Material management has come a long way from the days of simple human observation. The rise of technology has provided a lot of assistance with these tasks of quantification and complex decision-making. Specifically, there are a number of software tools that are extremely helpful for outfitting material management staff with the right supplies for success.

To supply material management or inventory control staff with these essentials, a buyer can go online and quickly find great suppliers for these tools and resources. Buyers might look for:

1. ERP software for charting and drafting business plans that will translate into success and helping out with material management solutions.

2. Master production schedule software for dealing with project and production timelines and more.

3. Other supply chain management software for application to the processing of raw materials of other tasks.

Action Steps for Materials Management Strategies
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get ERP, MRP or MRP II software for material management

A number of kinds of software tools are grouped under the heading of Enterprise Resource Planning. MRP (Material requirements planning) and MRP II (Manufacturing resource planning) are two of those. Both apply to material management systems in slightly different capacities, with MRP II more applicable to a manufacturing environment.

I recommend: MRP Plus offers MRP software for optimizing business processes; use the detailed website to find solutions for your shop. For manufacturing tools an inventory management consultant might use, find MRP II software at Seradex.

Find master production schedule software for material management

MPS is a great tool for presentations and for charting the future of a project. The MPS assists in drawing up a realistic timeline with quantified resources. Materials management staff can rely on this tool for coming up with chronological plans.

I recommend: Get MPS resources at GS Innovate online. For more on getting MPS and these kinds of tools into your business plan, check out the Find Accounting Software website.

Look for additional inventory material management software

Besides the above tools, there is more available, including software programs and supplies related to the supply chain. Find a variety of options and decide what's right for your crew.

I recommend: Microsoft offers its own supply chain software for managers online. Get supply chain software demos and more at 2020software. For additional resources, find a list of the top 20 rated supply chain management software providers at Modern Materials Handling.

Tips & Tactics for Benchmarking Material Management Systems

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Aside from these kinds of tools for material management, a good supply of paper can be handy for drafting up and printing out the charts, graphs and visuals that humans use to make decisions about allocation and other procedural issues for managing materials.

Patients at a hospital check in and check out. Factories pump 24/7, assembling cars, dish washers, electronics. Construction sites start up at the crack of dawn, and a floor is added by dark.

What these bustling businesses have in common is a huge demand for material management systems and material management software. Someone is in charge of making the syringes, the car parts, the cement show up on time and be available to working hands. Materials management software is a help, but it's also a lot of brain power to keep material management in business on track and in budget.

Covered in this guide:

1. Best practices and resources for material management
2. Materials management software for big operations
3. Supply chain and material management software
4. The importance of specializing material management systems
and material management software

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a handle on the practice and art of material management

No need to reinvent the wheel. The material management industry is wide and full of excellent, generally free best practices white papers and research.

I recommend: Take a look at CAPS Research, a joint operation of the Institute for Supply Management and Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business. The International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management has publications as well. Learn more about materials management systems through materials management associations and organizations at Business.com.

Finding materials management software products

Materials resource planning (MRP) software is beginning to become common, but it's still sometimes lumped in as a module of more popular ERP (enterprise resource planning) software.

I recommend: While ERP is more robust, it's also expensive. If managing materials is your main concern, look at MRP softtware from QA Software, Frederick Group, and Power Purchase. Catch up on supply-chain management at Business.com.

Major league material management software

The bigger picture on material management systems is overall supply chain management. Software now track the part or crate of material from a factory in Shanghai through your shop and on to the customer.

I recommend: Some makers of supply chain software for materials management include da Vinci, Manhattan Associates and Ross Systems. See additional resources for materials resource planning software at Business.com.

Specialized material management systems according to need

While general materials management software can go a long way, some industries require specialized help in managing materials, like healthcare.

I recommend: Trade publication Modern Materials Handling magazine has a very good site with detailed case studies and links to nearly every materials association. See more on just-in-time materials management at Business.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There's a lot of confusion in the industry between inventory, supply chain and materials management. Material management in business relates specifically to feeding a production process -- raw materials or supplies -- while inventory and supply chain could be actual products for manufacture or sale.
• •  Before you put out a request for quotes on materials management software, it may be money better spent to have a consultant come in and overhaul your entire process first.
• •  Managing materials is a cornerstone of profitability in some industries. Too much materials inventory eats capital, not enough slows production. Do your own return on investment review. Money spent improving material management or buying material management software could be recaptured pretty quickly.

If you are in charge of helping a group of management professionals handle complex in-house processes, taking a look at your existing material management setup might help. These days, companies in all kinds of industries are using advances materials management software tools to promote synergy between human initiative and technological power. To advance in this area of your business, look for training programs that will efficiently get your staff to the top of their game for using "decision modeling" or other tools to propel your shop into the future.

Those who may be looking for educational resources for staff groups have a lot to choose from. Options available for large and small groups include:

1. On-site training options for the direct approach in getting staff savvy about inventory material management or production processes.

2. Online training for keeping all of your ramp-up educational initiatives in house.

3. Specialized seminars and workshops for material management consulting and training.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get training on ERP tools for material management

ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning is an 'umbrella term' used to describe various tools for planning the business end of a process. From statistical computation tools to drafts of predictions, ERP tools can really boost the power of a project manager to make sure everything functions well for a particular task.

I recommend: Find multiple solutions for ERP training for material management systems at AskEdu. Get online training modules for ERP tools and accounting from DEACOM.

Look for supply chain material management courses

Courses and trainings focusing on supply chain management are highly relevant to the decisions a manager or inventory management consultant must face: take a look at these kinds of options for teaching staff to make snap decisions on rolling out products, importing/exporting materials, inventory control, or working on the production end of a process.

I recommend: You can find various supply chain training programs for tackling specific logistics issues at Supply Chain Online. Find more of these types of educational courses at the website of the Supply Chain Council.

View more training options for material management workshops, seminars and courses

A lot more exists on the web to outfit your staff education needs for managing materials: check out each offering by those focused on aspects of material management software and tools to get the best defined solutions for your group.

I recommend: Training-Classes.com online compiles lists of general materials management seminar and training options. Get more from Blackblot's comprehensive high-tech product management training program, using the detailed website to find solutions you think will be a fit for your materials management staff.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In addition to outsourcing material management training, you'll want to promote the best brainstorming of key staff by showing the way: get involved in teaching the principles of material management and modeling how they are used in every day business.

The field of material management covers many facets including quality control, acquisition, monitoring standards and working with surplus materials. Understanding material management key terms helps the professional communicate about different parts of the job.

Using material management key terms not only clarifies terms and conditions, but it also shows one's dedication to the profession by taking the time to learn proper word usage. It helps clear communications between professionals and clients.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Acquisition

This term refers to the purchase of services or goods used for government activity by leasing, renting or buying. An acquisition includes a statement showing the need for the product, a description of requirements, how one will obtain the method, financing, contract information and other similar information.

I recommend: For another definition of acquisition, visit Second Venture Corporation.

Design specification

A design specification shows required characteristics an item must have for contract consideration. Design specification demonstrations define product manufacturing methods.

I recommend: GZA GeoEnvironmental discusses how it works with material management, including its project design specifications. It uses design specifications to communicate the scope of work that is part of the plan for demolitions and renovations, so a company can solicit bids for services.

Goods

Businesses refer to personal property like supplies, equipment, materials and commodities as goods.

I recommend: BCB Information Services offers links to files regarding goods in material management. It covers topics relating to equipment, maintenance and contractual information.

Hazardous waste

If a material poses a threat to human health or the environment it can be hazardous waste. The waste could be gas, liquid or solid.

I recommend: Dedicated to preventing hazardous waste, NAHMMA, the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association, offers numerous links and resources regarding the topic of eliminating hazardous waste in material management. It also links to upcoming events and news specific to the topic.

NAPM

The National Association of Purchasing Management (NAPM) is a nonprofit technical and educational organization of materials and purchasing management and buying agencies for both private and public sectors.

I recommend: The National Association of Purchasing Management discusses the professional development of those interested in material management. Its educational resources include seminars and certification.

Remanufactured product

This term refers to a product made from discarded materials. Manufacturers refurbish and market the products without greatly changing their original form.

I recommend: The United States Environmental Protection Agency offers a description of an initiative used to offer remanufactured products for material management. It highlights the benefits of using this type of product for more efficient and cleaner technologies.