Manufacturing ERP Software for Small and Mid-Size Manufacturers
Aquilon is ERP software for small and mid-size manufacturers in Canada, the United States, and across the Commonwealth. It connects product definitions, production planning, work in progress, purchasing, inventory, and accounting in one system.
We work with manufacturers of industrial machinery and equipment, precast concrete products, composite building materials, modular products, machined parts, and millwork. Some produce established product lines. Others build to a customer’s specifications, or combine manufacturing with repair and service work. Each needs to know what it has to make, which materials it needs, what the work will cost, and when the finished product can ship.
MANUFACTURERS WE WORK WITH
Industrial machinery and equipment
Precast concrete products
Composite building materials
Modular products
Machining
Millwork
Serving Canada, the United States, and the Commonwealth
Common challenges for manufacturers
A manufacturer may need to buy components, prepare a quote, release a work order, record materials and labour, and ship the finished product. Each step depends on information from the others.
When purchasing, inventory, production, and accounting sit in separate systems, it’s harder to see what materials a job needs, or to compare what a job was expected to cost with what it actually used.
Quote – Buy components – Release work order – Record materials and labour – Ship – Review job cost
How Aquilon supports manufacturing
Product definition and costing
Aquilon’s Product Definition module records bills of material, labour requirements, and overhead allocations. That gives you a basis for estimating what each product needs and what it should cost to make.
Production planning
For manufactured items, Aquilon brings demand and supply together in a production planning worksheet. Staff review suggested quantities and generate work orders, with the required materials in view.
Work in progress and job costing
Aquilon records materials, labour, and expenses against production work. Comparing actual costs with expected costs shows what a job really cost and where it differed.
Custom and configure-to-order work
For custom products and assemblies, Aquilon supports quotations built from selected components, labour, and specifications, so what was agreed during the sale carries through to production.
One connected system
Manufacturing works with Aquilon’s inventory, purchasing, sales order, and financial modules. Teams follow each order from customer demand through production and into the financial records, without keeping separate copies of the same information.
Manufacturing modules
See how Product Definition, Production Planning, and Work-In-Progress work together.
Manufacturers we work with
Industrial machinery and equipment
Equipment builders often assemble systems from a mix of purchased and manufactured parts, sometimes for a specific customer application. Many also repair, overhaul, and service equipment, where the full scope of the work may only become clear after inspection.
Precast concrete products
Precast producers have to match products to each project’s requirements while keeping materials, production, and costs in view.
Machining
Machine shops often quote from a customer’s drawing, then need to know what each job actually cost to produce.
Composite, modular, and millwork products
Producers of standard building products plan production against demand and available stock, and may also take on work built to a customer’s specifications.
Which Aquilon tools fit how you manufacture
Manufacturing isn’t one process. Aquilon’s manufacturing modules let each business manage product definitions, production planning, and work in progress according to the work it actually does.
| How you work | What you need to manage | Aquilon tools |
|---|---|---|
| Standard product lines | Planning production against demand and available stock | Production planning worksheet, Product Definition |
| Custom products and assemblies | Carrying what was agreed at the sale into production | Quotations with selected components, labour, and specifications |
| Equipment built from purchased and manufactured parts | Seeing every material the build requires | Bills of material, purchasing, production planning |
| Any job you need to cost | Comparing expected cost with what the job actually used | Work-In-Progress |
Manufacturers running on Aquilon
Water Treatment Warehouse, Venice and Orlando, Florida
Water Treatment Warehouse is a mid-size manufacturer and distributor with locations in Venice and Orlando, Florida. After many years on an on-premise system, it moved to Aquilon ERP in the cloud and has run on Aquilon for several years.
“Our midsize manufacturing and distribution company was too large for most small business packages, and we didn’t want to pay the enormous price tag for many enterprise ERP solutions. Aquilon was the smart choice.”
“We’ve been using Aquilon ERP for several years, and have been very happy with the comprehensive scope of the software. Previously we were running on a premise-based solution for many years. Going to cloud-based computing was scary at first, but it ended up being a great solution. No more worries with server updates and upgrades, communications between locations going down, and the endless cycle of software patches and driver updates.
Our midsize manufacturing and distribution company was too large for most small business packages, and we didn’t want to pay the enormous price tag for many enterprise ERP solutions. Aquilon was the smart choice, comprehensive warehousing and distribution software, with a solid accounting package. Our people give high marks to their customer support staff, as they are very responsive to our needs.”
Denny Mahle, President, Water Treatment Warehouse
Frequently asked questions
What is manufacturing ERP software?
It’s a single system that connects product definitions, production planning, work in progress, purchasing, inventory, and accounting, so a manufacturer can see material requirements and job costs without reconciling separate systems.
What types of manufacturers use Aquilon?
Aquilon works with manufacturers of industrial machinery and equipment, precast concrete products, composite building materials, modular products, machined parts, and millwork, including businesses that combine manufacturing with repair and service work.
Is Aquilon suitable for small and mid-size manufacturers?
Yes. Aquilon is built for small and mid-size manufacturers and distributors. Water Treatment Warehouse, a mid-size Florida manufacturer and distributor, chose Aquilon because it was too large for most small business packages and didn’t want the cost of an enterprise ERP system.
Does Aquilon support bills of material?
Yes. Aquilon’s Product Definition module records bills of material, labour requirements, and overhead allocations for each manufactured product.
How does Aquilon help plan production?
For manufactured items, Aquilon brings demand and supply together in a production planning worksheet. Staff review suggested quantities and generate work orders, with the required materials in view.
Can Aquilon track job costs?
Yes. Aquilon records materials, labour, and expenses against production work, so managers can compare actual costs with expected costs and investigate differences.
Can Aquilon handle custom or configure-to-order products?
Yes. For custom products and assemblies, Aquilon supports quotations built from selected components, labour, and specifications, so what was agreed during the sale carries through to production.
Does Aquilon include accounting for manufacturers?
Yes. Manufacturing works with Aquilon’s inventory, purchasing, sales order, and financial modules in one ERP system.
Can a manufacturer move from an on-premise system to Aquilon in the cloud?
Yes. Water Treatment Warehouse ran an on-premise system for many years before moving to Aquilon ERP in the cloud. Its president says the move ended server updates, upgrades, and software patches for the company.
Where is Aquilon used?
Aquilon serves manufacturers in Canada, the United States, and Commonwealth countries.
See Aquilon in action
If you need a clearer view of materials, production, and costs, we can demonstrate Aquilon using the kinds of products and orders your team handles.