JD Edwards 9.2 provides built-in tools for traceability, audit readiness, and regulatory control. Features like the Quality Management module and User Defined Objects make it easier to track test results, automate documentation, and meet standards such as TGA, FDA, and ISO.
Ross Laboratories has been formulating and manufacturing health and beauty products in Australia for more than a century. From its Melbourne-based, purpose-built facility, the business provides a complete contract manufacturing solution spanning R&D, product development, regulatory support, quality assurance, warehousing, and distribution.
As a full-service, TGA-licensed manufacturer, Ross Labs core expertise covers sun care, personal care, skin care and topical therapeutic products. Their mission is clear: to be the partner of choice for leading consumer brand owners, by continuously innovating and delivering world-class customer service and supply chain excellence.
To stay true to that mission, Ross Labs knew their core systems needed to keep pace. Their JD Edwards 8.12 ERP platform had been in place for more than a decade, and while reliable, it was limiting their ability to innovate, meet rising compliance demands, and provide the speed and quality their clients expect. For a business built on regulatory trust and customer partnerships, it was time to modernise.
The case for change
Ross Laboratories’ previous JDE 8.12 environment had become a bottleneck. Outdated versions limited functionality, reporting was time consuming, and every new compliance demand created more manual work. Audit-ready reports that should have been fast could take a full day to produce, and business users had to rely on IT to pull and reformat data. Running on unsupported infrastructure further heightened security and continuity concerns.
At the same time, the speed of change in enterprise technology had accelerated. Today’s platforms evolve continuously, with frequent updates, new functionality, and emerging AI capabilities arriving at pace. To take advantage of those opportunities without disruption, Ross Labs needed their ERP platform to give them the ability to evaluate, test, and deploy new features quickly.
The existing system was slowing us down. Reporting was manual, compliance was cumbersome, and it was getting harder to keep up with what the business needed, plus the whole environment was fast becoming a major concern”
The approach
Fusion5 has supported Ross Labs for more than a decade, scaling advice, support, and technical expertise as the business and its JD Edwards needs have evolved. When the time came for a major upgrade, turning to the Fusion5 team was a natural step.
The upgrade to JD Edwards EnterpriseOne 9.2 was about more than just moving off an ageing version. It was about creating a modern platform designed for continuous change. One that could keep Ross compliant today and ready for whatever comes next.
Together, Ross Labs and Fusion5 implemented a range of improvements:
- Quality Management Module – Embedding quality checks and traceability into production workflows, making it easier to meet TGA audit demands and cutting paperwork for the quality team.
- ReportsNow – Giving business users self-service report application, reducing reliance on IT and speeding up access to information.
- User Defined Objects (UDOs) – Unlocking tools for greater efficiency, usability, and visibility of business information, with watchlists and notifications to flag issues instantly.
- Orchestrator tools and open APIs – Introducing automation for repetitive tasks and enabling integration with other applications and cloud services.
- Return to vanilla JDE – Retiring old modifications and technical debt, aligning with industry-standard processes and making future upgrades faster and smoother.
- Database migration – Moving from Oracle to Microsoft SQL Server to align with Ross Labs Microsoft-first technology strategy.
- ACRA automated testing tool – A JD Edwards-specific solution that automates testing during upgrades and changes, helping Ross Labs maintain compliance and confidence in the reliability of its ERP.
The result is an environment that combines modern security and usability with continuous innovation. By upgrading, Ross Labs not only gained the latest functionality but also positioned itself to evaluate and adopt future features, including AI-driven capabilities, quickly and with minimal disruption.
We’ve deliberately maintained our system as close to stock code as possible, which really helped when it came time to upgrade. We went live with minimal disruption, with users really only feeling positive changes.”
The impact
The benefits of the upgrade were clear almost immediately and Ross Labs quickly saw tangible improvements across compliance, efficiency, and day-to-day usability.
- Audit readiness: Recall reports that once took a day to compile could now be produced in under 20 minutes with full traceability of who did what, and when.
- Efficiency gains: The Quality module cut down paperwork and emails, saving the quality department valuable time and resources.
- Better visibility: With ReportsNow, end user reports can be created in minutes, instead of waiting on IT or specialist technical developers.
- Seamless user experience: Most staff needed little to no retraining. The upgrade felt more like getting a faster, more intuitive browser-based application than learning a new system.
- Resilience and continuity: Running on a modern, supported platform has reduced risk, strengthened security, and opened the door to future integrations and automation.
- Consistent testing: The ACRA automated testing tool streamlined regression testing during upgrades, reducing manual effort, and strengthening compliance. A key factor in maintaining compliance with TGA, FDA cGMP, and CFR21 Part 11 regulations.
After just a day I knew we’d taken a big step forward and introduced valuable new functionality. A good example is reporting, where accuracy and efficiency have improved significantly.”
Why it matters
Ross Laboratories’ investment wasn’t just about technology. It was about ensuring the business can continue to meet the highest standards of compliance and quality, while freeing people to work more efficiently. It also positions Ross Labs as the kind of partner brand owners are looking for: a manufacturer that is disciplined in its governance and forward looking in its use of technology.
With its JDE 9.2 foundation, Ross Labs can maintain its regulatory compliance and reputation for diligence, scale operations with cloud-ready integrations, and embrace future advancements like orchestrations and the possibility of AI-driven tools. The result is a production environment that meets today’s compliance obligations while staying ready for tomorrow’s wave of innovation.
For a 104-year-old business, that combination of heritage and innovation is the best assurance of another century of success.
It’s hard to find good tech partners. Through our Fusion5 partnership I get access to up to the minute advice, insights, and technical expertise whenever we need it. It’s a valuable relationship for me and for Ross Laboratories.
Jay Centeno | IT Manager, Ross Laboratories
Modernising ERP for regulated manufacturing
Fusion5 helps manufacturers modernise their ERP environments with JD Edwards EnterpriseOne. From upgrading legacy systems to implementing modules like Quality Management and ReportsNow, we help regulated producers strengthen compliance, streamline operations, and prepare for AI-driven innovation. Our JD Edwards specialists deliver upgrades, optimisations, and ongoing support for manufacturing and process industries. We help businesses reduce technical debt, improve audit readiness, and keep their ERP systems ready for the future.
Q&A
How can JD Edwards 9.2 help manufacturers stay compliant?
Why do manufacturers upgrade from older JD Edwards versions?
Outdated versions can create reporting gaps, security risks, and inefficiencies. Upgrading to JD Edwards 9.2 gives access to modern tools, enhanced reporting, stronger compliance frameworks, and cloud-ready architecture that supports continuous improvement.
What role does Fusion5 play in JD Edwards upgrades?
Fusion5 helps organisations plan and execute smooth JD Edwards upgrades with minimal disruption. We focus on maintaining compliance, retiring unnecessary custom code, and setting up modern tools such as ReportsNow, Orchestrator, and ACRA automated testing.
How does JD Edwards support manufacturing quality management?
JD Edwards integrates quality testing directly into production workflows. Automated alerts, exception-based watchlists, and digital test records reduce manual paperwork and give quality teams faster visibility into performance and compliance metrics.
What is the next step for manufacturers modernising with JD Edwards?
Once upgraded, manufacturers can extend value through orchestration, automation, and AI-ready integrations. Fusion5 helps clients build on their JD Edwards foundation to connect other systems, adopt analytics tools, and prepare for continuous innovation.
