ERP: A strategic approach to promote integration within supply chain [ERP: Uma abordagem estratégica à integração na cadeia de suprimentos]

Abstract

This article aims to describe and compare a decision making process related to an Enterprise Resources Planning - ERP acquisition in two different firms from chemical industry sector. Each company, due to their specific products and customer, has different market approaches. This work paper is about an experiential report developed as a case study. Main conclusions have pointed out in the two case studies, ERP system was considered essential to integrate supply chain. Nevertheless, it was necessary to define a previous list of related needs and motivations to finally define auxiliary systems that will run together ERP in order to attend the specific business integration requirements. This definition will also be helpful to support the decision making process about the customization level of the system.