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62 Chapter 3 • Enterprise Systems Architecture

TABLE 3-1 ERP Modules from Three Vendors
Oracle/PeopleSoft Microsoft Dynamics
Function SAP Modules Enterprise Modules Modules

Sales Sales and distribution, Marketing and sales, Retail POS, field
sales opportunity supply chain management service management
Procurement Purchasing, supplier Procurement and supplier Supply chain
relationship management relationship management management
Production MRP, product life cycle Manufacturing Manufacturing
management
Accounting Financial accounting Financial management Financial management
Distribution Warehouse management Supply chain Distribution
management management
Customer services CRM CRM CRM
Corporate Governance, risk, and Corporate performance Analytics
performance and compliance management management
governance
Human resources Human capital Human capital HR management
management, management
Miscellaneous Banking Campus solutions e-Commerce, portals

Source: Adapted from Web sites of SAP Global, Oracle Applications, and Microsoft Dynamics. www.sapfans.com/sapfans/
sapfmod.htm; www.oracle.com/applications/home.html; www.microsoft.com/en/us/default.aspx (accessed January 15, 2007).

Production Module
The production module helps in planning and optimizing the manufacturing capacity, parts,
components, and material resources using historical production data and sales forecasting.
Production modules have evolved from manufacturing requirements planning (MRP) II into ERP
systems with the help of consulting firms who have accumulated vast knowledge of implement-
ing a production planning module.

Purchasing Module
The purchase module streamlines the procurement process of required raw materials and other
supplies. It automates the processes of identifying potential suppliers, negotiating price, awarding
purchase orders to the supplier, and billing processes. The purchase module is tightly integrated
with the inventory control and production planning modules. The purchasing module is often
integrated with supply chain management software and business-to-business (B2B) Web software.

Inventory Management Module
The inventory module facilitates the processes of maintaining the appropriate level of stock in a
warehouse. Inventory control identifies inventory requirements, sets targets, provides replenish-
ment techniques and options, monitors item usages, reconciles the inventory balances, and
reports inventory status. Integration of the inventory control module with sales, purchase, and
finance modules allows ERP systems to generate vigilant executive-level reports.