Find and Select
Manufacturing Industry Software
The Manufacturing Technology landscape is vast and varied, covering everything from shop floor execution and production planning to supply chain visibility, quality management, and asset maintenance, with solutions available for manufacturers of every size and sector, from discrete and process manufacturers to mixed-mode operations.
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Viewpoint Analysis cuts through a crowded and complex technology market. Our Manufacturing technology guides, explainers, and vendor content give buyers everything they need to understand the landscape and select the right solution for their operations, whether that's a targeted point solution or an end-to-end manufacturing platform.

What is Manufacturing Industry Software?
​Manufacturing industry software covers a broad range of technology categories, each designed to address specific operational challenges across the production lifecycle. The key categories include:
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Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) - software that manages, monitors, and controls production processes on the shop floor in real time, bridging the gap between planning systems and physical operations.
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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for Manufacturing - integrated platforms that manage production planning, inventory, procurement, finance, and operations in a single system, often with manufacturing-specific modules built in.
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Production Planning and Scheduling (APS) - advanced tools that optimise production schedules, manage capacity constraints, and coordinate materials and resources to meet demand efficiently.
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Quality Management Systems (QMS) - software that manages quality control, compliance, inspection workflows, non-conformance reporting, and corrective actions across the manufacturing process.
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Asset and Maintenance Management (EAM/CMMS) - platforms that track physical assets, schedule preventive maintenance, manage work orders, and reduce unplanned downtime across plant and equipment.
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Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) - solutions that manage inventory movements, goods-in/goods-out, picking and packing, and warehouse operations directly connected to production flow.
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Supply Chain Management (SCM) - tools that provide visibility and control across the end-to-end supply chain, from raw material sourcing through to finished goods delivery.
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Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) - software that manages the full lifecycle of a product from initial design and engineering through manufacture, service, and end-of-life.
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Industrial IoT and Connected Factory Platforms - technology that connects machines, sensors, and devices on the shop floor to capture real-time operational data, enabling predictive analytics and process optimisation.
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Manufacturing Analytics and Business Intelligence - reporting and analytics tools that turn operational data into actionable insight on performance, yield, waste, downtime, and cost.
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Manufacturing Execution System Software
Learn more about Manufacturing Execution System Software and the market options:
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Warehouse Management Software
Learn more about Warehouse Management Software and the market options:
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ERP Manufacturing
Software
Learn more about ERP Software for Manufacturing companies and the market options:
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Production Planning Software
Learn more about Production Planning Software and the market options:
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Quality Management System Software
Learn more about Quality Management System Software and the market options:
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Asset Maintenance Software
Learn more about Asset Maintenance Software and the market options:
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Product Lifecycle Management
Software
Manufacturing AI Software
Learn more about Manufacturing AI Software and the market options:
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Enterprise
Software
Selection
Playbook
Our Enterprise Software Selection Playbook 2026 is the most complete instructional guide to finding and selecting enterprise technology across any market or category. Whether you are new to running a formal manufacturing industry software selection or looking to improve an existing process, this is the definitive reference.
FINDING
Manufacturing Industry Technology
Viewpoint Analysis has a section of services all designed to FIND technology:
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Innovation Series - looking for new ideas? Our Innovation Series brings vendors and thought-leaders to present new ideas and technologies.
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Stick or Switch Application Review - a great way to decide whether to continue with your existing software, or move elsewhere.
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Technology Matchmaker Service - our flagship FREE Technology Matchmaker Service is designed for IT teams who need to understand the market quickly without spending weeks in vendor calls.


Manufacturing Industry Technology Selection
Service
If you have a technology project ready to go and you just need to now find the right options, Viewpoint Analysis services include:
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Rapid RFI - from Longlist to Shortlist. A traditional RFI process can drag on for months, consuming significant time from your IT and IT Ops teams. Our Rapid RFI (RRFI) is designed to compress that timeline dramatically. We manage the process, engage tech vendors on your behalf, and deliver a clear, justified shortlist of the most suitable options for your specific requirement and organisation size.
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Rapid RFP - Our Rapid RFP (RRFP) takes your shortlisted manufacturing tech vendors through a structured, fast-paced evaluation. We write the RFP document, host vendor qualification calls, manage Q&A sessions, and facilitate the final presentations - bringing independent expertise and a vendor-neutral perspective to every stage..
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30-Day Selection - For organisations with an urgent tech project or a hard go-live deadline, our 30-Day Technology Selection combines the best elements of the RRFI and RRFP into a single accelerated process. From standing start to preferred vendor decision in less than a calendar month.
FREE
IT Longlist
Builder
NEW - let Viewpoint Analysis help you to build a longlist for your IT project. Simply answer a few project questions, and our IT Analyst Agent HUEY will search our tech analysis database and research to provide a comprehensive report highlighting all the vendors that would be a good fit for your needs.

Useful Selection
Advice
The following Viewpoint Analysis resources are designed to help IT leaders and their teams run better technology selection processes:
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