How to Scale Your Manufacturing Business with NetSuite ERP

It’s no secret that growing manufacturing companies must overcome challenges, especially when it comes to on-time production, fulfilling promises to customers, and increasing the bottom line with accurate financial reporting.

Oracle NetSuite ERP is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution equipping manufacturing companies with inventory management, warehouse management, financial insight, orders, CRM, and e-commerce — all in one platform.

NetSuite seamlessly integrates all aspects of the manufacturing process, from raw materials to the final product.

Why NetSuite ERP is the Proven Solution for Manufacturing Companies

NetSuite ERP success

We know manufacturing.

Our StratusGreen consultant team has a combined six decades of experience working with manufacturing companies to help them grow and navigate fluctuating market conditions. Unlike any other consulting firm, we’re a team consisting of operations managers, NetSuite admins, and front-line professionals who combine our knowledge to deliver tailored solutions for manufacturing businesses.  We take our recommendations seriously and uphold our customer’s success above all else.

After testing multiple platforms, we continue to find that NetSuite ERP is the most flexible, scalable, and powerful solution for manufacturers.

Let’s explore how you can use NetSuite to grow your manufacturing business and take it to the next level.

1. Streamlined Operations

Radiating circles representing the centralized platform of NetSuite ERP

From a birds-eye view, NetSuite ERP provides a centralized system that allows you to streamline your manufacturing company’s operations.

You save hundreds, if not thousands of hours by having all these functions in one system. Eliminate data silos, reduce manual work, and improve operational efficiency — meaning you get to focus on the big picture, growing your business, and delivering value to your customers.

With one source of truth, decision-makers can analyze and execute core business processes, including inventory management, production, capacity planning, sales, procurement, order management, and warehouse management.

Bottom line: Save time and dramatically cut down costs by ditching the unmanageable software stack and managing your entire manufacturing business in one centralized place.

2. Efficient Production to Shipping

Abstract hills representing demand planning and forecasting

From work order management and routing to bill of materials (BOM) and production scheduling, NetSuite ERP provides tools for managing the entire production process.

Power up NetSuite ERP with the Manufacturing Scheduler module to determine the production capacity required to meet product demand within a specific time frame. Plus, you can manage infinite capacity planning, finite capacity planning, machine maintenance, and split work order operations into multiple steps.

With real-time visibility into production status, manufacturers can track work in progress, identify bottlenecks, allocate resources effectively, and ensure on-time delivery. Use automation to send orders to shipping, logistics, and accounts receivable departments.

Manage shipping with multi-step picking and packing and integrate with UPS, FedEx, and USPS — right out of the box.

Plus, NetSuite ERP integrates with a range of CAD apps to easily import BOMS and propagate engineering changes.

Bottom line: Experience improved production efficiency, reduced lead times, and increased customer satisfaction.

3. Warehouse & Inventory Management

Warehouse

Manufacturing businesses can integrate NetSuite ERP with RF-SMART to track inventory across multiple warehouses and locations, see the status of every order, and monitor the progress of production jobs.

RF-SMART also offers NetSuite-certified, industry-grade warehouse devices, including barcode scanners, wedge scanners, label printers, scales, and more. Combining their software and hardware solutions built to excel in any warehouse environment ensures reliability and consistent performance you can rely on.

By harnessing the power of robust integrations, you can access industry-leading manufacturing tools without ever leaving NetSuite. Let us know if you need to level up your warehouse management system, and we’ll set you up for success.

In addition, NetSuite ERP supports inventory costing methods, including LIFO, FIFO, average, standard, and actual costing. Plus, you can extend inventory control tracking, planning, and costing of items.

Bottom line: Realize improved efficiency and productivity levels with industry-leading warehouse and inventory management tools.

4. Supply Chain Management

Chain links representing a supply chain

NetSuite ERP offers comprehensive supply chain management capabilities, including supplier management, procurement, and logistics.

Manufacturers can streamline their supply chain processes, collaborate with suppliers, manage purchase orders, track shipments, and ensure timely delivery of raw materials.

NetSuite automation suggests and generates purchase orders, work orders, and transfer orders across multiple locations. Get real-time data on supply chain spend, inventory, and management KPIs.

Bottom line: Optimize inventory levels, reduce procurement costs, and increase supply chain visibility.

5. Quality Control and Compliance

Magnifying glass representing quality control

We know how crucial it is for manufacturers to implement robust quality control measures. NetSuite allows for the creation of quality inspection plans and tracking of non-conformances.

Stay compliant with quality inspection results, non-conformance reports, corrective and preventive actions, regulatory compliance reports, environmental compliance reports, and security compliance reports.

Bottom line: Reduce defects, minimize rework, enhance product reliability, and meet regulatory compliance requirements.

6. Real-time Financial Analytics, Reporting, and Payments

Financial report graphs

Say goodbye to cryptic data and inaccessible financial reports.

NetSuite ERP offers customizable dashboards and reports on income statements, balance sheets, consolidated reports, variance reports, and side-by-side comparisons. There are no limits on general ledger accounts, sub-accounts, and segments.

Whether your manufacturing business is built for B2B or B2C, NetSuite can support either structure. Accept payments from credit cards and online wallets like Google Pay and PayPal as orders automatically transfer to your fulfillment center.

Bottom line: Get flexible payment options, make data-driven decisions, identify areas for financial improvement, and drive operational efficiency.

7. Customer Insights, Service, and Support

Two hands reaching out representing customers

Get a 360-Degree view of your customer with NetSuite ERP. NetSuite’s CRM provides a unified view of customers across various touchpoints and departments within your manufacturing company. It consolidates customer data from different sources, including sales, marketing, customer service, and finance.

Enhance case management through the automated assignment of support tickets to individual customer email addresses, expedites return material authorizations for faster processing, and enhance warranty management by seamlessly initiating return and repair procedures.

Bottom line: Understand customer needs, preferences, and interactions, to maximize customer delight and earn return business.

8. Integrated Sales & Marketing

Grow your manufacturing business by automating the sales and marketing so it works for you (and not the other way around).

Integrate your e-commerce website or use NetSuite SuiteCommerce to connect your manufacturing operations with their back-office processes. Ge true omnichannel commerce to reach a wider customer base, increase sales opportunities, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Generate quotes in real-time, leveraging NetSuite ERP’s capabilities to incorporate pricing, sales tax, and discounting rules automatically. This ensures accurate and consistent pricing information for potential customers.

Convert leads into sales by utilizing NetSuite’s fully integrated CRM and marketing campaign tracking connected to emails to track customer engagement and optimize email marketing efforts.

Effectively manage opportunities by tracking their status, potential revenue, key contacts, notes, and related documents. This enables manufacturing companies to prioritize and nurture leads, improving the chances of successful conversions.

Simplify the conversion of quotes into approved sales orders within NetSuite ERP. By automating this process, you can ensure efficient routing for invoicing and revenue recognition.

Bottom line: Reduce manual effort to attract, nurture, and gain new customers.

9. Customizable Platform

Blocks representing NetSuite's customizations

Every business has its specific set of needs and goals. We’ve helped dozens of manufacturing companies construct a customized instance of NetSuite, ensuring they’re getting what they need and skipping what they don’t.

Plus, we customize and simplify the implementation process so that your team is primed to use your unique NetSuite package of modules to its fullest.

Bottom line: Pay for exactly what you need and get expert support up and running with no downtime.

NetSuite ERP Grows With Your Manufacturing Company

Overall, implementing NetSuite ERP can empower manufacturing companies to optimize their operations, enhance productivity, improve customer satisfaction, and drive growth.

By leveraging its comprehensive features, manufacturers can streamline their processes, make informed decisions, and adapt to changing market dynamics effectively.

To take the next step and start the free demo process, get in touch with our team of seasoned experts to experience a white-glove approach to leveling up with NetSuite.

We’re an elite NetSuite Solutions Provider specializing in manufacturing and, more importantly, obsessed with helping our customers scale and succeed in achieving their business goals.

Ready to take your business to the next level?