OpenMFG 2.0: Postgres-powered ERP, now with CRM - Mailing list pgsql-announce

OpenMFG, the leading provider of open source-based enterprise solutions for small manufacturers and distributors,
announcedthe long-awaited version 2.0 of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. Major enhancements include
multi-currencycapabilities, a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module, as well as significant new
functionalityin the solution's Manufacturing and Scheduling module. 

OpenMFG's flagship product is an advanced ERP software solution built with open source components, such as Qt, the
Linuxoperating system, the PostgreSQL database, and the OpenRPT report writer. Available OpenMFG modules include
InventoryManagement, Product Definition and Costing, Work Order Management, Manufacturing and Scheduling, Capacity
Planning,Purchase Order Management, Sales Order Management, Shipping and Receiving, Project Management, Sales Analysis,
AccountsPayable, Accounts Receivable, a full General Ledger, and now, Customer Relationship Management. 

According to Ned Lilly, chief executive officer at OpenMFG, this latest software release - actually the fifth major
releaseof the software - enables the company to expand globally, horizontally and vertically. "To date, we have
primarilyfocused on the United States market, but now with full multicurrency support, and a growing international
communityof partners and translators, we can compete worldwide," said Lilly. "The new CRM module, our most requested
feature,is the beginning of some major new horizontal functionality across multiple industries. And the MPS and Buffer
Managementsubsystems expand our leadership position in the manufacturing vertical." 

Manufacturing Improvements

While earlier versions of OpenMFG had strong support for Material Requirements Planning (MRP), version 2.0 now features
afull Master Production Schedule (MPS) and Forecast capability. MPS works in parallel with MRP, and enables high-level
salesand operations planning by product or product family. As a result, companies can be more proactive and strategic
inplanning, particularly with regard to items with long lead times. 

The M/S module has been further strengthened with the addition of OpenMFG Buffer Management. This new feature draws
uponthe Theory of Constraints model and lean manufacturing concepts to provide users with more flexibility and control
overtheir manufacturing process. By defining "buffers" around time, inventory and capacity, Buffer Management provides
companieswith the flexibility to reprioritize and reorganize manufacturing to address production bottlenecks or
accommodateunforeseen circumstances. 

CRM

Also included in version 2.0 is a new CRM module with robust incident management functionality for tracking and
managingcustomer communications and trouble tickets. Incident Management is fully integrated with a user-by-user "To
Do"manager (also new in 2.0), as well as various existing OpenMFG functionality such as lot and serial number inventory
history,detailed customer history and billing information, and visibility into the manufacturing schedule 

Another often-requested feature is a truly universal address book that stores all contact information and addresses in
oneplace for the entire system. Now an "Account" can be any or all of the following: prospect, customer, vendor,
partner,or competitor. Accounts can have an unlimited number of sub-accounts, contacts, and addresses. And automated
OpenMFGtools make the import of contact information from legacy CRM systems easier than ever. 

Multi-Currency

With the addition of multi-currency capabilities in version 2.0, multi-national customers can now conduct their
businessin as many different currencies as they need. Currency rate conversion is maintained in the system, and any
fluctuations(e.g. between order time and receipt of payment) are posted to a variance account in the general ledger.
Priorto the release of version 2.0, OpenMFG customers in Canada, the U.K., and India have been actively testing and
usingthis feature. 

Under the company's innovative hybrid license, customers and partners have full access to the application source code,
andany enhancements made to the product flow back to OpenMFG for review, quality testing, and possible incorporation
intothe baseline product. Over 90% of the new functionality in version 2.0 was either developed directly by a customer,
orunderwritten by a customer (with development by either a reseller partner or OpenMFG itself). 

One Canadian customer, Pemla Inks of St. Leonard, Quebec, partnered with OpenMFG on both the multi-currency
capabilitiesand CRM module. They also added functionality that supports a percentage-based Bill of Materials, crucial
tocompanies in process flow manufacturing industries such as inks. Paul Tatham, Vice President of Operations at Pemla,
noted,"OpenMFG's community-based development approach allowed us to secure a sophisticated ERP solution to replace a
legacy,dysfunctional system. Pemla was looking for a product that could be deployed quickly at an affordable cost, and
fitwith our Linux migration plans. OpenMFG was the right solution." In addition to assisting Pemla in its
implementationproject, OpenMFG's local partner in Quebec, AS Plus Informatique, also contributed a French translation
ofthe software; Pemla currently runs users in both English and French. 

About OpenMFG
OpenMFG, LLC develops next-generation enterprise resource planning (ERP) software applications powered by open source
softwaresuch as Linux, PostgreSQL, and Qt. OpenMFG products give companies visibility into costs, supply chains,
processes,inventory and financial operations with a lower cost of ownership than competing products, and are sold to
end-usercustomers through a global network of value added partners. For more information, please visit the company Web
siteat www.openmfg.com. 

--
Ned Lilly
President and CEO
OpenMFG, LLC
119 West York Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
tel. 757.461.3022 x101
email: ned@openmfg.com
www.openmfg.com