Developing a functional enterprise resource planning model requires a strategic approach to integrating master production schedules with financial data for accurate business forecasting.

Integrated Learning Project Assignment Instructions

Overview

The integrated learning assignment is a series of 6 assignments and a final course consolidated submission. Successful completion of these modules relies on your ability to synthesize distinct supply chain components into a cohesive narrative. All assignments and the compilation of the final consolidated submission is managed as an individual assignment.

Purpose

The purpose of the ILP is for everyone to develop a working model of an ERP system applied to a firm of their choosing. Real-world application is central here, as you will simulate the role of an operations manager making critical system decisions. This model will be built up in modular format through weekly assignments culminating in the submission of the completed model in the final week of the course together with a management proposal detailing the costs and benefits as they apply to the income statement and balance sheet of the selected firm. We want you to see exactly how operational data directly influences financial health and strategic viability.

Resources

The development of the assignments will be supported not only by written instructions but also with an explanatory Watch item. Visual learners will find the video walkthroughs particularly helpful for navigating the complex Excel formulas required for the model.

Expectations

Each component, from Module 3: Week 3 will be the development of an ERP module in Excel relevant to the topic for that week. The Excel development will follow SAP and other ERP systems formats. Adhering to these industry standards ensures your work mirrors what you will encounter in actual supply chain environments. The Excel file will be accompanied by a written assignment containing:

• Details on how this ERP assignment could be implemented (assignment management process, who should be involved, and why, etc.) within the chosen firm (min 300 words). Stakeholder engagement is often the deciding factor in project success, so consider who needs to be at the table.
• Details on how ERP could be operated (management process, who should be responsible, numbers of different users of each module, data accuracy, etc.) within the chosen firm (min 300 words).
• What could be the future sources of inaccuracy in the data contained the ERP system (min 300 words). Proactive identification of data rot or entry errors demonstrates a high level of critical thinking.
• How the corruption of the data could be prevented (min 300 words).
• An analysis and composition of the net benefit (benefits minus costs linked to income statement and balance sheet) of the implemented ERP system. Connecting these metrics proves that you understand the ROI of technology investments.

The final integrated Excel ERP working model for your chosen firm, due at the end of week 8, will tie all the preceding modules together into a fully integrated working ERP model in Excel. It is rewarding to see how the disparate pieces you built over the term come together to form a functioning whole. The integrated modules will include, Master Production Schedule, Bill of Materials, Materials Requirements Planning, Capacity Planning, Distribution Requirements Planning and Shop Floor Control. The Excel file will be submitted simultaneous with the following written report. The final course report would be about 3,000 words (excluding references and appendices), much of which would have been accumulated over the preceding 6 weeks.

• The final submission will also include a written management report detailing (1) a recommendation for implementation based on a cost / benefits analysis (2) implementation assignment plan with responsibilities, (3) a justified recommendation for an ERP system (e.g. SAP, or other) and its operation (local or cloud processing, scope of application (national, global, etc.). Your ability to justify a specific vendor choice over others is a key skill employers look for in graduates.

Instructions

Part 1 – Company Selection & Financial Analysis

Part 1 – Company selection – Characteristics – Manufacturing – Publicly available financial accounts – consumer or industrial product (either make to order or make to stock) – examples Tesla / Boeing (search YouTube “Mega factories” and choose one of these documentary examples to appreciate the level of manufacturing detail required). Selecting a publicly traded company ensures you have access to the transparent financial data necessary for a deep analysis. Structure your assignment as follows (word counts are minimums):

• Title page
• Company description (300 words)
• Financial trends: Overview of inventory types/trends/productivity (trends in day’s stock by type, Etc.) (300 words). Examining these trends helps reveal the underlying operational efficiency of the organization.
  • Income statements (last 3 years) (300 words)
  • Balance sheet (last 3 years) (300 words)
• Opportunities for logistics to improve income statement (consider revenues and operating costs) and balance sheet asset productivity. Look specifically for areas where supply chain tightening could release cash flow back into the business. Provide quantitative calculations and probable range of costs / benefits. (300 words)

Part 2 – Master Production Scheduling (MPS)

Part 2 – Master Production Scheduling (MPS) – Develop an Excel based Master Production Schedule for your chosen product. Use the format and logic as shown in the illustrative Excel spread sheet to be found under Course Content. Also review the Kaptur presentation for this week, as well as pages 281 through 303 in your Logistics textbook. Grasping the logic behind MPS is vital because it serves as the heartbeat for all downstream manufacturing activities. Your MPS Excel file will be accompanied by a written assignment containing:

• Details on how this module could be implemented (assignment management process, who should be involved, and why, etc.) within the chosen firm (300 words).
• Details on how this module could be operated (management process, key factors in the MPS policy, who should be responsible and why, the users of this modules data, etc.) within the chosen firm (300 words). Operational success usually depends on clear ownership of the scheduling process.
• What could be the future sources of inaccuracy in the data contained in the module (300 words).
• A comparison of any 2 MPS schedule formats and logic taken from software advice or other MPS types from your own research of available MPS software (300 words). exposure to different software interfaces broadens your adaptability in the job market.

Part 3 – Enterprise Resource Planning System Selection

Part 3 – Enterprise Resource Planning – Develop an Excel analysis of the modules and functionality of 3 ERP systems, one of which must be SAP and the other 2 are of your choice. Follow the “ERP Links” tab under the Readings section of Course content for a listing of over 100 ERP software systems, including SAP. We encourage you to explore niche vendors alongside the major players to understand the full spectrum of market options. Overlay the functionality of these ERP systems onto the main manufacturing processes of your selected firm and determine which software best fits your chosen company. Your Excel analysis will accompany your written assignment which will contain:

• Description of the how the software selection criteria (and which ones) were chosen for your company (300).
• An analysis and tabulation of the strengths and weaknesses of the main modules of each software solution when compared of your selection criteria (300). Creating a comparative matrix is an excellent way to visualize trade-offs between different vendors.
• A discussion of any ancillary data capture equipment and other software that may be advantageous to the operation of the ERP system in your company (300).
• Consideration of which functional areas would be responsible for the operation of each of the major ERP modules (300). Mapping these responsibilities helps prevent silos within the organization.
• An analysis of the possible software costs of your recommended ERP software (300).

Part 4 – Materials Requirements Planning (MRP)

Part 4 – Materials Requirements Planning – Develop an Excel based Materials Requirements Plan for your chosen product. Use the format and logic as shown in the illustrative Excel spread sheet to be found under Course Content. Show at least 4 MRP levels with sub-assemblies, purchased components, manufactured components, and raw materials. Building a multi-level BOM (Bill of Materials) is the best way to understand the complexity of dependency in manufacturing. Review the Kaptur presentation for this week, as well as pages 233 through 305 in your Logistics textbook. Your MRP Excel file will be accompanied by a written assignment containing:

• Details on how this module could be implemented (assignment management process, who should be involved, and why, etc.) within the chosen firm (300 words).
• Details on how this module could be operated (management process, key factors in the MRP operating policy, who should be responsible and why, the users of this modules data, etc.) within the chosen firm (300 words). Effective operation here often dictates whether production lines stop or keep running.
• What could be the future sources of inaccuracy in the data contained in the module (300 words).
• A comparison of any 2 MRP schedule formats and logic taken from software advice or other MRP types from your own research of available MRP software (300 words).

Part 5 – Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP)

Part 5 – Distribution Requirements Planning – Develop an Excel based Distribution Requirements Plan for your chosen product. Use the format and logic as shown in the illustrative Excel spread sheet to be found under Course Content. Show at least 4 distribution warehouses with 4 components planned for each with at least 1 common to all distribution warehouses. Integrating multiple distribution nodes will simulate the challenges of regional inventory balancing. Review the Kaltura presentation for this week, as well as pages 319 through 406 in your Logistics textbook. Your DRP Excel file will be accompanied by a written assignment containing:

• Details on how this module could be implemented (assignment management process, who should be involved, and why, etc.) within the chosen firm (300 words).
• Details on how this module could be operated (management process, key factors in the DRP operating policy, who should be responsible and why, the users of this modules data, etc.) within the chosen firm (300 words). Logistics managers prioritize these metrics to ensure on-time delivery to the end customer.
• What could be the future sources of inaccuracy in the data contained in the module (300 words).
• A comparison of any 2 DRP schedule formats and logic taken from software advice or other DRP types from your own research of available MRP software (300 words).

Part 6 – Capacity Requirements Planning (CRP)

Part 6 – Capacity Requirements Planning – Develop an Excel based Capacity Requirements Plan for your chosen product. Use the format and logic as shown in the Integrated Learning Project Example found on the course site. Accurate capacity planning prevents the costly mistake of overpromising to customers while under-delivering on production. Review the Kaptur presentation for this week, as well as pages 439 through 478 in your Logistics textbook. Your CRP Excel file will be accompanied by a written assignment containing:

• Details on how this module could be implemented (assignment management process, who should be involved, and why, etc.) within the chosen firm (300 words).
• Details on how this module could be operated (management process, key factors in the CRP operating policy, who should be responsible and why, the users of this modules data, etc.) within the chosen firm (300 words). You will find that regular review of these capacity constraints is essential for smoothing production peaks.
• What could be the future sources of inaccuracy in the data contained in the module (300 words).
• A comparison of any 2 CRP schedule formats and logic taken from ERP Software or other CRP types from your own research of available CRP software (300 words).

Part 7 – Implementation Assignment Plan

Part 7 – Assignment Plan – Develop a time phased assignment plan for the implementation of an ERP system at your selected firm. Review the assigned Learn material, as well as pages 511 through 551 in your Logistics textbook. Your time phased assignment plan Excel file will be accompanied by a written assignment containing:

• Overall structure of the ERP implementation plan detailing responsibilities and timing (300 words). A phased approach reduces the risk of total system failure during the go-live period.
• Details on the Education and Training activities of the plan, their sequencing and timing (300 words).
• Details on the key activities in the Bills of Materials sub-assignment to achieve a company document with 98% accuracy (300 words). High data fidelity in the BOM is non-negotiable for the system to function correctly.
• Details on the key activities in the Warehouse sub-assignment to achieve a minimum of 95% accuracy (300 words).
• Details on the key activities in the Master Production Schedule sub-assignment to achieve a 98% customer service accuracy (300 words).

Part 8 – Final Consolidated Submission

Part 8 – Final Submission – The final integrated Excel ERP working model for your chosen firm, due at the end of week 8, will tie all the preceding modules together into a fully integrated working ERP model in Excel. The integrated modules will include, Master Production Schedule, Bill of Materials, Materials Requirements Planning, Capacity Planning, Distribution Requirements Planning and Shop Floor Control. The Excel file will be submitted simultaneous with the following written report. The final course report would be about 3,000 words (excluding references and appendices), much of which would have been accumulated over the preceding 6 weeks.

• The final submission will also include a written management report detailing (1) a recommendation for implementation based on a cost / benefits analysis (2) implementation assignment plan with responsibilities, (3) a justified recommendation for an ERP system (e.g. SAP, or other) and its operation (local or cloud processing, scope of application (national, global, etc.). Presenting a cohesive argument that ties technical details to business strategy is the capstone achievement of this course.

Students frequently ask how to structure the cost-benefit analysis for the final ERP proposal. To demonstrate a strong approach, we recommend breaking down the ROI into tangible operational savings. For instance, implementing an automated MRP module for a mid-sized manufacturing firm can reduce inventory holding costs by approximately 20% through better demand forecasting and reduced safety stock requirements. You should quantify this by calculating the specific dollar value of inventory reduction against the initial software licensing and training fees. It is also beneficial to highlight qualitative benefits, such as improved inter-departmental communication, though these are harder to monetize on the balance sheet. A robust analysis might cite research indicating that “successful ERP implementation requires a clear alignment between business processes and technical configuration to realize projected efficiency gains” (Panorama Consulting Group, 2023). Framing your argument with both hard data and strategic alignment shows a sophisticated understanding of the subject matter.

Recommended Academic Resources

• Gupta, S. and Misra, S.C., 2022. Compliance with defect management processes in an ERP implementation project: a longitudinal case study. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, [online] 39(6), pp.1425-1449. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-04-2021-0108
• Reid, R.D. and Sanders, N.R., 2024. Operations Management: An Integrated Approach. 8th ed. Hoboken: Wiley. Available at: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Operations+Management%3A+An+Integrated+Approach%2C+8th+Edition-p-9781119932454
• Shatat, A.S., 2020. Critical Success Factors in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Implementation: An Exploratory Study in Oman. Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, [online] 86(4), p.e12134. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.12134
• Slack, N. and Brandon-Jones, A., 2019. Operations Management. 9th ed. Harlow: Pearson. Available at: https://www.pearson.com/en-gb/subject-catalog/p/operations-management/P200000002040
• Software Advice, 2024. ERP Software Buyers Guide and Market Trends. [online] Available at: https://www.softwareadvice.com/erp/

Sample Answer to Guide Students

Successful completion of the Integrated Learning Project requires careful selection of a manufacturing company with transparent financial information. Students achieve higher results when they align ERP module design with the real operational processes of the chosen organization. Development of an Excel-based Master Production Schedule allows accurate forecasting of product demand and resource requirements. Logical integration of Materials Requirements Planning and Capacity Planning modules supports efficient production management. Quantitative analysis of ERP benefits should clearly demonstrate improvements to inventory turnover and working capital performance. Modern cloud-based ERP platforms provide measurable advantages in data accuracy and cross-functional visibility. Evidence from contemporary research confirms that structured ERP implementation improves organizational productivity and financial control (AlMuhayfith & Shaiti, 2020, https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083313).

Scholarly References

• AlMuhayfith, S., & Shaiti, H. (2020). The impact of enterprise resource planning on business performance. Sustainability, 12(8), 3313. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083313
• Tarhini, A., Ammar, H., Tarhini, T., & Masa’deh, R. (2018). Analysis of the critical success factors for ERP implementation from stakeholders’ perspective. International Business Research, 11(4), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v11n4p1
• Chofreh, A., Goni, F., Shaharoun, A., Ismail, S., & Klemeš, J. (2019). Sustainable enterprise resource planning: A framework and implementation approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 224, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.196
• Haddara, M., & Elragal, A. (2020). ERP lifecycle: A systematic literature review. Information Systems Frontiers, 22(3), 545-563. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-018-9849-z
• Mahraz, M., Benabbou, L., & Berrado, A. (2021). ERP implementation critical success factors. Procedia Computer Science, 181, 1153-1160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2021.01.309

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