In Baan IV, the order balance amount always includes the tax amount. Consequently, the tax amount must be recalculated every time an order line is modified in order to update the balance correctly. If the tax provider is activated, this requires an API call for every re-calculation of tax.

In Infor LN, users can select or clear the new Include Tax in Order Balance check box in the COM Parameters (tccom0000s000) session to indicate whether users want to include tax amounts in the order balance amount. This parameter has an effect on various sessions in Order Management.

In ERP LX, this function is called Backward Scheduling. This is a simple, easy way to create and release shop orders associated with the end item.

The result is a shop calendar with the associated order start dates. Setting up ERP LX properly with correct Queue Times, Setup and Run Times, along with Move Times, will result in accurate shop order start dates.

Cycle Count Orders cannot be directly “back dated” in Baan IV, Baan V or LN, however, there are some work-arounds.

Establishing the Quantity On-Hand and the Quantity Available.

LX maintains buckets for information associated with the following inventory transactions for each item:

• Opening Balance
• Issues
• Receipts
• Adjustments
• Allocations for the Customer
• Allocations for Manufacturing

The on hand quantity does not include any allocations. To arrive at the on hand quantity, start with the opening balance, less any issues, plus any receipts, then add or subtract any adjustments. Available inventory is the on-hand less any allocations.

Zero sublevel accounts are posting level accounts. All others are parent accounts. Once the balances have been updated in the child ledger accounts, the parents are automatically updated.

Inquiries and reports can be printed or displayed either by child accounts or by parent accounts. On line drill-down is possible from either child or parent.

Understanding: The Cycle Count Alternative

The best way to cycle count is to count the same number of items each day and at the same time each day. The goal is to count your “A” items 4 times a year. The “A” items should be those item that are about 80% of the total inventory value and 20% of the total items. Consider creating your own cycle count schedule then instead of using the cycle count transaction, use the inventory adjustment transaction. The item balance is changed at the time the transaction is keyed. The transaction list can be used for the reconciliation process.

Baan uses the company calendar in the following modules to determine the start and end dates for planned orders:

• Master Production Scheduling
• Material Requirements Planning
• Capacity Requirements Planning
  (All three combined in a single planning module for Baan V and LN)
• Shop Floor Control

The calendar provides the valid working days, number of shifts per day and the number of hours in a day.

Baan allows for a single calendar for the whole company or for a calendar for each work center.

Understanding: The Cycle Count Transaction

If you rely on BPCS to provide you with a cycle count list, the number of items could vary from day to day from a few items to count, to several. So the person doing the cycle counting may spend a few minutes to a few hours counting items. After the cycle count is complete, the balances are not changed until the reconciliation is complete. This process could take some time before the balances are changed.

The cycle count transaction process is similar to the physical inventory transaction process.