Best of breed ERP systems not only allow you to evaluate material and labor costs, but also to analyze the cost impact of using alternate manufacturing locations and various materials suppliers. ERP solutions are an integral part of any product development process.

An ERP solution should also provide business intelligence, giving the user community the ability to make more intelligent business decisions. Implementation of ERP software shouldn't require you to change the way you do business in order to conform to its methodology.

One example of its flexibility is that it allows for three unique costing options: standard cost, average actual and moving average.