Boeing renews contract with SSA Global for new release of Baan-plus ERP

Boeing has renewed its contract with SSA Global for ERP systems provision to its Commercial Airplanes business unit for another five years. The deal is for the former Baan ERP systems, now substantially augmented as SSA ERP LN, and geared to continuing to support Boeing’s lean manufacturing and supply chain objectives. “We renewed the agreement with SSA Global for use of the SSA ERP products because they provide modern manufacturing functionality supporting Boeing’s continued delivery of the world’s most efficient and reliable aircraft,” says Dave Fennell, vice president of IT at Boeing. ERP LN, which last month saw a new release largely the result of Boeing’s requirements, remains in what was once Baan’s sweet spot of order-driven, flexible manufacturing, although now with additional lean-based supply chain and production support. The latest release also has improved capabilities in logistics, finance, projects, planning, sales, purchase and service. Beyond that, it provides web user interfaces and SSA says it’s now easier to make the transition to a service orientated architecture (SOA). It also has solution templates for vertical industries like aerospace and defense, automotive, high tech and electronics, and industrial machinery and equipment. Says Peter Prince, SSA’s president in EMEA: “We’re absolutely delighted with customers’ response to the new release. The world is now taking us seriously: in Germany this year already we have 77 new customers on LN, and in Europe as a whole it’s 212.” Prince insists that this confirms SSA’s turnaround over the last five years, and a general acceptance among users of the company’s pragmatic approach to its acquired technologies. “Our convergence programme takes the best of functionality from Baan, BPCS, PRMS and all of those to form LN and LX [the former BPCS for process industries]. “Our strategy remains consistent – based on acquisition and organic growth – and we’re now looking at European companies that can broaden out our ERP and extend those solutions – like CRM with Epiphany. But we’re not limiting our thinking: just to bolt-ons: we have to build horizontally as well.” As for existing Baan, BPCS and PRMS users, Prince reiterates the SSA Global position: “we’re not forcing customers to move – we’re not sunsetting anything. But if customers want to develop their systems, LN and LX will take them into the future – and it’s an upgrade. We’re not asking people to dip into their coffers for the software.”