International businesses, especially manufacturers, need an enterprise resource planning system for the same reason that businesses headquartered in one location do: it's a means of integrating key business processes into one system that allows for better management and more efficient operations now and in the future. The difference is that an international manufacturing company needs a good ERP system that can handle operations not just at one location, but at multiple locations - all with different requirements and local needs. The ERP system should be very powerful
"An ERP system is a central infrastructure that will enable you to manage your business at a local and global level," Hemmings says. "Not only should it meet your current needs, but it should also give you the flexibility to adapt to any future changes as your business expands internationally."
Centralize local and global manufacturing data and workflows into a centralized ERP system
A good ERP system will enable you to gain insight into highly specific local data for a location while still having easy access to company data. Your system should make it as easy for you to understand what's going on in one business unit as it is for the whole company. ERP gives you the basic ability to zoom in and view local pictures, and then zoom out to see the global impact of local pictures on your global organization.
An ERP system should be powerful enough to help you manage your global business
From a coordination perspective, an ERP system lets you coordinate local and global sales, manufacturing, and distribution to ensure that every stakeholder in the supply chain stays connected and works together as efficiently as possible. When you are well aligned, you can optimize your resources to achieve the maximum ROI (return on investment) across all business levels and activities.