manufacturing Efficiency Metrics & KPIs

By Jack Shannon on 9/25/19 10:00 AM

Production performance metrics

Visual South works with manufacturers who use work orders, so this article focuses on job shops and discreet manufacturers. In this type of environment, production’s job is to deliver a certain quantity of a certain product. There is a defined start and a defined finish. Maybe production has made it before, maybe they haven’t. They may make it again, they may not.

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How to Make Sure Your ERP Production Planning Works for You

By Jack Shannon on 8/7/19 10:00 AM

Production planning definition

ERP production planning can mean many things to many people; so, let me start out by explaining what it means to me; and therefore, what I’ll be writing about. ERP production planning is the coordination of people, machine capacity, and raw materials all coming together, so you can make what you make when you need to. “…when you need to” is based on a customer demand or an internal demand (sub-assembly, forecast, etc.). The need for better production planning is usually a major driver for the search and purchase of an ERP system.

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