Infor LN for Manufacturing: Why SMBs Are Making the Shift

For small and mid-sized manufacturers, managing production, inventory, procurement, and supply chain processes can quickly become overwhelming, especially as demand grows and product lines expand. Many businesses find that their legacy systems or disconnected tools are holding them back.

That’s where Infor LN comes in, a cloud-capable ERP built specifically for manufacturers dealing with discrete production, engineer-to-order, and complex operational environments.

What Is Infor LN?

Infor LN is an enterprise resource planning platform designed with manufacturing at its core. Unlike general-purpose ERPs, LN offers deep, built-in capabilities for managing:

– Shop floor control and work orders
– Multi-level BOMs and routings
– Inventory and warehouse logistics
– Supplier collaboration and procurement
– Demand planning and production scheduling

Its robust feature set supports everything from small batch production to global manufacturing networks.

Why SMEs Are Turning to Infor LN

Manufacturing-Focused Architecture
Infor LN is purpose-built for industrial businesses, meaning less need for customization, fewer workarounds, and faster deployment compared to ERPs not designed for production-heavy environments.

Strong Multi-Site and Multi-Company Support
Many SMBs are expanding into new locations or managing subsidiaries. LN handles these complexities out of the box, supporting centralized or decentralized operations.

Real-Time Shop Floor Integration
LN provides tools to connect with MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems), giving real-time visibility into what’s happening on the production floor, from machine performance to order status.

Cloud Deployment Through Infor CloudSuite
Infor LN can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud via Infor CloudSuite LN, offering scalability and reduced infrastructure management. This makes it more accessible to SMBs with limited internal IT.

Embedded Industry Best Practices
Infor has packaged industry-specific functionality that helps manufacturers streamline operations without starting from scratch. This includes built-in workflows for make-to-order (MTO), make-to-stock (MTS), and engineer-to-order (ETO) production models.

Considerations for SMEs

While Infor LN offers powerful functionality, it’s best suited for SMBs that:

– Operate in manufacturing or distribution-intensive sectors
– Need strong production planning and inventory control
– Have plans to scale across sites, divisions, or geographies
– Want to move away from legacy systems without sacrificing depth

Companies with simpler service-based models or limited supply chain needs may find it too robust for their current stage.

Final Thoughts

Infor LN is gaining traction among SMB manufacturers because it balances industry depth with flexibility, offering enterprise-grade functionality in a package that doesn’t require enterprise-sized resources to operate. It enables growing companies to modernize production, streamline supply chains, and gain the visibility needed to compete in increasingly complex markets.

If your manufacturing business is outgrowing its current systems, Infor LN may be the next step in building a scalable, resilient operation.