Lots of mid-sized manufacturers have been asking me lately what makes them different in the program, project and portfolio management from other types of companies.
My answer to that question, like so many others, is complicated. Mid-sized manufacturers(less than 2 billion) primarily have their businesses focused around their ERP vendors. While the investment in ERP for them was probably large, many are now looking for the next thing that is going to help them become more efficient and to better seize potential opportunities. These businesses operate so heavily based on process, so why is it that they don’t use these same practices when choosing which IT projects to execute or when measuring how they’re doing against objectives.
Many companies tell me they don’t want or need yet another methodology that is going to make their already complicated jobs more complicated. They tell me that they need a process or methodology around project selection and project management that is simple.
One of my clients in the manufacturing space called me up a few months ago and asked us to help implement a methodology called Bare Bones Project Management written by Bob Lewis. At first I was speculative but after reading the amazingly short and sweet book, I decided to give it a shot. A few months and several client implementations later, I’m a believer. Mid-sized manufacturers need product and methodology together. Most importantly, it all needs to be simple.
Besides process, manufacturers need products that offer sophisticated functionalities such as capacity panning and ROI algorithms. They need products that include and help them collaborate with partners, suppliers, and outside vendors. They need products that help them meet and comply with six sigma and ISO certification processes and they need all of this in one, easy to use, portfolio and project management solution.
In summary, if you are a post ERP mid-market manufacturer looking for more control around project selection, organization and compliance, consider vendors that can provide all of the following.
1) Methodology or Process suited for manufacturers project maturity level
2) Product that is really simple to use and implement
3) Product that has a collaborative slant to how it works
4) People that can bring it all together
