This paper describes the development of ERP systems over time. It explores both the functionality and the technology of ERP-systems. It explains the increased importance of ERP systems in practice. The paper also addresses the difficulties encountered in implementing ERP systems in real life. Modern ERP systems are very flexible, and can be tuned to many different business environments. This flexibility leads to increased complexity. The paper explains the nature of the flexibility and the complexity. It discusses promising ways to master complexity such as enterprise modeling. Modern ERP systems are well suited for support of a multi-site enterprise. However, smooth cooperation of such systems in a supply chain of independent partners is still a long way to go.
PurposeThis paper seeks to study maintenance policies on a plant‐wide level. It focuses on the effectiveness of condition‐based maintenance (CBM). It highlights the role of the production context and the importance of using appropriate metrics to assess CBM.Design/methodology/approachA simulation model was developed to explore the effects of production context using traditional performance indicators (costs and availability of each piece of equipment) and a more comprehensive metric (line efficiency).FindingsThe results showed that CBM has the best performance among other PM policies in loosely coupled processes. By contrast, in tightly coupled processes, CBM has a negative effect on the production line efficiency because it increases equipments' blockage and starvation states.Research limitations/implicationsThe simulation model was developed to reflect the reality. Nevertheless, some assumptions have been used to develop the conceptual and computerized model, which can be explored further in future research.Practical implicationsThe idea of this paper originates from empirical findings of fellow researchers. The findings in this paper provide a better understanding of how CBM affects key performance indicators in different production contexts and therefore help managers to appropriately execute CBM programmes.Originality/valueThis study focuses on CBM from a new angle. The majority of the literatures on condition‐based maintenance either discusses pure technical issues, or focusses on single equipment only. In this research, the effectiveness of CBM for two processes is studied and CBM is compared with block and age‐based replacement policies using a comprehensive performance indicator.
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