Top 20 ERP Software Systems for Make to Order (MTO) Manufacturing

• Unique consumption-based licensing provides flexibility and facilitates collaboration.
• Acumatica is the only ERP vendor offering free online training via Acumatica Open University.
• Acumatica's formal Customer Bill-Of-Rights, a unique commitment in the software industry, ensures fair and ethical treatment of customers and trading partners.

• Industry-specific ERP designed for apparel, footwear, accessories, and soft goods companies.
• Strong product lifecycle management (PLM) capabilities, including style, color, and size matrix management.
• Integrated tools for demand forecasting, order allocation, and production planning.
• Supports multi-channel distribution, including wholesale, retail, and e-commerce.
• Robust inventory and warehouse management tailored to seasonal and fast-changing product lines.

• Strong recipe and formula management with support for versioning, scaling, substitutions, and unit of measure conversions.
• Supports co-products and by-products during production.
• Advanced lot tracking and traceability for ingredients and finished goods.
• Built-in quality management system with inspections, approvals, and compliance checks.

• Delivers “tier 1” enterprise-level feature breadth at significantly lower cost than traditional systems
• Built on a long history, combined with fully modernized cloud/SaaS technology
• Direct, friendly, and transparent approach
• Owns the technology (no reliance on “bolt-ons”)
• Offers software directly with no markup (not through third-party VARs)
• Provides close, attentive in-house support

• ERP purpose-built for manufacturing, especially discrete and repetitive manufacturing industries.
• Strong shop floor and production monitoring with real-time data collection from machines.
• Robust MES (Manufacturing Execution System) integration — one of the strongest in its class.
• Advanced quality management system (QMS) with built-in compliance and traceability tools.
• Strong support for plastics, automotive, medical devices, and other regulated industries.
• Unified platform (ERP + MES + QMS) without the need for multiple third-party add-ons.

• Well-suited for medium-sized manufacturers, especially those in discrete, mixed-mode, engineer-to-order, job shop operations.
• Robust quality control and inspection features.

• Curated solutions based on 50 years of deep and broad experience in ERP software
• Purpose-built with and for building materials suppliers and distributors, and metal service centers
   

• Mid-Market Cloud ERP made with Manufacturers for Manufacturers
• Flexible designs surfaces with no/low code configurations
• Simple, intuitive browser-based user interface
• Automation Studio
• Self Service Analytics
• Enterprise Search
• Deployment choice- cloud or premise

• Strong recipe and formula management with support for version control and scaling.
• Advanced traceability features for ingredients, batches, and finished products.
• Built-in quality management and compliance tools to meet food safety regulations (FDA, USDA, HACCP, FSMA).
• Shelf-life management and expiration date tracking to reduce waste and ensure product safety.
• Integrated production scheduling and demand forecasting tailored to food industry needs.
• Robust inventory and warehouse management with lot tracking and catch weight support.
• Industry-specific functionality for allergens, nutrition labeling, and regulatory reporting.

• Best suited for small to mid-sized manufacturers (discrete, mixed-mode, ETO, make-to-order) that require a unified ERP.
• Ideal for companies that need deep integration between production, quality, inventory, and financials, without needing numerous bolt-ons.

• Unified platform combining ERP, EAM (Enterprise Asset Management), and FSM (Field Service Management) in one solution.
• Strong focus on asset-intensive industries (aerospace & defense, energy, utilities, construction, manufacturing, service-based organizations).
• Advanced project management and service management capabilities are built directly into the ERP.
• Deep functionality for manufacturing and supply chain operations, including complex, multi-mode production.
• Lifecycle asset management tools that track equipment from design through decommissioning.
• Embedded AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics for forecasting and maintenance optimization.
• Modular and composable architecture. 

• Cloud-first ERP from Microsoft, tightly integrated with the broader Microsoft ecosystem (Office 365, Teams, Power BI, Azure)
• Strong financial management features for small-to-mid-sized businesses
• Seamless CRM-light functionality for sales, customer service, and project management
• Power Platform integration (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate) for analytics, app building, and workflow automation
• Customization through low-code/no-code extensions rather than heavy development
• Scalable licensing model, making it affordable to start small and expand

• Built for fabricators, sheet metal shops, and precision machine shops.
• Ideal for for small to mid-sized manufacturers with custom, job shop, MTO, ETO, or hybrid production models.

• Cloud-based ERP solution for back-office operations and financial processes
• Unified business insights to support swift decision-making
• Designed to support innovation and business growth
• Trusted by over 24,000 global customers

• Comprehensive, enterprise-grade cloud ERP covering finance, procurement, project management, risk, and supply chain
• AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics embedded throughout for forecasting, anomaly detection, and predictive insights
• Continuous innovation model with quarterly updates delivered automatically in the cloud
• Native integration with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), database, and middleware tools
• Industry-specific solutions for sectors like financial services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and public sector
• Native integration with Oracle Supply Chain & Manufacturing (SCM), HCM, and CX Cloud for a unified enterprise suite

• Scalability: Proven to handle thousands of users and global operations for Fortune 500 companies.
• Flexible Database Options: Runs on Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, ASE, and later versions on HANA.
• Strong Partner Ecosystem: Large network of consultants, integrators, and support providers.
• Global Compliance Support: Country-specific legal, tax, and payroll updates provided by SAP.

• Next-generation ERP system built on the SAP HANA in-memory database
• Integrated suite covering finance, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, procurement, and more
• Advanced AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics embedded in processes
• Strong industry-specific capabilities across sectors (manufacturing, retail, utilities, healthcare, etc.)
• Flexible deployment options: cloud, on-premise, or hybrid
• Scalable to support global enterprises 

VAI is a single vendor that offers Cloud Hosting, ERP Software, and Support. It offers an enterprise-wide subscription that allows organizations to grow revenue, expand locations, and add users without paying additional software subscription fees. VAI provides experienced and direct support from the author, all based in the USA.

• Acumatica is devoted to the midmarket. It is not a great fit for large enterprises in need of fully global support.

• May not scale well for very large, complex global enterprises outside of the apparel space.

• Functions primarily as a manufacturing add-on and relies on integration with host ERPs for financials and core business processes.
• Best suited for small to mid-sized process manufacturers; may not scale well for very large, global enterprises.

• Not ideal for service-based or retail businesses.
• No “HR” or “Payroll” inside the platform; requires integrating to a third-party payroll system.

• DELMIAworks IQMS is not a fit for non-manufacturing environment businesses.

• Does not support batch manufacturing.

• Not appropriate for process manufacturers

• Not suitable for companies under $10 million in revenue.

• May not scale as well for very large, diversified enterprises outside the food sector.

• Primarily focuses on the needs of discrete manufacturers, which may differ from the needs of process manufacturers.

• IFS Cloud is not suitable for smaller organizations with annual revenues under $200 million.

• May not scale as well for very large enterprises with complex needs.
• May not be ideal for businesses needing specialized vertical features out of the box.

• Not ideal for very small businesses with simple operations or low volumes.

• Not suitable for companies with over $100 million revenue
• No on-premise deployment available

• Not suitable for smaller companies with under $150 million in revenue.

• Mainstream support ends in 2027 (extended support available to 2030 at extra cost).

• The system is enterprise-level and is not suitable for small businesses or startups.

Companies with revenue under 20 million that are not in the wholesale distribution, manufacturing, specialty retail, service and repair, or rental industries.