Critical success factor framework for the implementation of integrated-enterprise systems in the manufacturing environment

The business environment today is a collaborative business environment. These include inter- and intra-enterprise business process collaboration in the areas of supply chain management, customer relationship management, supplier relationship management, e-business and employee-business integration. To achieve this, enterprises also realize the need to implement integrated-enterprise systems, which integrate tightly their intra- and inter- enterprise business processes. With new technologies like web services, wireless applications and advanced software applications that enable collaboration, the enterprise today needs implementation frameworks that consider the requirements of collaborative business scenarios in a holistic manner. Consideration of the various critical success factors in the life cycle of the integrated-enterprise systems implementation reduces the risk of failures. A critical success factor framework is introduced for an integrated-enterprise systems implementation framework in the collaborative manufacturing environment. This framework ensures that the various critical success factors are considered at a very early stage of the project so that the integrated-enterprise system can be designed and implemented. Risks and potential problem areas are identified and mitigation plans can be put in place. A case study of an integrated-enterprise system implementation using the critical success factor framework is also presented. This framework was used successfully to design and implement a collaborative integrated-enterprise system for a manufacturing enterprise.