WHAT IS INFOR EAM?

Infor EAM is the world’s leading EAM system, available for local installation or in the Cloud.
Learn more about Infor EAM!

WHAT IT TAKES TO GET AN EAMS IN PLACE

EAM Solutions can provide you a team of certified experts to help you implement Infor EAM, the standard in EAMS. Our team!

IS INFOR EAM A GOOD FIT FOR YOU?

WHEN SOFTWARE IS NOT A BUSINESS PROCESS

Infor EAM Enables Your Business Processes

The pattern is familiar to anyone who has ever been involved with a software project.

You source, buy and install the software. Your team is chosen for configuration, special technical tasks, and end-user training. At the end of the project, the system is deployed and management is happy.

Except that the software isn't delivering the results management expected, and daily tasks have moved from difficult (pre-project) to nightmare (post-project).

The key ingredient missing from this recipe is a clear direction set by a concise set of business process charts, and a set of charts everyone can agree on.

Software in and of itself is not a process, even if you can setup workflow and authorizations.

Your team must work together to identify needed processes, design and document new processes, and deliver a cohesive document for use as a blueprint for configuration.

At the beginning of all software projects, and even at the start of sub-projects (such as “system integration”) your team needs to come together to identify how the business operates, how the system can support these processes, and who is responsible for steps along the way. This will allow you to conform the enterprise software, such as Infor EAM, to how your company does business, instead of forcing the business into conforming to out-of-the-box configuration.

With Infor EAM you need to identify all areas affected by the software, including:

Asset life cycle management
Work orders and preventive maintenance schedules
Inventory controls for spare parts
Requisition to PO process, including AP, even if done outside of Infor EAM
Ongoing application administration

Once you identify processes affected by Infor EAM, the work for your team really begins - now you need to start thinking about steps and decisions points. Each process step needs to be identified, charted, and related to other process steps and decision points.

THE MYSTERIOUS CROSS-FUNCTIONAL CHART

When building business process charts, your team should consider using the “swim lane” chart, also called a Cross-Functional chart in MS Visio.

This type of process chart will help you identify process roles and task hand-offs.

The cross-functional chart will also give you a more organized blueprint for configuring both application and security settings in Infor EAM.

This is the tool of choice for EAM Solutions consultants, and we have a proven method for documenting and delivering business process charts in this format.

How does a project team get to this state?

The answer is fairly simple - tribal knowledge.

Everyone associated with the deployment team knows a specific job and assumes everyone else understands how business is conducted. The old process works and another assumption is made - this is the best process to support with Infor EAM.

No one has taken the time to bring together all of the current processes into a single document, and the thought of creating new business processes is enough to drive off most team members.

SOFTWARE IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT A PROCESS,

EVEN IF YOU CAN SETUP WORKFLOW AND AUTHORIZATIONS.

TEAM INVOLVEMENT IS A MUST

The key to success with a project team is pulling together the right people. This may seem like a silly observation, but many companies simply put people on a team because “they are available”.

When the project plan is being put together, a team must also be assembled. This team needs to include representatives from all areas directly affected by Infor EAM. This could include:

Maintenance and Operations
IT and operation technology groups
Accounting or finance representatives
Purchasing
Warehouse or inventory management
Safety and regulatory groups
Consultants working on projects that could affect Infor EAM

The team will need a leader, such as a Project Manager, and must work together towards a common goal.

Consensus will be the most daunting task, and your team will need a leader for each session. Subject matter experts (SME) will also be needed to help clarify process steps, including what’s really needed, and what can be eliminated.

EAM Solutions can guide your team through this process. Our consultants work with a proven method and toolset to help customers build and implement effective business processes. In turn, your team gets credit for helping make business more efficient, and Infor EAM effective and easy to use.