Food Quality Magazine Profiles Role of QA Managers in Software Selection

Manufacturing journalist Thomas R. Cutler profiles the role of ERP (enterprise resource planning) software due to government regulations and customer compliance issues in Food Quality magazine. According to Rebecca Gill, vice-president of Technology Group International (www.tgiltd.com) makers of Enterprise 21 ERP software, "There are key lot traceability functions that are essential to comply with the Bioterrorism Act and many ERP vendors claiming market segmentation competency that cannot meet these requirements."
According to the Food Quality article, (which can be viewed at http://foodquality.com/mag/03222005/fq03222006FE1.html), "More than half of all quality assurance (QA) managers in food manufacturing do not currently interface with their company's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The Bioterrorism Act, passed in 2002 to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply from a terrorist attack, is quickly changing the role that food quality professionals play in the selection and utilization of ERP software. ERP selection was often left to a small committee that included the CEO, CFO, operations and purchasing managers. ERP packages were designed to integrate all departments and functions across a company onto a single computer system that can serve all department needs. ERP software, at its best, combines the enterprise into a single, integrated solution that runs off a single database so various departments can easily share information and communicate. When running at an optimum, this integrated approach has a tremendous payback. Until regulations were mandated by the government, QA managers were rarely considered in the ERP selection process or even utilization of the integrated system." About Technology Group International, Ltd. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Technology Group International is a proven technology leader delivering Tier 1 application software functionality at a price performance level that can be readily accepted by organizations of all sizes. Specializing in software solutions for small and mid-market manufacturing and distribution companies, TGI's integrated Enterprise Series software suite is a complete business process management solution. The product offering includes Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Warehouse Management System (WMS), Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS), Decision Support System (DSS), Business Intelligence, Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and eCommerce. TGI implements, maintains, enhances, and supports its packaged distribution and manufacturing software solutions directly and via its channel partners.