Open source ERP: Reasonable tools for manufacturing SMEs?

Information technology is unavoidable in every part of life and business management is also not an exception. One of the most widespread solutions is the use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems that has proved to support the integration and automation of the processes, the improvement of the performance, and the reduction of costs. Yet, several - mostly small and medium - enterprise cannot afford the time, the uncertainty and the resources that are required by the implementation of an ERP system.