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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

Infor LN & Baan Finance Tip: MPS Planned vs. MRP Planned

Kathy Barthelt 0 59830 Article rating: 5.0

What items should be MPS planned, and what items should be MRP planned…

Master Scheduled Items are those items that are finished goods, or service items, that receive their requirements either specifically from Independent demand, or both Dependent and Independent demand.

  • Independent Demand is...

Crossroads RMC Welcomes Robert Brown!

Crossroads RMC 0 17948 Article rating: 5.0

Crossroads RMC Welcomes Robert Brown, as a Sr. Business Consultant!
Bob brings 30+ years of shop floor and project management skills to Crossroad RMC. He is a self-starter that has progressively mastered the Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Finance modules within Infor LX. Bob will get started with EDI/ECM set up for new trading partners and within the Supply Chain ranks. Bob is a great addition to the Crossroads RMC team, and we look forward to his leadership expertise on implementations and upgrades in the near future.

You can benefit from a business process review only if...

Infor LX | BPCS | Infor LN | Baan

Crossroads RMC 0 20879 Article rating: 5.0

Did you implement your ERP system 5 years ago… or maybe 20 years ago? At the time, it was like a brand new car… sleek, fast, top-of-the-line, and fuel-efficient. And although it may have needed a few minor “adjustments”, overall you were very pleased. Fast forward to today. Does it still have that new car smell? Does it run as efficiently as it used to? Do you know how to fix a problem when it occurs?

While ERP systems are certainly designed to last, over time, your business changes, your customers’ needs change, employees change and you are left with a system that may run “fine”, but you certainly don’t feel the same way about it as you did when it was brand new.

So the good news is that you CAN restore that “new car smell” with a utilization review, or business process review.

What is a Utilization or Business Process Review and Why Do I Need One?
Simply put, a business process review is an...

Dashboards vs. Reports – What do they offer and which do I need?

Crossroads RMC 0 26719 Article rating: 5.0

Companies are collecting oceans of data, and struggle with transforming it into usable information. Most businesses focus on two methods of sharing data - the report and the dashboard. While these two terms mean many things to many people, it is important to understand what these terms mean and how the report and dashboard have similar features but they are not the same thing.  

What is a Report?

A report is meant to be used to gather detailed intelligence on the operations within an organization, thus a report can be either very broadly covering a wide scope of related information, or narrowly focusing on details of a single item, purpose, or event. All of this information, while presented in a report, is meant to be a snapshot in time.

Quite often, a report is built within the ERP system itself and often is constrained by the graphical and user limitations within the ERP. More often than not, large amounts of data are exported to Excel where added features allow for better manipulation of the data to a format that is digestible by users. Regardless, the data is only valid for that moment and time.

What is a Dashboard?

A dashboard is a graphical interface that provides at-a-glance views revolving around answering a central question. For example, an executive may ask you for up-to-the-minute details on "how the business is doing?". The answer to that question is as complex as the organizational structure of the company, but it is probably very simply measured with approximately 10 metrics. Those 10 metrics can likely be analyzed in chart form, and can and should be combined into one chart when the numbers are relatable or are on a similar scale. All these things should be considered when building a dashboard.

Dashboards, similar to the one in your vehicle, display critical data. Imagine driving down the road and having to push a bunch of buttons to find out how much fuel you have left, or having to pull over and pop the hood to check the oil pressure. It would be dangerous and a waste of your precious time. Your car's control panel or dashboard displays the most crucial information in an easy-to-use, graphical way.

How do Dashboards and Reports differ?

Infor Customer Meeting: LX, XA, and System21 All-Hands Call

Live Webinar for all Users - Wednesday, April 20 2022

Crossroads RMC 0 18567 Article rating: 5.0

Infor Customer Meeting: 
Live Webinar for all Users

Wednesday, April 20
11:30am - 12:00pm EST

Please join Infor leadership, who will discuss the exciting future strategy for our LX, XA, and System21 customers in the Americas. In this session, we will cover our stated direction, product future, and how this will positively impact your business.  Additionally, we will discuss the driving forces behind these changes and how our study group of customers has been reacting.  Whether you are a long-time customer or a relatively new customer of Infor’s, we welcome you to join this brief update of the future of your ERP solution and introduce you to the Infor team that will service and support your organization.

Our GM of the Americas, Bill Vellante, and VP of the Americas, Jay Allison will host this 30-minute session.

RSVP now

Join Event

Infor ERP Tip: Top 5 Ways Modern Analytics Reduces Spreadsheet Risk & Inefficiency

Infor LX | BPCS | Infor LN | Baan

Crossroads RMC 0 27904 Article rating: 5.0

Spreadsheets are often the tool of choice for many organizations to store and arrange information for financial planning, analytics, compliance, and more. Ironically, for many business processes that involve managing data, it creates the exact opposite effect––silos of information and inefficiency. And because it stores organizational data in a readily sharable way, there is a high risk of exposing confidential information.

Read this Infor best practice guide to discover the top five business processes that a modern data and analytics architecture can automate and deliver far more value than spreadsheet-driven techniques.

Infor Best Practice Guide: 5 Ways Modern Analytics Reduces Spreadsheet Risk and Inefficiency

Infor LN & Baan Tip: Cost Component Setup

Kathy Barthelt 0 58653 Article rating: 5.0

To break down an item’s standard cost, sales price, or valuation price, use cost components. With cost components, you can compare estimated and actual costs, calculate production variances, and analyze costs in Standard Cost Calculation.

If cost components are set up in a detailed way, detailed records...

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Tips:  LX | BPCS | M3

Tips: LN | Baan

Avoid Being a Quitter: How Crossroads RMC Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

Unlocking Success Infor LX/BPCS & Infor LN and Baan

Avoid Being a Quitter

As the calendar flips to January 1st, it marks the beginning of a new year filled with fresh opportunities and resolutions. It's that time when many of us set ambitious goals for ourselves, both personally and professionally. But, how often do these aspirations fizzle out before we even hit the second Friday of the year? It's so common that they even call it "Quitter's Day." However, it's not too late to stay on track and realize your ambitions. In this article, we'll focus on the professional side of goal-setting and how Crossroads RMC can be your ally in achieving manufacturing excellence.

Step 1: Make Your Goals Bite-Sized

While you might have grand ambitions, like upgrading your ERP system, increasing customer satisfaction, or optimizing your supply chain, achieving these goals often involves breaking them down into smaller, manageable projects. Here's how you can start:

  • Why: Understand why you want to make these changes. Is it to retain your top customers, leverage new ERP features, or streamline your supply chain?
  • What: Clearly define the desired outcomes – be it increased sales, enhanced efficiency, or cost reduction.
  • Who: Identify the key players who can help you achieve these goals. Do you have the necessary resources in-house, or should you consider external expertise?
  • When: Establish a timeline, considering your overall company initiatives, project priorities, and deadlines. Make your goals specific, measurable, attainable, and time-based (SMART).

For example:

  • Increase customer satisfaction for our top 5 customers by 10% in the next 6 months.
  • Reduce production mistakes in our welding department by 50% within a year.


Step 2: Identify Roadblocks

What's preventing you from reaching your goals? Is it a lack of resources, support, or the right tools? Consider these factors:

  • Lack of bandwidth: Assess your team's capacity. Can you involve colleagues from other departments or partners?
  • Support: Get buy-in from business leaders by demonstrating the ROI and benefits of your project. Educate your coworkers on its importance.
  • Tools: Explore features in your ERP system that you might not be utilizing fully. Is an upgrade or additional software add-ons needed?

 
Step 3: Take Action and Persist

Creating a plan is vital, but remember, the path to success isn't always smooth. Prepare for challenges and adapt as needed:

  • Develop a comprehensive plan to execute your goals.
  • Communication is key. Keep your team informed about progress and challenges.
  • Adjust your plan when necessary. Mistakes are part of the journey and can lead to future success.


How Crossroads RMC Can Help You in 2024

At Crossroads RMC, we understand the challenges manufacturers face, and we're here to support your journey to success. Here's how we can assist:

  • Implement new functionality in your existing ERP system.
  • Lead the way in upgrading your ERP to the latest version.
  • Provide training based on best practices for your employees.
  • Automate time-consuming, manual processes.
  • Integrate your systems, creating a seamless, cohesive environment.
  • Deliver ERP add-on solutions that save you time and money.

We offer a comprehensive range of consulting services and software designed to optimize manufacturing by reducing costs, improving quality, and enhancing efficiency.

Learn More:

Infor LX & BPCS Services> Infor LX & BPCS Software>

Infor LN & Baan Services> Infor LN & Baan Software>
 

It's Time for Action!

Contact us today at solutions@crossroadsrmc.com or call us at 800.762.2077 to discuss your ERP goals. Let Crossroads RMC be your partner in making 2024 a resounding success for your manufacturing business!

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