Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Evaluation and Improvement

Many ERP system implementations do not result in the expected benefits, and in fact, can be a disaster in terms of lower customer service, lost customers and profits, inventory inaccuracies, frustrated employees, issues with month end close etc. Many of the root causes for these problems can remain uncorrected for years, continuing to degrade the performance of the company. Only with a focused effort will these root issues be resolved.
• Rapid assessment of processes, system performance, and key performance issues
• Identify and prioritize the root causes
• Develop an improvement plan and metrics to monitor success
• Implement the plan with your team, monitor and adjust as necessary

ERP System Selection
Performing an ERP system selection and implementation is an enormous commitment of a business’s time and cash. The purpose of an ERP Selection is to objectively evaluate potential business system solutions and select an alternative which best meets the needs of the business. RLA will perform this by:
• Focusing on the business solutions, not the technology
• Understanding your cash is limited and everyone’s time is precious
• Realizing the challenge of an ERP implementation
• Specific ROI on technology investment is elusive
• Facilitate the development of a definition of success in advance
• Focusing on results, not “Reports”

ERP System Implementation, Internal Project Management (protecting your interests)

"Fifty two percentof IT projects will cost 189% of the original budget" (The Chaos Report, Standish Group Survey). It is essential that the implementation be carefully planned and managed! Your system integrator provides a project manager to manage their team and look after their interests, but you need to ensure that your resources and interests are managed and protected.The role of the internal project manager is as follows:
• Communicate status to the steering committee
• Major progress, issues, goals, actual to budget $ etc.
• Communicate scope and change requests to the steering committee
• Support the internal project team; ensure the team has what they need to succeed
• Drive escalation and resolution of issues and shared resource conflicts
• Resolve internal resource constraints and deliverable dependencies
• Review and approve the project approach, standards and methodology, staffing, responsibilities, and schedule
• Review high level project scopeand internal resource requirements
• Manage project scope and risks
• Review all changes to the requirements through a formally defined scope change process
• Obtain buy-in from senior management for all key commitments, and scope changes
• Ensure that all requirements, project plans, and changes to commitment are communicated to all affected team members

"When you want to hear the unvarnished truth about issues and opportunities"