This thesis is concerning with problems of using database systems in ERP / ERP II software packages. The goal is to define position of ERP / ERP II systems in the Information System market. With this topic are also connected characteristics of database systems and definition of their specific position towards ERP / ERP II solutions. Except classical solutions, when the whole Information System is situated "inside" a company, there are also analyzed new attitudes, which respect external provider of ERP / ERP II and database services, particularly SaaS and Cloud Computing technology. This thesis also deals with evaluation of contributions and threats of these new business models, respecting different size of ERP / ERP II solutions. After introductory theoretical chapters, we choose respondents from groups of producers and distributors of ERP / ERP II products and we implemented a survey through questionnaire research. The goal is to clarify main reasons of choice of specific database platforms, used with different types of ERP / ERP II solutions. Afterward, with the aid of defined hypothesis, I'm trying to explain a degree of platform independence of robust ERP / ERP II software packages, towards database platforms. In closing parts of the thesis, there are compared individual database platforms among each other, respecting their suitability of usage in ERP / ERP II systems. Database systems are closely analyzed from several points of view. On the basis of ascertained theoretical and empirical frequency of particular database solutions we determine dominant market players and with the aid of multicriterial comparison we clear up reasons of their success among other competitors. Finally, we outline an anticipated trend, where the database systems market destined for ERP / ERP II products should grow in.

Projektarbetet utförs på uppdrag av Virtual Manufacturing AB (VM) där frågor gällande make or buy av specialtillverkade komponenter har undersökts och besvarats. VM tillverkar och säljer Lean Manufacturing Products, vilket är produktionshjälpmedel, som används inom en rad olika industrier. Idag tillverkas detaljer till deras produkter av andra företag både inom och utom Sverige och arbetet går ut på att undersöka om det skulle vara lönsamt för VM att själva börja producera detaljer in-house. Nuläget sammanställdes för att undersöka hur VM arbetar idag och vilka kostnader som finns kopplat till outsourcing. Inköpskostnaderna förspecialkomponenterna samlades in och sorterades utefter tillverkningsteknik. Därefter sammanställdes kostnader för in-housetillverkning så som investeringskostnader och tillverkningskostnader för kalkylering av lönsamheten i att investera i tillverkningsmaskiner för utförandet av förädling av specialkomponenter in-house. Utifrån de lönsamhetsanalyser som utfördes för de inköpta detaljerna valdes laserskärning, CNC-fräsning och 3-D Printing som de tillverkningstekniker som skulle undersökas. Slutsatsen från lönsamhetsanalyserna av laserskärning och CNC-fräsning visar att det ej är lönsamt för Virtual Manufacturing att köpa in maskiner och börja tillverka in-house. Då VM redan har 3D-printers visar lönsamhetsanalysen att kostnaden att producera är likvärdig med att köpa in färdiga detaljer. Detta innebär att Virtual Manufacturing kan välja att fortsätta tillverka in-house eller att outsourca tillverkningen. / The project work is carried out on behalf of Virtual Manufacturing AB (VM), where questions regarding the make or buy decision for special components were to be investigated and answered. VM manufactures and sells Lean Manufacturing Products, which are production aids used in various industries. Currently, the details for their products are manufactured by other companies both within and outside of Sweden. The aim of the work is to examine whether it would be profitable for VM to start producing details in-house. The current situation was compiled to investigate how VM operates today and what costs are associated with outsourcing. The procurement costs for the special components were collected and sorted by manufacturing technology. Subsequently, costs for in-house production were compiled, including investment costs and manufacturing costs, to assess the profitability of investing in manufacturing machines for in-house processing of the special components. The manufacturing technologies chosen to be examined in the work are laser cutting, CNC milling, and 3D printing. The conclusion from the profitability analyses of laser cutting and CNC milling shows that it is not profitable for Virtual Manufacturing to purchase machines and manufacture special components in-house. Since Virtual Manufacturing already has 3D printers, the profitability analysis made for 3D-printing shows that the cost of production in-house is equivalent to purchasing specialcomponents. This means that VM can choose to continue manufacturing in-house or outsource the production.