Persistent labor shortages, regulatory changes, and accelerating AI adoption are forcing manufacturers to implement innovative solutions to stay competitive. If you’re thinking about following suit, then this list of the top 10 manufacturing ERP systems is the place to start.
The 2026 Top 10 Manufacturing ERP Systems Report is designed to help manufacturers across verticals understand what kind of functionality is available in the market today.
A Few of the Top 10 ERP Systems for the Manufacturing Industry
Acumatica Cloud ERP
Acumatica provides a cloud-based ERP with micro-vertical functionality designed for small and mid-sized businesses. It integrates various business functions, including Financial Management, Customer Management (CRM), Manufacturing, Distribution, and more.
ECI Deacom and ECI M1
ECI Deacom is a manufacturing-focused ERP system designed primarily for batch and process manufacturers. ECI M1 is a manufacturing ERP built for complex, mixed-mode manufacturers, bringing quoting, orders, engineering, materials, and production scheduling into one flexible system.
Epicor Kinetic
Epicor Kinetic is a cloud-first, modular ERP platform for manufacturers. It unifies planning, production, supply chain, finance, and quality in a single system.
IFS Cloud
IFS Cloud is an industry-focused solution tailored for large and mid-sized organizations. The solution combines Enterprise Resource Planning, Service Management, and Enterprise Asset Management capabilities.
Infor CloudSuite ERPs
Infor CloudSuite ERPs for manufacturing are AI-powered and built for process and discrete manufacturers to streamline and optimize complex manufacturing operations. They deliver deep industry functionality for industrial manufacturing, automotive, aerospace & defense, and more.
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers several cloud-based ERP platforms, including a platform for Finance and a platform for Supply Chain Management, as well as functionality to support HR, project, and e-business.
That was just a preview of some of the vendors. You can find out who else was featured by downloading The 2026 Top 10 Manufacturing ERP Systems Report:
2026 Top 10 Manufacturing ERP Systems Report
Are you a mid- to large-sized manufacturing firm? This report is for you. Download it now to learn what kind of advanced functionality is available in the market today.
In the meantime, we’d like to share a few best practices for selecting the best ERP system for manufacturing companies. Here are some expert insights for successful ERP provider selection and implementation in the manufacturing industry.
The First Step in Manufacturing ERP Selection: A Business Case
Before beginning ERP selection, you need executive buy-in and clearly defined business goals. A business case can help in both regards.
When developing a business case, consider what has sparked your search for new manufacturing ERP software. Was it the need for advanced analytics for production scheduling? Was it the recognition that your order management or customer experience could use improvement?
Regardless of the reasons, it’s important to outline them and quantify expected business benefits. A strong business case that outlines tangible benefits and ties these back to bottom line revenue works wonders in convincing executives to invest in ERP.
The benefits of modern manufacturing ERP software are numerous. For example, as a manufacturer, you likely have hundreds, if not thousands, of SKUs, making it challenging to track inventory.
If this sounds familiar, you can make the case for implementing a modern manufacturing ERP system by demonstrating how the system could integrate various departments and simplify inventory management and inventory control. This is possible because the CRM functionality within many modern ERP solutions fully integrates with your shop floor and enables more accurate reporting.
Another example relevant to today’s manufacturers? Say you want to meet your customers’ expectations regarding a flexible purchasing process. In your business case, you could highlight ERP’s ability to facilitate user-friendly purchasing.
Once you understand your business goals, you can evaluate the top ERP systems for manufacturing based on their ability to support your goals. This will help you find not only the best ERP for manufacturing but the best ERP for your unique needs.
Overlooked ERP Implementation Success Factors
Our manufacturing clients have historically been in industries such as industrial manufacturing, chemicals, food and beverage, and consumer products, among others. Through this experience, we’ve found that regardless of a company’s sub-vertical, there are certain success factors that are frequently deprioritized.
Here are some ERP implementation best practices that manufacturers often overlook:
1. Building an Internal Project Team
From project managers to executive sponsors, the skillsets and background of the people working on your project matter. Your final team should include stakeholders from across your organization who can make the project a priority.
2. Conducting a Needs Assessment
Understanding your needs and gathering business requirements before ERP selection can help you understand where pain points exist and what processes need improvement.
For example, if employees are experiencing pain points around order fulfillment, you may need to better integrate your demand forecasting and advanced planning processes with your inventory and sales processes.
Regardless of your specific pain points, a thorough needs assessment can help you effectively communicate with ERP vendors.
3. Focusing on Change Management
Enterprise software implementations often go awry because organizations fail to anticipate how their workforce will react to the change.
By developing an organizational change management plan, you can begin to view the change from the employee’s perspective. Key change management deliverables include, but aren’t limited to, a sponsorship roadmap, a resistance management plan, a communication plan, and an ERP training strategy.
The Best ERP Software for the Manufacturing Industry Doesn’t Always Equal Success
ERP success doesn’t begin with a list of the top manufacturing ERP systems, but it’s an important part of the journey.
To learn more about manufacturing ERP functionality, download our 2026 Top 10 Manufacturing ERP Systems Report. To learn how to find the best ERP provider for your company in particular, request a free consultation below. You’ll have the opportunity to speak with our ERP consultants and discuss your unique business needs.
