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For Real Fridays: Manufacturing, ERP, and the Myth of Perfection

Updated: Mar 26

For Real Fridays is where we get real and raw about manufacturing, ERP, and digital transformation—the messy, awkward, sometimes frustrating reality of business growth. No fluff. No sugarcoating. Just straight talk on what works, what doesn’t, and why waiting for perfection will hold you back.

If you’re looking for polished corporate speak, this isn’t it. But if you want honest conversations on how to scale, optimize, and compete—welcome.



The Edison Mindset

Thomas Edison is often credited with inventing the lightbulb, but what most people forget is how many times he failed.


When asked about his thousands of unsuccessful attempts, Edison famously said:“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”


Now, imagine if he had stopped at attempt 500. Or even 9,999. No electric light. No progress. Just another good idea left unfinished because the process was imperfect.


That’s exactly what many of us do today with tech, ERP, automation, and digital transformation.


They wait for the perfect strategy, the perfect moment, the perfect system—and in doing so, they stall progress indefinitely.


Manufacturing, ERP, and the Myth of Perfection

Let’s be honest—manufacturing and ERP implementation is messy. It doesn’t matter if you’re in aerospace, medical devices, industrial machinery, or metals—your supply chain is unpredictable, your processes are complicated, and no ERP system in the world is going to solve all your problems overnight.


But here’s the thing: perfection is a myth.


We see it all the time—companies over-analyzing ERP selection, delaying automation, and hesitating on digital transformation because they’re afraid of getting it wrong.


Guess what? You will get things wrong.

  • Your first workflow design will be clunky.

  • Your data migration won’t be flawless.

  • Your people will complain about change.


So what? You’re still better off than sitting in analysis paralysis, waiting for the "perfect" moment.


Success Comes From Movement, Not Perfection

The companies that thrive aren’t the ones who launch the perfect ERP from day one—they’re the ones who commit to the process, learn from mistakes, and refine as they go.


Think about it:

✅ The manufacturer who automates 30% of processes today is ahead of the one still waiting for a flawless 100%.

✅ The supply chain leader who integrates AI-driven analytics now will outpace the one who “wants to see what happens first.”

✅ The executive who embraces digital transformation, knowing it’ll be awkward at first, will build a more resilient, competitive company.


For Real, Here’s What You Should Do Instead

📌Stop waiting for perfect. There’s no such thing. Go live with what you have and improve as you go.

📌 Expect resistance. Change management is hard, and someone will always push back. That’s not a reason to stop.

📌Make decisions with what you know today. If you wait until you have every single piece of data, the market will leave you behind.


If They Don’t Get It, They’re Not Your People

Not everyone is going to love your approach. Some team members will resist. Some vendors will tell you you’re doing it wrong. Some customers will prefer working with the slow-moving, over-cautious competitor.


Let them go.


The ones who understand that progress beats perfection? Those are the ones who will help you build something extraordinary.


So, what’s one thing you’ve been overthinking instead of acting on? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.


Contact us today!

Kim Prevost

Director of Business Development @ MepApps/MepServices

832.832.0988 Kim.P@MepApps.com

Travis Rudel

PreSales, Implementation & Networking Engineer @ MepApps/MepServices


Works Cited

  1. Gartner. ERP Implementation Best Practices: Why Perfection is the Enemy of Progress. 2024.

  2. Modern Machine Shop. Digital Transformation in Manufacturing: Moving Beyond the Fear of Change. 2024.

  3. Greater Houston Partnership. Reshoring and Manufacturing Automation: The Competitive Edge. 2024.

  4. NIST Cybersecurity. Supply Chain Risk Management: Overcoming Hesitation in Digital Adoption. 2024.

  5. PharmaVoice. Manufacturing Disruptions: Why Action Beats Over analysis. 2024.


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