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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: Database Sizing – Moving to LN

Kathy Barthelt 0 219 Article rating: No rating
The Infor LN database must be created with the appropriate size. For example, if at least 150 GB is required for a year, create the database with the required size from the beginning. Do not let the size increase to the required size and cause additional fragmentation in the database and the NTFS volume.  Set the autogrowth to a minimum of 10 percent or 1 GB (for each extent) to avoid fragmentation on file system level. Never use the default extent size of 1 MB.

How Do You Measure Success in Your Business?

Anthony Etzel 0 54704 Article rating: 5.0

Business owners may measure success in different ways – some tangible, some intangible.

In order to establish how you should measure success for your business, you need to first examine how you measure your personal success. If you are a business owner, or a part of the management team of the company you work for, ask yourself these questions to see how you measure up:

Assess personal success.

1.    Am I happy in my job?

2.    Do I have passion for what I’m doing?

3.    Do I get the desired results based on the effort I’m putting in?

4.    Am I putting forth my best effort?

5.    Am I patient and allow for sufficient time to see results?

6.    Do I get respect from my co-workers?

7.    Do I have the endurance to hang in there when things get a bit rough?


Reflect on successes and failures.

After answering these questions, do you need to make any changes? Do you still have the same ambition and drive to achieve the goal? Are you content with your work, or have you come to the conclusion that you have not done your best?

To be successful...

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Switching to a Difference Series

Kathy Barthelt 0 204 Article rating: No rating

In general, you can enter a different series in the order field if you have an available series.

To add a new series, find the appropriate group in the First Free Number session, and add a new series and first free number (usually 1).

In Baan IV, go to the Maintain First Free Numbers Session (under Common, Tables, Maintain Logistics Tables, Maintenance 1). Groups are easily identified (e.g., Purchase Order, Sales Order, etc.).

In Baan V, go to the First Free Number Session (under Common Data, Tables, Logistics). There are number groups (e.g., 570 may be for Purchase Orders, 650 may be for Sales Orders, etc.).

In LN, go to the First Free Number Session (tcmcs0150m000 – it is in different places in the menu under different Feature Packs). There are number groups (e.g., 210 may be for Purchase Orders, 310 may be for Sales Orders, etc.).

BPCS/LX Tip of the Day: MRP/MPS Simulation

Anthony Etzel 0 786 Article rating: No rating
The system allows you to manipulate and maintain a simulated MPS and MRP. You can copy the simulation from the existing first cut or you can create a totally new schedule. You can also perform a simulation of the rough-cut capacity plan. This allows a quick visual inspection by inquiry or menu of needed work center loads for the proposed MPS. After you choose a suitable MPS and rough-cut capacity, the system allows you to transfer the simulated MPS to the live Master Production Schedule.

BPCS/LX Tip of the Day: Inventory Stocking Levels – LX

Anthony Etzel 0 735 Article rating: No rating

The system supports four levels of inventory. You can view summaries of stock at each level through the Material Status Inquiry program or through reports.

 

Below are the four levels:

â–ª  Item

â–ª  Item + warehouse

â–ª  Item + warehouse + location

â–ª  Item + warehouse + location + lot

 

The lot number level and/or container of inventory can cross multiple warehouses and locations. For example, item + lot or item + lot + container. Locations exist within warehouses. There is no limit on the number of warehouses, locations, or lots that you can assign to an item.

Baan/LN Tip of the Day: Transfers - LN

Kathy Barthelt 0 2779 Article rating: No rating
A Transfer involves either one or two warehouses. If items are transferred between two different warehouses, all activities of the warehousing procedures must be carried out. However, if a transfer takes place between two locations within the same warehouse, the receipt activities are not carried out. You can use transfer orders to define a replenishment system within a single warehouse. This system controls replenishment from bulk locations to pick locations. Note: LN allows you to modify the outbound order line data based on the value the Allow Updating Outbound Order Lines up to and including field is set to in the Warehousing Order Types (whinh0110m000) session.

BPCS/LX Tip of the Day: LX Inventory Pallet Status Flow

Anthony Etzel 0 56027 Article rating: No rating

Four fields in the Item/Warehouse record (IIW file) affect the disposition of the

pallet status.

 

1.  Goods Receiving Code: You define these codes in Goods Receiving Maintenance (WHM130). The codes control whether or not the stock passes through inspection, what percentage, or quantity of a delivery to inspect, and the number of quarantine days, if any.

 

2.  Inspection Zone/Inspection Location: Either the Inspection Zone or the Inspection Location must be entered on the Item/Warehouse Master Maintenance screen WHM150D2-01.

 

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Inventory Valuation

Kathy Barthelt 0 54854 Article rating: No rating

In Baan IV, inventory valuation is done by standard costs, unless you use projects. If you use projects, it is based on estimated or actual costs.

In Baan V and LN, you have the choice of LIFO, FIFO and MAUC (Moving Average).

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Tips:  LX | BPCS | M3

Tips: LN | Baan

Shane Grumbles

Industry Insights: Why More Manufacturers Are Replacing Paper Work Instructions

For years, paper work instructions have been a standard part of manufacturing. They were easy to distribute, simple to update, and familiar to operators.

But manufacturing has changed. Products are more complex, customer expectations keep rising, and as experienced employees retire, new hires often need to become productive faster than ever before. As a result, many manufacturers are rethinking how information is delivered on the shop floor.

The Challenge with Paper

Paper work instructions create several common challenges:

  • Multiple versions of the same document
  • Outdated instructions remaining at workstations
  • Time spent searching for the correct information
  • Longer training periods for new employees
  • Inconsistent processes between operators

On their own, none of these seem like a major problem, but together they add up to real quality and productivity issues.

A Shift Toward Digital Work Instructions

One trend we're seeing across the manufacturers we work with is a move toward digital work instructions. Rather than relying on printed documents, operators receive the latest approved instructions directly at their workstation, along with supporting images, videos, and other visual aids. This helps ensure every operator is working from the same information, every time.

Manufacturers making this shift are also gaining new capabilities they didn't have with paper: capturing production data directly from the shop floor, improving traceability, and supporting standardized work across shifts and facilities.

What Manufacturers Are Reporting

The common thread across the manufacturers we work with is consistency. When operators have the right information at the right time, training ramps up faster, quality becomes more predictable, and shop floor performance is easier to track across shifts and facilities.

Final Thoughts

New tools don't improve manufacturing on their own. What matters is whether people actually have what they need to do the job well. Digital work instructions are one example of how manufacturers are extending the value of their ERP investment while improving quality, productivity, and workforce development.

If you're exploring ways to standardize work on the shop floor or improve operator performance, we'd be happy to discuss what's working across the manufacturing industry and how those ideas might apply to your organization.

Start the conversation

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