Taking ERP to the next level with Lean
Siponen, Kati (2021)
Siponen, Kati
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021060915274
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021060915274
Tiivistelmä
The aim of this thesis was to develop the current enterprise resource planning system of two Finnish companies to be more efficient.
The theoretical framework presents enterprise resource planning, and the main Lean process principles. For several companies, the ERP system upgrade will be up-to-date in the coming years. BearingPoint research study showed the updating needs of Finnish companies' ERP systems. In addition to this, we went deeper into these case studies; what kind of problems companies have with their ERP system and how we can improve the system and develop people’s working practices in the office. Lean methods were used to identify wastage and find opportunities for how Lean is suitable for office development.
The results showed that the ERP upgrade project and Lean accounting have been found to be useful, clear, and profitable. Automation has a big role in reducing unnecessary activities such as manual booking. Automation releases resources for analysis and data verification. Continuous improvement is an ongoing process and a part of the company’s activities. Research shows that small and medium size companies need external help to improve their ERP systems to get more data to help management. This is something that should be paid attention to. Small and medium-sized companies do not have their own expertise and an external accounting firm or consultant feels distant. Do companies know how to take full advantage of the opportunities that ERP brings? ERP may be old or not used. Business intelligence reporting is the latest tool for creating various queries and reports from master data. An ERP system helps a company with basic operations, but various utilities have come to support management decision making.
The theoretical framework presents enterprise resource planning, and the main Lean process principles. For several companies, the ERP system upgrade will be up-to-date in the coming years. BearingPoint research study showed the updating needs of Finnish companies' ERP systems. In addition to this, we went deeper into these case studies; what kind of problems companies have with their ERP system and how we can improve the system and develop people’s working practices in the office. Lean methods were used to identify wastage and find opportunities for how Lean is suitable for office development.
The results showed that the ERP upgrade project and Lean accounting have been found to be useful, clear, and profitable. Automation has a big role in reducing unnecessary activities such as manual booking. Automation releases resources for analysis and data verification. Continuous improvement is an ongoing process and a part of the company’s activities. Research shows that small and medium size companies need external help to improve their ERP systems to get more data to help management. This is something that should be paid attention to. Small and medium-sized companies do not have their own expertise and an external accounting firm or consultant feels distant. Do companies know how to take full advantage of the opportunities that ERP brings? ERP may be old or not used. Business intelligence reporting is the latest tool for creating various queries and reports from master data. An ERP system helps a company with basic operations, but various utilities have come to support management decision making.