What is System Software Associates? ERP Products and Technology, BPCS Applications

What is System Software Associates?

Systems Software Associates, Inc. was founded in 1981 by Roger E. Covey, at an early age of 26. Until 1989, SSA had an employee count of 400 with over 4,000 customers in 30 countries. The company offered business solutions software in eight languages, including French, German, Italian, Chinese and Japanese.

Software Associates, Inc. was acquired by Gores and Cerberus Capital Management to become SSA Global Technologies in August 2000. SSA Global Technologies is a leading provider of ERP solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail, services and public sector organisations across the world.

In addition to basic ERP applications, SSA Global provides organisations with a comprehensive range of integrated extended ERP solutions for corporate performance management, customer relationship management, product lifecycle management, supply chain management and supplier relationship management. On July 28, 2006, SSA Global Technologies was acquired by Infor Global Solutions.

Business Planning and Control System (BPCS)

The main product line of SSA includes Business Planning and Control System (BPCS). BPCS is an integrated group of software products that includes applications for manufacturing, distribution and financial operations. BPCS is used to control the operations of a manufacturing company’s processes.

Some of its features include the following:

• It runs on several systems, which include the IBM system, also known as IBM AS/400 or IBM eServer Series.
  
  
• It is written in SQL, AS/Set, RPG and other IBM languages that are unique to the system.
  
  
• The product is most suited for manufacturing and planning applications.

---

SSA ERP Products and Technology

Some of the most popular products of SSA include the following:

Business Performance Management (BPM)

It comprises a set of management and analytic processes that enable businesses to define strategic goals and measure performance with the use of technology.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

It includes processes that organisations deploy to attract new customers and retain existing ones. CRM software is also used to store and access information about customers and their interactions with organisations.

Financial Management (FM)

This is a sub-division of finance that is concerned with the management of funds. It is an interdepartmental approach that borrows from both managerial accounting and corporate finance.

Human Resource Management (HRM)

This is a strategic and rational approach to the management of an organisation’s most valued assets—the people working there who individually and collectively contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the business.

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

This is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from its conception, through design and manufacture, to service and disposal. PLM integrates data, processes, people and business systems and acts as an information storehouse for companies and their extended enterprises.

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

This product manages the supply chain networks of organisations. It monitors the movement and storage of raw materials, inventory, work-in-process and finished goods from the point of origin to the point of consumption.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)

This product helps in maximising the potential value of the relationships with the suppliers by working in cooperation with them.

---

BPCS Applications

BPCS applications are based on BPCS software with additional features by partnering with suppliers of applications, such as data mining, bar coding, etc. Some BPCS applications include the following:

Financial Applications

These applications are used for functions such as Costing (CST), Accounts Payable (ACP), Accounts Receivable (ACR), Billing (BIL), General Ledger (GLD), Cash Management (CSH), Multiple Currencies (MLT), Currency Translation (CTR), Financial Assistant (FIN), Fixed Assets (FXA), Payroll (PAY), Business Modelling and Data Mining.

Planning Applications

These applications are used for functions such as Forecasting (FOR), Master Scheduling (MPS), Material Requirements Planning (MRP), Capacity Planning (CAP), Distribution Resource Planning (inter facility) (DRP), Planner’s Assistant (PLN) and Simulations.

Distribution Applications

These applications are used for functions such as Inventory (INV), Purchasing (PUR), Customer Order Processing (ORD), Billing (BIL), Sales Analysis (SAL), Promotions and Deals (PRO) and Performance Measurement (PRF) (such as supplier quality and on-time company performance in supplying to the customers, internal quality control, multiple environments, companies, divisions, facilities, warehouses and locations).

Manufacturing Applications

These applications are used for functions such as Bill of Material (BOM), Inventory (INV), Shop Floor Control (SFC), Master Scheduling (MPS), Material Requirements Planning (MRP), Capacity Planning (CAP), Laboratory Management (LMS), Just In Time (JIT), Quality Control (QMS), Repetitive Manufacturing, CIMPath (Bar coding and Data Collection) (CIM), Advanced Process (chemical) Industries (API) and Performance Measurement (factory production) (PRF).

Systems Applications

These applications are used for functions such as Miscellaneous Reports and Retrievals, System Parameters or Business Rules, Transaction Effects, Documentation, Data Base X-Reference, Interest Area Menus, Sliding Y2K Window and Data Base Upgrade.