BAE Systems to integrate ERP and PLM with Infor systems

The company, which manufactures mine-protected and armoured vehicles, says that the combination of Infor ERP LN (formerly Baan software) and Infor PLM 8 will help to provide more accurate product configurations, which will cut costly retrofit issues and result in better service and faster delivery. Gert Pretorius, engineering and business improvements director at BAE Systems Land Systems OMC, says that Infor was chosen primarily for its knowledge of manufacturing and the defence industry, as well as integrated solution, which will span conceptualisation, design, development, manufacture, production, re-manufacture and global in-service support. “Infor’s people showed a depth of knowledge and experience, which was a key factor in our selection,” he says. “Our operations are complex due to the development of new models and custom projects in the same production environment as our existing product range. “We must control many engineering and configuration changes while maintaining stringent levels of reporting to satisfy requirements for progress payments from our international customers. “These factors place huge demands on our systems for accurate production planning, which requires integration between the shop floor and back office.”