Katana
AI-powered manufacturing ERP for SMB makers with real-time inventory, production scheduling, and multi-channel order management.
What it does
Katana is a cloud manufacturing resource planning (MRP) platform for small and medium manufacturers - providing production planning, inventory management, bill of materials management, and order management in a visual, accessible interface. AI capabilities include AI-powered inventory forecasting that predicts raw material and finished goods needs based on sales orders and production plans, intelligent production scheduling that suggests optimal production sequences to fulfill orders on time, automated reorder point calculation that factors in lead times and demand variability, AI-assisted BOM (bill of materials) cost analysis that surfaces material cost trends and margin impact, and demand planning insights that identify which products and SKUs drive the most inventory investment.
Why AI-ENHANCED
Katana is an established SMB manufacturing platform that has integrated AI inventory forecasting, intelligent production scheduling, and automated reorder management into a mature manufacturing MRP product.
Best for
Small manufacturers, artisan producers, and product companies use Katana for organized production management - AI inventory forecasting preventing stockouts of key materials and visual scheduling making production planning accessible.
Growing manufacturers use Katana for systematic production operations - AI demand-driven scheduling across multiple products and multi-channel order integration connecting e-commerce to manufacturing.
Limitations
Katana serves small manufacturing operations well but lacks the financial accounting depth, quality management, and multi-site capabilities of full manufacturing ERP platforms like Epicor Kinetic.
Katana's demand predictions improve with accumulated order history — new product lines and seasonal items with limited history see less reliable AI forecasting recommendations.
Katana focuses on production and inventory — manufacturers needing integrated HR, payroll, and employee management alongside manufacturing must connect separate tools.
Alternatives by segment
Essential from $179/month. Advanced from $359/month. Professional from $799/month. Annual billing saves 20%. 14-day free trial.
