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Infor LX Tips, Infor LN Tips, BPCS Tips, Baan Tips, Infor M3 Tips & Infor ERP News

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Infor ERP Tips & News from the Experts

Infor LX | Infor LN | BPCS | Baan | Infor M3

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: GRINYA

Kathy Barthelt 0 110015 Article rating: 3.0
GRINYA is one of the more complex issues in ERP Finance. GRINYA is the tracking via ledger account of the value of items received on a purchase order that have not been matched to a supplier invoice.

Baan solutions for Baan IV and V were incomplete. To take full advantage of the current GRINYA reconciliation process, check Infor solution #107147, which contains the GRINYA user manual and a link to download the software for your version of Baan. For ERP LN, look at Document Code U8942C US.

It is called User Guide for Reconciliation and Analysis. If you are not running the latest GRINYA solutions, patching will require a good amount of time in filling the Interim tables this solution runs from. Infor has posted several procedural write ups, so check the Support Site and read up before tackling this for the first time.

BPCS/LX Tip of the Week: Work Center & Machine Locations

Anthony Etzel 0 81703 Article rating: No rating
For either file, you must specify a valid location code as defined in the Location Master File.

If the machine master locations are blank, then the work center locations are used. There are cases where you may want to do a combination between the two in defining the locations.

Let’s say the end item has one operation. The operation is at work center 510 and Machine A is in the work center. You have locations setup in both the Work center file and the Machine master File. You report 100 complete at the work center without specifying the machine.

In this case, the inventory will be processed based on the locations defined in the work center file. If the transaction included the machine number, then the locations in the machine file would be used.

BPCS/LX Tip of the Week: The Item Master Requirements Code

Anthony Etzel 0 76581 Article rating: No rating

In the Item Master File, the requirements code is used to specify the type of demand for the item. Planned order requirements are determined from the type of demand. If the requirements code is left blank, the planning systems treat the item as a sum code (3).
 

Other options for the field are:


1 = Dependent demand that is indirectly generated from the parent item requirements.

2 = Independent demand generated from customer orders and forecasts.

3 = The Sum of both independent and dependent demand.

Grindmaster Cecilware Selects Crossroads RMC For Baan IV / Davisware Integration

Crossroads RMC 0 41031 Article rating: No rating

Grindmaster Cecilware, a leader in the development of products for the food and beverage industry, has selected Crossroads RMC to integrate their Baan IV system to Davisware Global Warranty. Davisware is an electronic customizable online solution that fits almost any warranty process. Grindmaster’s customers will be able to access the Davisware software online and process warranty claims which will then automatically feed back into the Baan IV system for further review and processing. The integration is expected to go live in Q1 of 2015.

Huf North America Goes Lives With Next Phase of RMC3 Data Collection

Crossroads RMC 0 42240 Article rating: No rating

Huf North America, a global leader in the production of mechanical and electronic key systems, lock sets, steering locks, and remote control systems for the automotive industry, has gone live with phase 2 of their Crossroads RMC data collection implementation. This go-live included Report Orders Complete, Labor Reporting, Material Issue, Inventory Transfers, barcode label modifications, as well as custom applications for their Paint / Polishing operations. This go-live was paired with the expansion of Huf’s Plastic Injection Molding and Paint Facility in Greeneville, TN. The next phase of this project will include the extension of the Crossroads RMC solution into Huf’s facility in Mexico.

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Product Configurator - Part 2

Baan Tips

Kathy Barthelt 0 110142 Article rating: 3.0
Who gets involved?
  1. Most commonly Engineering is involved in writing the rules, creating the bills and routings.
  2. Sales or Customer Service determines the questions and the order they are asked in.
  3. Sales or Customer Service determines the rules for the pricing.
  4. Sales, or Customer Service, and Engineering work together in determining the part number, description and text.

What are the steps?

  1. You must start by defining the features and options (questions and answers) and the order in which these are asked. We work this out first using sticky notes and large easel paper. Normally during the process we find that we want to move these questions around. Setting them down on paper makes the process of getting the data into Baan much more efficient. We also then have a record of what decisions were made prior to entering the data. This is normally a joint effort of Engineering and Sales. This is required and must be the first step.
  2. Constraints for features and options. These are the rules for determining what questions are asked and which options are allowed. This is generally done by Engineering or whoever is responsible for the configurator. This is required.
  3. Generic Bill of Material. All possible bill options are entered here and constraints are written to determine which options are selected based on the answers to the questions. This is generally done by Engineering or whoever is responsible for the configurator. This is a required step.
  4. Generic Routing. Similar to the bill of material, but used for generation of the routing steps. This is generally done by Engineering or whoever is responsible for the configurator. This is optional.
  5. Generic Item Data. This consists of creating custom item numbers, descriptions, text, material, size or standard fields in the custom item master. This is generally done by Engineering or whoever is responsible for the configurator though Sales may have some involvement. This is optional.
  6. Generic Pricing. This is used to calculate the selling price based on the answers to the questions. This is normally a responsibility of Sales or whoever determines the pricing. This group is also trained on writing the constraints for this section only. This is optional.
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Tips:  LX | BPCS | M3

Tips: LN | Baan

Eliminating ERP Customizations: Key Considerations and Modern Solutions

Transitioning away from customizations can indeed pose challenges, but it's not insurmountable with the right approach. Here’s a look at the real issues and solutions that can pave the way for a streamlined, up-to-date ERP.


Common Challenges:

  1. Dependency on Custom Processes
    Custom processes become ingrained, and removing them disrupts established workflows. However, business processes often evolve over time, as do best practices incorporated into modern ERP systems.

  2. Cost and Time Constraints
    Testing, retraining, and hiring consultants for an upgrade are valid concerns. Yet, consider the efficiency gains and reduced maintenance costs over time by utilizing standard ERP features.

  3. User Resistance
    Change management is critical, as employees can be skeptical of losing tools they’re familiar with. Effective communication about the benefits of standardized, future-ready tools can help ease the transition.


The Reality Check: Has Your Organization Changed?

Evaluate how much your business needs have shifted, how user expectations have evolved, and if any workarounds or interim solutions are now adding unnecessary complexity. Many companies discover that industry-standard ERP features can replace outdated customizations.


Did You Know?

  • ERP Upgrades Can Eliminate 25% - 50% of Customizations
    Modern ERP systems incorporate industry best practices as core features, allowing you to rely less on customizations and more on robust, standardized solutions.

  • Extensibility & Reporting Solutions
    Extensibility tools in Infor LN or Baan let users add last-mile functionality without modifying the core ERP. Reporting tools allow custom insights while keeping ERP data intact.


Solutions to Reduce Customization Dependency:

  1. Rewrite Customizations to Use Standard APIs and Libraries
    This ensures seamless interaction with core ERP features without modifying underlying code.

  2. Utilize Infor Extensibility and LN Studio
    Smaller tweaks can be handled with Extensibility; larger needs can leverage LN Studio for custom apps without touching the ERP's foundation.

  3. Incorporate Infor ION for External Integrations
    If customizations primarily manage integrations, Infor ION can connect and streamline external systems effectively.

  4. RMCgen for Custom Components
    RMCgen allows for custom development without altering standard programs, offering flexibility without compromising core stability.

  5. Analytics Dashboards for ERP Insights
    Dashboards offer tailored views and insights without requiring customizations in the ERP itself.

  6. Leverage Built-in Reporting Tools
    Infor Report Designer, Document Management, and BIRST can provide custom reporting, avoiding custom coding altogether.

  7. Assess Your Custom Components
    A thorough assessment of your customizations—internally or with Crossroads RMC consultants—can reveal areas for potential standardization and streamlining.

Let’s Talk Solutions

If customizations are standing in the way of your ERP’s full potential, Crossroads RMC can help. Connect with us at 800.762.2077, solutions@crossroadsrmc.com, or request a consultation to start your path towards a flexible, future-proof ERP.
 

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Kathy Barthelt

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