Katana ERP: The Manufacturing ERP Designed For Growth

Katana ERP: The Manufacturing ERP Designed for Growth

In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, businesses need more than just basic accounting software. They require a comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that can streamline operations, improve efficiency, and provide real-time visibility into every aspect of their business. Katana ERP is a manufacturing ERP software that is designed to do just that.

What is Katana ERP?

Katana ERP is a cloud-based ERP platform specifically built for small to medium-sized manufacturing companies. It focuses on providing a user-friendly interface and powerful tools to manage manufacturing processes, inventory, sales, and accounting. It’s particularly well-suited for businesses that deal with make-to-order (MTO) and make-to-stock (MTS) production models.

Key Features and Functionality

Katana ERP offers a wide range of features designed to address the specific needs of manufacturers. Some of the key functionalities include:

• Inventory Management:

  • Real-time Inventory Tracking: Katana provides a clear overview of stock levels across multiple locations, allowing businesses to track raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods in real-time.
  • Inventory Optimization: The system helps optimize inventory levels by providing insights into demand patterns, lead times, and safety stock requirements. This reduces the risk of stockouts and minimizes holding costs.
  • Batch and Serial Number Tracking: Katana supports batch and serial number tracking, which is essential for manufacturers that need to comply with regulatory requirements or manage product recalls effectively.
  • Inventory Valuation: The system automatically calculates inventory costs using various methods, such as FIFO (First-In, First-Out) and weighted average, providing accurate financial reporting.

• Production Planning and Scheduling:

  • Master Production Scheduling (MPS): Katana’s MPS module allows manufacturers to create a production plan based on sales forecasts, customer orders, and available capacity.
  • Material Requirements Planning (MRP): The system automatically calculates the raw materials and components needed to fulfill production orders, ensuring that materials are available when needed.
  • Shop Floor Control: Katana provides tools to manage shop floor operations, including work order management, task assignment, and progress tracking.
  • Capacity Planning: The system helps manufacturers identify potential bottlenecks and optimize resource allocation by providing insights into machine and labor capacity.
  • Drag-and-Drop Scheduling: Katana’s drag-and-drop scheduling feature makes it easy to adjust production schedules in response to changing priorities or unexpected events.

• Sales Order Management:

  • Order Entry: Katana allows businesses to quickly and easily create sales orders, track order status, and manage customer information.
  • Order Fulfillment: The system helps streamline the order fulfillment process by providing tools to pick, pack, and ship orders efficiently.
  • Shipping Integrations: Katana integrates with popular shipping carriers, such as UPS and FedEx, to automate shipping label generation and tracking.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): While not a full-fledged CRM, Katana offers basic CRM functionality to manage customer interactions and track sales opportunities.

• Purchasing:

  • Purchase Order Management: Katana allows businesses to create and manage purchase orders, track supplier performance, and negotiate favorable pricing.
  • Supplier Management: The system provides a central repository for supplier information, including contact details, pricing, and lead times.
  • Automated Purchase Order Generation: Katana can automatically generate purchase orders based on inventory levels and production requirements, reducing the risk of stockouts.

• Accounting and Finance:

  • Integration with Accounting Software: Katana integrates with popular accounting software, such as QuickBooks and Xero, to streamline financial reporting and reconciliation.
  • Cost Accounting: The system provides tools to track manufacturing costs, including direct materials, direct labor, and overhead, enabling businesses to calculate accurate product costs.
  • Financial Reporting: Katana offers a range of financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, providing insights into the financial performance of the business.

• Reporting and Analytics:

  • Real-time Dashboards: Katana provides real-time dashboards that give users a quick overview of key performance indicators (KPIs), such as sales, production, and inventory levels.
  • Customizable Reports: The system allows businesses to create custom reports to track specific metrics and analyze trends.
  • Data Export: Katana allows users to export data in various formats, such as CSV and Excel, for further analysis.

Benefits of Using Katana ERP

Implementing Katana ERP can bring numerous benefits to manufacturing companies, including:

• Improved Efficiency: By automating key processes and providing real-time visibility into operations, Katana ERP can significantly improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Reduced Costs: The system helps optimize inventory levels, streamline production, and improve resource allocation, leading to lower costs.
• Increased Sales: Katana’s sales order management and CRM features help businesses manage customer relationships, track sales opportunities, and close more deals.
• Better Decision-Making: The system provides accurate and timely data, enabling businesses to make informed decisions about production, inventory, and pricing.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Katana facilitates collaboration between different departments by providing a central platform for sharing information and coordinating activities.
• Scalability: As a cloud-based solution, Katana ERP can easily scale to meet the growing needs of the business.

Who is Katana ERP For?

Katana ERP is designed for small to medium-sized manufacturing companies that:

• Produce physical goods.
• Manage inventory of raw materials, components, and finished goods.
• Follow make-to-order (MTO) or make-to-stock (MTS) production models.
• Need to track production costs and profitability.
• Want to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Seek a user-friendly and affordable ERP solution.

Industries Served

Katana ERP is used by manufacturers in a wide range of industries, including:

• Food and Beverage: Managing recipes, batch tracking, and expiration dates.
• Furniture: Tracking raw materials, managing production schedules, and optimizing inventory.
• Apparel and Textiles: Managing fabric inventory, tracking production orders, and controlling costs.
• Electronics: Managing component inventory, tracking serial numbers, and ensuring quality control.
• Machinery and Equipment: Managing complex bills of materials, tracking production costs, and providing after-sales service.
• Cosmetics and Personal Care: Batch tracking, compliance, and managing raw materials.

Katana ERP Pricing

Katana ERP offers flexible pricing plans to suit the needs of different businesses. The pricing is typically based on the number of users and the features included in the plan. They offer a free trial, allowing businesses to test the software before committing to a subscription.

Katana ERP Integrations

Katana ERP integrates with a variety of other software applications, including:

• Accounting Software: QuickBooks, Xero, Sage
• E-commerce Platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, Etsy
• CRM Systems: HubSpot, Pipedrive
• Shipping Carriers: UPS, FedEx, DHL
• Other Tools: Zapier, Google Sheets

These integrations help streamline workflows and eliminate the need for manual data entry.

Katana ERP Alternatives

While Katana ERP is a powerful solution for many manufacturers, it’s important to consider other options as well. Some popular Katana ERP alternatives include:

• MRPeasy: A comprehensive ERP system for small manufacturers.
• Odoo: A modular ERP platform with a wide range of applications.
• NetSuite: A cloud-based ERP system for larger enterprises.
• SAP Business One: An ERP system for small to medium-sized businesses.

Conclusion

Katana ERP is a powerful and user-friendly ERP system that can help manufacturing companies streamline operations, improve efficiency, and drive growth. Its focus on manufacturing-specific features, intuitive interface, and affordable pricing make it an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking to take their operations to the next level. By providing real-time visibility into inventory, production, and sales, Katana empowers manufacturers to make informed decisions, optimize resources, and achieve their business goals. Before making a final decision, it is recommended to evaluate your business needs, compare different ERP systems, and take advantage of free trials to find the best fit for your organization.