Developing an agent-based PDM/ERP collaboration system

Every business or government agency needs to track information regarding their finances, their employees, and the items or assets they own and manage. Software applications that track this type of information are called enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Managing these assets in an integrated application allows an organization to have a consistent view across the entire enterprise. This enterprise-wide view allows ERP systems to go beyond the traditional transaction-based accounting systems maintained at the organization level and deliver fully integrated financial and human capital management based on industry-derived best practices across organizations. In response to the pressures of global competition, enterprises today are forging ahead with the mission of integrating information systems across corporate boundaries to unite customers, suppliers and any other business partners with which they interact. And in the mean time, with the development of the society, more and more people have to go many places because the job makes them and working at home also becomes more and more popular. Those people who are not at the place of their company also want to continue their work in other places even at home. The old style ERP system is in C/S model and cannot satisfy with the needs. So it is very necessary to upgrade the ERP system. This paper will go to figure out the application of the Web service in the upgrading of ERP system. In this paper, we focus on that how to upgrade or renew a C/S ERP system to an ERP system with B/S model and the application of Web service. We use the J2EE architecture and XML technology to provide Web service and upgrade/renew the former ERP system. UML tools play a very important role in the upgrading procedure. We use UML to analysis and design the B/S ERP system, which based on the C/S version. We use JSP to act as the view of the system because of its flexibility. In the Web service, the XML is necessary. So the XML technology is also used. In the end of the paper, we will figure out how these technologies to be used through a concrete example.

Global and Malaysian Perspective Ahmad Saleh Shatat, Faculty of Business, Sohar University Sohar, Oman, and Zulkifli Mohamed Udin College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah Darul Aman , Malaysia Abstract: Business management has entered the era of networking competition. This has moved the competition from a local to that of global business environments and from company against company to that of a supply chain against supply chain. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system has become one of the main pre-requisites for many companies enabling them to compete in the local and global market, a price of entry to gain a competitive advantage in the global economy, and a backbone for e-business as well as for the whole supply chain. Many companies are still reluctant to implement ERP system and therefore they will not be able to connect their supply chain with several global and local companies where ERP system has become a prerequisite and a price of entry for the global economy. This study has investigated the main issues, challenges and the benefits of ERP system. ERP systems will be the price of entry and a prerequisite for many companies enabling them to run their business smoothly and effectively, and to be able to connect with other companies in the current global network economy. 1. ERP Global Change The big five ERP venders in the ERP global market are SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards, and Baan. In 1999 they acquired 59 percent of ERP revenue and each has specialty in a particular module area, for example, SAP specialized in logistics, Oracle in financials, PeopleSoft in human resources management, and Bann in manufacturing. SAP was the largest ERP vendor among them with revenue of $5 billion, and then Oracle with $2.4 billion in sales, followed by PeopleSoft with $1.3 billion, J.D. Edwards with $979 million, and finally Baan with sales of $743 million. The most three famous ERP venders in ERP market are SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft. Figure 1.1 describes the three biggest ERP venders’ competitors in the global market (McAdam & Galloway, 2005; Holland & Light, 1999)

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system is considered to provide benefits for the company. ERP systems provide useful accounting information for decision making. This
\nstudy aims to determine the impact of ERP systems on the relevance of accounting information and firm performance on companies that adopt ERP and companies that do not adopt ERP. In this study the relevance of accounting information is tested with three variables of predictive value, timeliness and feedback value. The results of this analysis are obtained from questionnaires that have been distributed to 75 companies, consisting of 40 companies that adopt ERP system and 35 companies that do not adoption of ERP system, the samples obtained by each of only 30 companies so that there are 60 companies studied. The hypothesis in this study will be tested using Mann Whitney nonparametric analysis with SPSS to look for differences in the impact of the two types of firms. This analysis proves that the ERP system affects the relevance of accounting information consisting of three variables and firm performance on companies that adopt ERP systems.

Research Question: What are the accounting benefits perceived by accountants and internal auditors that entail through Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems? Is there an interaction of ERP accounting benefits with the accountants’ and internal auditors’ satisfaction level in using ERP systems? Motivation: Many organizations are implementing ERP systems extensively while sharing a common database and being real-time. Past scholars summon empirical studies on ERP's impact on accounting benefits and user satisfaction. Therefore, this study was conducted from accountants’ and internal auditors’ perspective as recent scholars shed light on the cruciality of these two groups' perceptions as key ERP users. Idea: This study examines the accounting benefits that entail through the adoption of ERP systems by Sri Lankan companies with regard to ERP user satisfaction from the perspective of accountants and internal auditors. Data: The data were collected from 38 accountants and 19 internal auditors across 24 companies that are implementing ERP systems for more than four years. Tools: A quantitative survey methodology is employed to draw empirical evidence. Findings: The findings confirm that organizational, operational (time), and IT accounting benefits derived from ERP systems significantly and positively influence ERP users' satisfaction. In contrast, operational accounting benefits (cost) received the lowest rating and did not significantly influence user satisfaction. Contribution: While these findings are valuable to accountants and internal auditors to better understand the ERP accounting benefits, ERP consultants and system providers also benefit from identifying ERP accounting features to uplift user satisfaction in developing countries.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have emerged as essential tools in streamlining financial reporting and improving management efficiency across various industries, including large-scale energy operations. This theoretical review explores how ERP systems enhance financial reporting by integrating real-time data, automating financial processes, and fostering transparency. In energy operations, where financial activities are complex and data-intensive, ERP systems centralize financial data, reducing errors, improving compliance, and supporting decision-making through enhanced visibility and accuracy. By automating tasks such as budgeting, forecasting, and financial statement generation, ERP systems enable energy companies to efficiently manage their financial resources, thus optimizing cost control and profitability. Additionally, ERP systems provide significant benefits for management efficiency, particularly in large-scale operations. The integration of financial, operational, and managerial processes within a single platform allows for better resource allocation, improved communication across departments, and faster response times to market fluctuations. These capabilities are crucial in the energy sector, where companies face volatile market conditions, regulatory pressures, and high operational risks. ERP systems enhance managerial decision-making by providing real-time insights into key performance indicators (KPIs), enabling executives to make data-driven decisions that support long-term strategic goals. However, implementing ERP systems in large-scale energy operations presents challenges, including high costs, lengthy implementation periods, and the need for employee training. This review also examines these barriers and suggests strategies for successful ERP adoption, including phased implementation, stakeholder engagement, and customization to industry-specific needs. In conclusion, ERP systems hold the potential to revolutionize financial reporting and management efficiency in large-scale energy operations. By leveraging ERP's real-time data integration and process automation, energy companies can significantly improve their financial management, enhance decision-making, and adapt more quickly to market changes. Keywords: ERP Systems, Financial Reporting, Management Efficiency, Large-Scale Energy Operations, Process Automation, Real-Time Data Integration, Decision-Making, Cost Control, Market Fluctuations, Energy Sector.

Product development process analysis and improvement are very important to enterprises, but most Product Data Management (PDM) systems are not good at them. This paper presents a method that integrates Design Structure Matrix (DSM), Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Expert System (ES) techniques to intelligently analyze and improve the product development process managed by PDM systems. Based on DSM representation, GA orders the sequence of activities in process with ES's guiding to get a reasonable and optimal sequence. Based on theoretical research results, the Computer-Aided Process Improvement (CAPI) system was developed and was integrated to PDM.

Most enterprise systems (ES) solutions have evolved with the technological factors of flexibility, modularity and integration embedded to fit both business and information technology (IT) requirements for many organizations. Recently, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and business-to-business electronic business (e-business) have received much attention within both the practitioner and academic communities, especially concerning the technological factors. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework that could be used to investigate a possible relationship between ERP and other ES systems with the factors of flexibility, integration and modularity for e-business. In the 1990's, ERP systems were introduced to fulfill some of the technological requirements across functional areas within a corporate boundary. Moreover, with the exponential growth of Internet technology and the emergence of e-business, the focus of ERP systems has changed from an integrated functional focus within an organization to one reaching outside the organization throughout the value chain system. It is expected that an ERP system can facilitate an e-business effort of an organization. In order to serve as a platform for e-business, an ERP system must also be able to be extended to support a range of external constituents for a firm. The process must involve an investigation of ERP technological factors along with any other emerging ES solution of the firm. This study investigates ERP and other ES systems for e-business with a focus on the technological factors of flexibility, integration, and modularity.

ERP systems have great influence on the tax auditing in enterprises implemented by the taxation authorities. This paper analyzes the influence caused by ERP on tax auditing and the countermeasures can be taken by the tax auditors. The major influence caused by ERP on tax auditing is as follows. The visible tax auditing clues reduce. The emphases of tax auditing should be changed. And the data collection of tax auditing becomes more difficult. In order to deal with the influence caused by ERP systems, the tax auditors should take the following countermeasures: Strengthen the controls before the establishment and during the operation of ERP Systems. Restrict enterprise's financial activities and tax behaviors according to the law. Choose tax auditing method carefully in ERP Systems. And develop tax auditing software adapted to the ERP environment.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems long have been known as systems that bring integration to numerous business activities within complex organizations. However, in today’s contemporary organizations, ERP systems are becoming a standard information system, irrespective of size and nature of the business. This case focuses on the implementation of an ERP system in higher education. The case covers the key stages of implementation. Particular emphasis is placed on the selection of the ERP system and the organizational dynamics involved. The implementation of the first two modules and the views of users are discussed. The depth of the case can enable managers to understand the complexity of an ERP system selection and the organizational issues involved. The analysis of the case sheds light on the activities involved in ERP projects and what to expect during the implementation stage.

The deployment of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems worldwide has become an evidence of the unprecedented movement towards integration of information technologies. The importance of continuance usage during the post implementation stage should not be neglected as to secure an optimal advantages offered by ERP system, that is achieved through minimizing ERP system usage barriers. As such, successful implementation of an ERP system does not necessarily guarantee that the system will be comprehensively used or accepted by users of the system. ERP benefits can only be realised and sustained if users continue to have favourable experiences in using the system. While many previous studies have examined ERP system during the implementation phase, only a few have revealed barriers to ERP usage as well its antecedent factors during the post-implementation phase. The purpose of this paper is to determine ERP system usage barriers and unearth the root causes to the barriers. To achieve the aim, this research was guided by the ‘soft-positivism’ paradigm, a paradigm that combines elements of positivism and interpretivism. By using this paradigm, the investigator brought certain prior expectations to the data analysis which are consistent with positivist research and which also build rich explanations from the data, consistent with the interpretive assumption. Based upon the lens of Task Technology Fit theory, this study adopts a qualitative method using multiple case studies. Three Malaysian organisations that had implemented ERP were investigated by conducting 30 semi–structured interviews and reviewing archival records and documents. The interviews were guided by the research objectives. Data were analysed by using open and thematic coding.The finding indicated four major areas of ERP usage problems: system, data, and technical infrastructure and interface problems. Besides that, several antecedent factors to the problems were identified. These factors fall into four major categories: organisation, user, task and technology, and include lack of support from either external or internal expertise, lack of individual strength and limited technology affordance. The outcome of this study was encapsulated in the form of the ERP Sand Clock Barriers and Antecedents Model.The paper contributes to post-implementation ERP system literature by stressing the complex relationships between usage barriers and antecedent factors. By identifying the underlying causes of SAP usage barriers, it could become the motivating factor for individual users to undertake reflective feedback and to achieve extended use of the implemented ERP system.

Product Data Management (PDM) systems and their offspring, Collaborative Product Development and Product Lifecycle Management technologies, aim to bring engineering enterprises together, allowing seamless interoperability between different departments and throughout the extended enterprises. However, there are a number of shortcomings in the current crop of commercially available systems, such as the lack of design knowledge sharing, links with Enterprise Resource Planning systems, knowledge management tools and a generic standard for PDM system implementation. This paper presents a proposed software solution to some of the above problems. In particular, the paper describes methodologies being developed that are aimed at overcoming the lack of analysable product information at the conceptual stage of product design and manufacturing evaluation, along with the integration of such a concept design tool within a distributed environment. A leading PDM system is used to manage all the information and knowledge that is made available to internet/intranet users in a controlled manner. The international standard for exchange of product data model (STEP) is implemented to enable the integration of the design environment with manufacturing and enterprise resource management systems. In addition, the paper also introduces three other recent/ongoing projects, being carried out at Cranfield University, in the application of PDM, knowledge management and STEP standard for integrated manufacturing businesses.

This study reviews the enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in higher education institutions (HEIs), as a study like this is very scarce in literature. Because ERPs are consisted of modules, understanding modules designed for HEIs has remained unclear. The current scenery of research is very scattered with analysis conducted mainly in failures or success stories, or specifically factors for success during a module implementation. However, to this date there are no studies that provide a comprehensive picture of ERP modules for HEIs. This research contributes by reducing this gap by providing characteristics of the identified modules and making a clear distinction between the ERP modules in HEI and business. The results of this study show that it is arguable that standard tools for business organizations can be similarly applied in HEI. Rather, ERP systems in HEI are very different in terms of functionality and modules compared to corporate ERPs. The main contribution of this study is its originality and is the first study that provides an overview of HEI ERP with the core and extended modules, the functionalities and differences with the business ERPs.

This study investigates the impact of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems on operational efficiency at Amazon, a global leader in e-commerce and cloud computing. ERP systems are integral to modern business, integrating core processes and facilitating data-driven decision- making. Amazon employs a sophisticated mix of commercial (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and proprietary ERP solutions to manage its vast and complex operations, including procurement, inventory, warehouse management, and order fulfilment. The primary purpose of this research is to understand ERP's role in Amazon's supply chain and logistics, analyse its impact on key performance indicators such as cost reduction, order accuracy, and process automation, and identify potential best practices. The study utilized a hybrid research methodology, commencing with an exploratory phase involving literature review and analysis of secondary data, followed by a descriptive phase centred on a quantitative survey. The survey gathered data from 92 professionals with experience in ERP systems and operations, many familiar with Amazon or similar large-scale environments. Key findings indicate a strong positive perception of ERP's impact on reducing order processing time, enhancing inventory accuracy, and improving interdepartmental coordination. However, challenges related to system usability, technical glitches, and the need for comprehensive user training were also identified. The study concludes that while ERP systems significantly contribute to Amazon's operational prowess, continuous improvement in user experience and ongoing support are crucial. Recommendations focus on enhancing user training, simplifying interfaces, improving system performance, establishing robust feedback mechanisms, and leveraging key performance indicators to track ERP impact. This research contributes to the understanding of ERP effectiveness in high-volume, technology- driven organizations. List of Abbreviations: ERP: Enterprise Resource Planning; KPI: Key Performance Indicator; AWS: Amazon Web Services; UX: User Experience.

Linguistic performance evaluation for an ERP system with link failures

The technological preparation of production (TPV) is one of the key stages of the product life cycle (LPL) when designing and developing new aircraft engines. The TPV system foresees the use of the following instruments: CAD/CAM/CAE systems to ensure the implementation of the following operations: automated design, production and engineering calculations; Product Data Management systems (PDM) to ensure product data management; Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for the corporate resource planning. Note that the instruments above are combined into PLM-systems to provide information support for the TPV system. The paper reviews the experience of designing and implementing the integrated TPV system at Motor Sich JSC for the purpose of manufacturing new aircraft engines. The author presents a structural diagram of the implemented integrated system containing a complex of interdependent subsystems along with a description of the system of automated design of process documents, which provides for the on-line design of production processes. The paper gives a description of subsystem of automated preparation of programs for CNC machine tools, which is designed to calculate the trajectory of the cutting tool when machining geometrically complex parts of aircraft engines. The paper specifies the subsystem of automated design of technological equipment, which is in compliance with requirements for modern tool production. The author underlines that the system of automated design of production equipment saw the following design subsystems reaching the highest level of development: subsystems for designing cutting and gear machining tools; subsystems for designing machine tools; subsystems for designing the monitoring and metering instrument; subsystems for designing foundry and stamping equipment; subsystems for designing control of gear cutting tools as per electronic standards. It is noted that the automated subsystems of analyzing production processes allow for performing the following analyses: analyzing metal casting processes; analyzing stamping processes; analyzing cutting processes; analyzing gear-cutting processes. The author provides the following results of implementing the integrated system of technological preparation of production at Motor Sich JSC: i) The TPV period was increased by 1.2–1.5 times, and ii) The efficiency of design and construction works was raised by 3–3.5 times.