Global Shop Solutions vs Plex Systems

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Our analysts compared Global Shop Solutions vs Plex Systems based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Manufacturing Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Global Shop Solutions Software Tool

Product Basics

Global Shop Solutions integrates processes such as financial management, manufacturing management and customer relationship management into one centralized location. It leverages shared data to automate workflows and increase employee productivity. Insights are easily visualized through customizable dashboards and reports that are accessible based on user-defined permissions.

Compliance management is another key element and enables users to maintain historical records of quality checks for internal and external audits. Users can track the customer lifecycle as well to ensure that leads are cultivated and sales pitches are tailored.
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Plex Manufacturing Cloud uses real-time data to connect and facilitate operations among various business aspects such as finance, distribution and production. It has built-in compliance and approval monitoring tools to ensure that your products are created accurately and with regulations in mind.

With Plex software, you also have the ability to develop customized reports and dashboards to make visualization easier and more streamlined. These reporting tools can make developing insights faster and easier, especially when considering the program’s use of actual minute-by-minute data.
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Product Insights

  • Revenue Generation: Support revenue generation through its management of inventory, shop floor and manufacturing processes. The program can help users visualize bottlenecks that are slowing down production. By identifying these workflow issues, users can determine actions to improve operations, leading to an increase in profits. 
  • Compliance: Ensure items are made appropriately and per regulatory standards with the quality control tools. The solution can also keep track of item quality history to assist with potential audits. 
  • Increased Productivity: Increase employee and operational productivity through the automation of tasks, freeing up employee time for different processes. For example, material purchasing can be automated by leveraging historical demand and sales information. 
  • Data Centralization: Obtain more accurate communication and fewer manual errors with its centralization of information. Additionally, automation can be implemented through the sharing of data among different workflows. For example, by using historical transaction information, the system could develop more accurate sales forecasts and, in turn, create material orders in line with estimated demand. 
  • Visibility: Leverage customizable dashboards to help users develop insights quickly and accurately. For example, basic accounting functions such as budgeting, accounts payable and accounts receivable can be analyzed through a unified dashboard.  
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  • Increased Efficiency: Plex Manufacturing Cloud uses real-time data and set parameters to maximize production capabilities. Its Advanced Planning and Scheduling tool uses information such as inventory levels, amount of production floor space and maximum productivity levels to generate a best-fit manufacturing schedule. 
  • Accessibility: As a cloud-based manufacturing software, Plex is available anytime and anywhere as long as a user has internet access. This is especially beneficial in the manufacturing center considering manufacturing managers and production line employees can access real-time data from internet-enabled devices while they’re actually on the floor working. 
  • Improved Customer Experience: Customers are the backbone of your business, and Plex software capitalizes on this fact through its customer portal, which provides visualization as a product moves throughout the supply chain. Shipping notifications are also included so that clients have an accurate expectation as to when an item should be delivered. 
  • Heightened Visibility: With increased visibility, you can develop insights more quickly. Plex Manufacturing Cloud contains the ability to use customizable dashboards to reflect minute-by-minute information such as inventory levels and labor allocation, which enables you to make informed decisions based on current processes. 
  • Collaboration: Plex allows for collaboration with clients through the customer portal. It also contains internal collaboration tools that are emphasized through its multi-site functionality for supply chain and financial processes. 
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  • Shop Management: Gain a real-time overview of the shop floor. It contains information such as variance reports, job costing, material review and performance measurement. Workcenter data is also easily accessible through this tool and includes information such as efficiency reports, load details and backlog reports. Scheduling information is available through the program, along with labor performance management. 
  • Planning and Scheduling: Plan for resource needs and material requirements while also developing lead time estimates for jobs. The system uses real-time information to generate sales quotes. A drag-and-drop function is included to make rescheduling or rerouting easier. A Master Schedule Dashboard is included and provides users with visibility of all jobs along with the ability to take action on any job quickly. 
  • Customer Relationship Management: Track leads and identify potential prospects while on the go on mobile devices. Customized reporting is available so that employees can track the customer metrics that are most relevant to the business. Job status, invoicing, shipments and quoting information are available in real time. Users can also send emails to clients directly through the application. 
  • Inventory Management: Trace information related to material needs, whether it be bill of material, cost buildups or inventory data. Some of this tool’s capabilities include history/usage reports, multi-location inventory, product line reports and cycle counting. The program can also automate the purchasing process by using material requirements, purchase history and planning functions to make smart purchases. Vendor material tracking is available through this feature and allows employees to look at cost breakdowns, on-time delivery rates and performance ratings. 
  • Sales Management: Manage functions such as shipping, sales orders, customer service, bookings reports and UPS/FedEx integration. Employees can develop customized reports based on specialized company needs. The Open Sales Order Review Dashboard provides visualization of open orders and lets users take actions from a centralized area. Custom sales orders, shipping labels, invoices and bills of lading can also be created with this tool. 
  • Accounting: Centralize processes such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, budgeting, payroll and other basic accounting functions into a unified location, therefore providing a more comprehensive visualization of company finances. Some of the single-screen dashboards included in the program are AR Aging, AP Aging and AR Collections. User visibility of these sensitive dashboards is based on defined permissions. Organizations can connect their payroll to the general ledger and shop floor information, making the payment process faster and easier. Tax reporting and direct deposit are supported as well. 
  • Quality Control: Analyze scrap trend quantity or costs by vendor, department, date range, workcenter or employee. The program can capture any rejects related to inventory, purchasing or manufacturing and enables users to issue new materials or correct simple problems. Users can maintain a record of all quality control details to meet QC requirements for internal and external needs. Sign-off requirements, tracking and department communications are also included in this feature. 
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  • Inventory Management: Plex Manufacturing Cloud allows you to track the quantity and location of your inventory, whether you want to look at raw materials, WIP or finished goods. It also supports barcode scanning and label printing in an effort to improve the accuracy of reported inventory levels. Controls are also in place to ensure that products are always developed using the right materials, therefore improving inventory viability. 
  • PLM Functionality: Built-in revision control workflows allow for approved changes to be reflected across the entirety of the product lifecycle. Product specifications can also be developed to expedite processes. 
  • Quality Management: Plex software helps to ensure that you are retaining compliance with standards such as ISO, TS and QS. You can also use supplier scorecards to look at your entire supply chain. For example, your suppliers can use checksheets to validate the quality of their materials before the goods reach your facility, therefore hastening the quality analysis process on your end. 
  • Management of Shipments: The shipping management system ensures that only products that meet acceptable quality specifications are sent to customers and that they are sent to the intended recipient. Plex software's manufacturing system also contains a labeling feature that automatically prints labels using customer information in order to avoid shipping errors. ASNs are automatically sent and formatted as products leave the production facility. 
  • Real-Time Financial Management: Plex software contains continuously updated information on components such as labor hour utilization and point-in-time inventory. The financial management system is designed for order-to-cash and procure-to-pay processes and includes multi-site functionality. Financial reports are also easily accessible with this tool. 
  • Customer Relationship Management: This program includes a customer portal that provides visibility of a product as it moves throughout the supply chain and allows for enhanced collaboration ability. Important components such as quotes, estimates, issue resolution and order management are built into the tool along with an integrated EDI. 
  • Advanced Planning and Scheduling: The Plex Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) solution allows you to account for constraints in your workplace such as amount of resources and maximum production capacity to develop optimized production runs. Finite Scheduling includes the ability to plan your development schedule based on factors such as resources, tools and space. The program also allows you to level-load production across different manufacturing centers. 
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Product Ranking

#12

among all
Manufacturing Software

#14

among all
Manufacturing Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Global Shop Solutions
Plex Systems
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Bill Of Materials (BOM) And Routing Computer-aided Design And Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAD And CAM) Management Engineering Change Control Inventory Management Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Product Configuration Production Planning Production Scheduling Quality Management Recipe And Formula Management Reports And Dashboards Shop Floor Control Warehouse Management Work In Process (WIP) Work Order Management 43 0 56 71 80 67 79 36 67 70 80 47 100 70 44 0 44 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 155 reviews
Good User Sentiment 32 reviews
83%
of users recommend this product

Global Shop Solutions has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 83% when considering 155 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

74%
of users recommend this product

Plex Systems has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 74% when considering 32 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

4.1 (18)
3.3 (17)
4.2 (64)
4.2 (11)
4.2 (67)
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4.3 (3)
3.0 (6)
3.0 (1)

Awards

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SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Plex Systems and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Reports and Dashboards.

Reports and Dashboards Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Comprehensive Solution: Global Shop Solutions offers a comprehensive suite of manufacturing software tools, covering everything from scheduling and inventory management to shop floor control and quality assurance. This integrated approach streamlines operations and eliminates the need for multiple disparate systems.
User-Friendly Interface: Many users praise Global Shop Solutions for its intuitive and user-friendly interface. The software is designed to be easy to navigate and use, even for employees who are not tech-savvy. This ease of use can lead to increased productivity and reduced training time.
Improved Efficiency: Global Shop Solutions helps manufacturers optimize their operations and improve efficiency. By automating tasks, streamlining workflows, and providing real-time visibility into production processes, the software enables businesses to reduce waste, minimize downtime, and increase output.
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Improved Shop Floor Visibility: Users praise Plex for providing real-time insights into production processes, enabling better decision-making and quicker responses to issues.
Streamlined Inventory Management: Plex helps manufacturers optimize inventory levels, reducing waste and ensuring materials are available when needed.
Enhanced Quality Control: The system's quality management features help track defects, identify root causes, and improve overall product quality.
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Difficult to Customize: Users have reported that Global Shop Solutions can be challenging to tailor to their specific manufacturing workflows, especially when it comes to integrating with existing systems or unique production processes.
Complex User Interface: Some users have found the software's interface to be overly complicated and not intuitive, leading to a steep learning curve and decreased efficiency for employees who are not tech-savvy.
Limited Reporting Capabilities: There have been complaints about the software's reporting features being somewhat limited, making it difficult to extract specific data insights and generate comprehensive reports for analysis and decision-making.
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Reporting Limitations: Users express frustration with the inflexibility and limitations of Plex's built-in reporting features, making it difficult to extract and analyze data in ways that suit their specific needs.
User Interface Complexity: The system is often described as being difficult to navigate and non-intuitive, especially for new users who require extensive training to become proficient.
System Rigidity: Plex is often criticized for its lack of flexibility in adapting to unique or evolving business processes, requiring workarounds or customizations that can be time-consuming and costly.
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Is Global Shop Solutions the "gold standard" for shop solutions? User reviews from the last year paint a picture of a robust and comprehensive ERP system that caters specifically to the needs of manufacturers. Reviewers frequently highlight the software's strengths in inventory management, production planning, and scheduling. The ability to track materials across multiple locations, optimize production schedules, and gain real-time insights into inventory levels is a game-changer for businesses looking to streamline their operations and boost efficiency. Global Shop Solutions' integrated approach sets it apart from competitors, as it eliminates the need for multiple, disparate software systems. This not only saves time and money but also ensures data consistency and accuracy across the entire organization. However, some users note that the software's extensive functionality can lead to a steeper learning curve, especially for those new to ERP systems. Additionally, while Global Shop Solutions offers a wide range of features, some users mention that certain niche functionalities may require additional customization or third-party integrations. Despite these minor drawbacks, the consensus is clear: Global Shop Solutions is a powerful ERP solution that empowers manufacturers to take control of their operations. Its comprehensive features, industry-specific focus, and integrated approach make it an ideal choice for small to medium-sized manufacturing businesses seeking to optimize their processes and drive growth.

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Want to know if Plex Systems is truly complex or simply complexly awesome? Recent user reviews suggest the former might be closer to the truth. While Plex Systems is praised for its comprehensive suite of features covering everything from planning and scheduling to supply chain management, users often highlight a steep learning curve and a sometimes clunky interface as drawbacks. This complexity can make it challenging for smaller businesses or those with less tech-savvy teams to implement and utilize effectively. However, Plex Systems shines in its ability to connect different aspects of a manufacturing operation, providing real-time visibility into production processes, inventory levels, and quality control data. This end-to-end integration is a key differentiator, allowing businesses to streamline operations and make data-driven decisions. For example, users cite the ability to track production in real-time and identify bottlenecks as a major advantage, leading to improved efficiency and reduced downtime. Ultimately, Plex Systems is best suited for larger, established manufacturing businesses with the technical resources and expertise to navigate its complexities and leverage its powerful features for maximum impact.

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