A manufacturer’s selection of an information system must begin with a needs assessment-a look at which departments or divisions will use the system and why. Only when this preliminary decision has been made can a company begin to research software productsthat may meet its expectations. Customary considerations for a manufacturer are inventory tracking, resource scheduling, timely product delivery, accounting, and billing. Although it is unlikely that a single software program will address 100% of a company’s wishes, a manufacturer should search the software market until it finds one that will handle at least 85% of its demands. Selecting Information Software