Integration with CAD software
The simple and seamless integration of ERP systems and computer-aided design software is a basic feature of the metal manufacturing industry. Any ERP software for a metal manufacturing company must provide the ability to integrate the data in the CAD system with other processes (production, scheduling, bill of materials, etc.).
 This is especially important for custom jobs. A customer may submit a design for a new part, but the design needs to be changed halfway through the production process. An ERP system synchronized with CAD software can instantly capture design changes in CAD drawings and convert them throughout the system, making it easy to get accurate quoted cost estimates, procure necessary materials, and schedule labor and production capacity.
 The system must be able to quickly and accurately meet customer requirements, create designs, formulate estimated costs, provide quotes that meet customer requirements, and generate profits for metal manufacturers.
 Without such flexibility, the slightest change in a project can stall the entire process and could lead to financial losses in the event of inaccurate quotes.
 Advanced planning skills
 Metal manufacturers have similar planning needs to other industries - labor, materials, scheduling, subcontractors, and other aspects of daily production. Most metal manufacturing companies have these processes as standard features in their ERP software, but metal manufacturers also need their systems to accommodate some more specific features.
 Metal manufacturers also need to manage inventories of many materials using dimensional units of measurement. They need to be able to switch between these dimensions and standard units of measurement as easily as possible.
 For example, most manufacturers use sheets and coils in square feet or inches. The sheet will be machined into parts measured in standard units. To get the most out of each drawing and eliminate waste, manufacturers must be able to accurately and quickly convert units of measurement for each specific part. A good ERP system will be equipped for these types of automatic conversions to ensure maximum utilization of materials.