Information Systems Integration - MRP to ERP 

ERP (enterprise resource planning) has been defined by Deloitte and Touche as 'packaged business software systems' that allow companies to: 

• Automate and integrate the majority of their business processes
• Share common data and practices across the entire business
• Produce and access information in a real time environment.

ERP's objective is to co-ordinate the entire business across all its information network. The package manages all information flows including, material, financial, customer orders, vendor orders and provides management with a control system to ensure that plans are compared against actual performance. ERP therefore is an essential feature of an integrated supply chain management. Not only is the automation of information handling important, but management has the ability to control and measure the performance of the system.