ERP Solutions for Shipyards

Discussion in 'Software' started by internetturk, Aug 28, 2008.

  1. internetturk
    Joined: Sep 2006
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    internetturk Junior Member

    Hi everybody,
    Is there any people have a experince with MARS or IFS?(ERP solutions for shipyards.)
    I want to learn what is difference between these software?

    thanks,
    internetturk
     
  2. Kay9
    Joined: Oct 2006
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    Kay9 1600T Master

    MARS is more of a manufacturing software type ERP and IFS is more high end accounting based. With that said you can make either one work.

    K9
     
  3. gramcko
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    gramcko New Member

    Its not the difference between the software that counts, its the difference between your operations and the software. Any ERP will do nearly 100% of the accounting, purchasing, distribution, and if you use the MRP, will do a good job of scheduling materials. They vary greatly on automating work at the shop level.
    Overall, they'll do 80% of what you'll need, more if you're willing to bend your operations to the software.
     
  4. pascalbekker
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    pascalbekker New Member

    hello

    those some one know where i can find a "demo /try "version of this software

    thx
     
  5. Kay9
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    Kay9 1600T Master

    The local rep will be happy to demo some of the features. However these are very complex and large pices of software, that are tailored to each individual install/user. You cant get a CD, install it, and give it a 30 day test drive like you can quickbooks.

    Often the install and debug takes 6 months. Another 3 months for training. If you can go live in 12 months your doing really well.

    K9
     
  6. zsaksoy
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    zsaksoy New Member

    Actually they have some differences.

    Mars works on DPL(Drawing part lists) and specific software for shipyards but not an ERP solution. It's just a planning software.

    IFS is an ERP software it means that it's not a planning software only, it's also includes other ERP modules as material management,purchase,lojistik,account,finans, HR,QA,document managemet. So it's not for planning it's also for butget,cost accounting,shop floor jobs and more. It's also integrated with tirbon,autocad and solid works. İt has very good planning tools but you can use ms project or primavera integrated with IFS.

    I implement IFS more than 10 shipyards in Turkey. It's takes 6 months(for install,training and start to use). You cannot find demo cd's but you can contact me if any question.
     
  7. PARRESM
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    PARRESM New Member

    There are quite some differences between the systems. MARS is a shipbuilding specific solution and it is only used by shipyards, so you can expect less customizations if you go for MARS. MARS fully supports all the vital processes for the shipyard in material management, logistic control, production control and planning. MARS has a fully integrated planning system which increases the transparency of your resources available.

    MARS is the ERP supplier with most references in the shipbuilding industry which illustrates that it is a scalable and flexible solution dedicated for shipyards.

    Logimatic, The company behind MARS, was actually started by managers from Aalborg Shipyard in 1987 ( www.logimatic.com ) Consequently, the people behind MARS know about shipbuilding which is a huge advantage when cooperating with the company during implementation.

    The origin of IFS is completely different.
     
  8. zsaksoy
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    zsaksoy New Member

    Yes Mars is a specific solution and it is only used by shipyards. But the main problem is it's not an ERP software, it's just a planning and document management software. It has'nt got finance module, Maintanence module, HR module and some other ERP modules. ERP(enterprise resource management) softwares are handle all resources in your company and needs all this modules.

    So if your target is just planning Mars is ok. But if you want to manage everything in your company you need an ERP. İt means that if you only have mars still you should use an ERP and by this way you have to make lot's modification to integrate this softwares.

    I can give you lot's references use IFS (and not using mars because they don't need anymore) but as I write before they are complety different softwares. Both of them good in their job. But It's wrong to compare them.
     
  9. Shipyard_UK
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    Shipyard_UK New Member

    MARS - ERP for Shipyards

    I have read the various comments, and unfortunately there are different misunderstandings. I have had the opportunity to work with MARS in England and have also participated in various ERP evaluations, where we were looking for a suitable ERP solution for our shipyard.

    It came very clear that MARS was a significant stronger solution, compared to alternatives, such as Oracle, SAP and IFS. It's not correct, as it has been stated, that MARS is not an ERP - it 's, but probably more what one would consider as a vertical (business specific) ERP solution for shipbuilding.

    The system can do Estimation, Cost Controlling, Project Management, Material Handling, Drawing Management, Document Management, Steel Handling, Procurement, Warehouse Management, Invoice Controlling, Sales, Project and Production Planning and much more, including strong Business Intelligence (BI) - Our evaluation showed that for the support of the comples processes, such as Procurement, Outfitting, Planning and Scheduling MARS came in as our 1st choice.

    It is true that the system has no Finance Module, but then again - We were offered standard interfaces to any 3rd party Finance system (in our case we decided to use Navision) and it simply worked perfect.

    Summarizing, I have not come across a system so far that can do the job as MARS, so should I redo such evaluation I am quite sure that MARS once more would come in as a preferred solution.

    Other than this, maybe not so much related to the system, the consultants from the Danish company . LOGIMATIC were very competent - Several were ex-shipbuilders, so they defenitely knew what they were talking about, which was a true relief. Such expertice were not available at the other vendors
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2009
  10. jdsk
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    jdsk New Member

    I have read posts under ERP solutions for Shipyards, and am interested in hearing from MARS clients. I work in IT, and our organization is looking at Shipyard ERP options. What back end hardware is MARS hosted on ? What operating systems does MARS run on ?? How much babysitting is required from internal IT resources to support and maintain MARS ? Does IT require technical training to support MARS ? If functional shipyard leads are acting as MARS power users, can they do there fulltime job and support MARS as well?? Does MARS have API's available to port into back end ERP's such as JDE Enterprise One ? Does MARS scheduling replace MS Project or Primavera for functional users ?
     
  11. Shipyard_UK
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    Shipyard_UK New Member

    To give a short reply I would say the following:

    MARS is a stable platform that doesn't require much nursing. It runs on ORACLE, and every HW platform that ORACLE supports are equally supported by MARS. When the system is deployed it doesn't take much from internal IT - At least this is my experience. IT joins the initial training sessions, which is only natural I guess. Interfaces via the API works well. I don't know about the JDE system, but I don't think that this would be any different. The Planning module in MARS is quite good and will replace existing packages, but there are different import and export features in the module that allows for exchanging data with standard planning packages such as MS-Project and Primavera. I can suggest you call MARS and ask for some of the details, as this is just my personal opnion above. I'm sure that they will be able to share references and point of contacts with you. Good luck!
     
  12. jdsk
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    jdsk New Member

    MARS follow up question

    Thanks Shipyard_UK...

    CAD integration (PDM) into MARS.. A white paper I read indicated MARS clients (oh yea there isnt much MARS content on the internet) may have challenges with seamless integration from CAD into MARS.. Our shipyard's TSO use Autocad (New versions), Solidworks and Rhino. A couple of questions.... Does CAD products need to be @ latest and greatest version to interface seamlessly with MARS ? Is CAD products I listed considered mainstream CAD products that interface with MARS (API's) seamlessly. Where are the gotchas ??

    What is source of truth for BOM, part master, routing, engineer changes - (CAD- PDM vs. MARS) ?

    Thanks !!!
     
  13. walstan
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    walstan New Member

    Can it do estimation like any other estimation tool in the market
     
  14. jdsk
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    jdsk New Member

    MARS question on estimating..

    To answer your question.. I dont know, since we arent a MARS user.. We are evaluating MARS along with other products..

    MARS web site says, "All major business processes are supported, including tendering and pre-calculation, project establishment and planning, project and budget control" So it sounds like estimating is doable in MARS...

    The challenge I see..

    MARS ERP doesnt include financial functionality. It appears an electronic bridge (bi-directional) would need to be build between MARS and clients financial ERP..

    Not sure if that helps..

    Thanks,

    Dale
     

  15. vmarser
    Joined: Dec 2012
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    vmarser New Member

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