SAP ERP software was first introduced to Cat (NI) Ltd in 1997

Michael oversaw all SAP finance development over a 20 year period including multiple SAP upgrade projects and implementations at other Caterpillar divisions e.g.USA factory, Mak (Germany), 14 Asia Pacific companies, Global Mach 1 project

SAP Financial Instruments (FI) modules were the first to be implemented to replace the old Tetra accounting software comprising:

• Accounts Receivable (AR)

• Accounts Payable (AP)

• General Ledger (GL)

• Fixed Assets (FA)

SAP Controlling (CO) modules were then switched on during the M3 Business Transformation project allowing Inventory to be valued in real time for raw material components, WIP and finished goods based on budgetted labour hours and Standard Costs (also later Current Costs) derived from BoMs and Routings created by production, engineering and logistics departments 

In addition to Standard and Current Costing, SAP CO was developed to facilitate 

• Cost Centre Accounting (CCA) for departmental actuals v budget

• Profit Centre Accounting (PCA) for divisional and geographical ring fencing of Balance Sheet and P&L actuals v budget

• Profitability Analysis (CO-PA) allowing sales and profitability to be sliced and diced by product, customer and region

SAP Consolidation (EC-CS now BPC) was implemented for both SAP and non SAP legal entities to facilitate the Group Consolidation process at the end of the month end closing process (half day manual process reduced to 15 minutes)

As Caterpillar (NI) Ltd changed it's business model over the years, the above finanical modules were modified and enhanced to accomodate revised legal entity and divisional structures and to accommodate the manufacture of Axles , Wheeled Material Handlers and bought in Portable Gensets sold via the Omni channel