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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

The Top 5 Benefits of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES)

by PlanetTogether

Anthony Etzel 0 38071 Article rating: 5.0

MES provides the right information at the right time to show the floor manager how to optimize current conditions to improve production output.

Need 5 more reasons why you should invest in an MES system?
Read the full article by PlanetTogether:

https://www.planettogether.com/blog/the-top-5-advantages-of-a-manufacturing-execution-system

Clearly, an MES does more than simply track the amount of product coming off of your production lines. Improving your facility's efficiency begins with accurately recording production, material usage, and personnel time. Crossroads MES accomplishes this feat with ease and precision.

Infor LX & BPCS Tip of the Week: Trim Leading Zero

George Moroses 0 62027 Article rating: 5.0

In LX 8.4, an enhancement has been included to allow for the expanded Company fields to have the leading zero truncated.

To trim leading zeros, CEA515B is called during macro resolution to trim the leading zero based on the position in the Zero Trim file (GZT). The Zero Trim file contains all the company number fields currently defined in the CEA Cross Reference fie (GXM).

This enhancement provides year over year comparison in financial reports and eliminates the need to setup new companies in programs such as Alias Definition. Financial programs trim the leading zero on Company fields, such as Company 010, on subsystem transactions to process as Company 10 during CEA macro resolution. Clients who prefer to retain the Company value as 010 on financial reports can clear the GZT file.

Infor LN & Baan Add-ons: Need a reason why you should barcode your inventory? How about 8 reasons!

Kathy Barthelt 0 34749 Article rating: 5.0

Top Eight Benefits of Barcodes

Barcodes are often overlooked as a method for cutting costs and saving time. A valuable and viable choice for businesses looking to improve efficiency and reduce overhead, barcodes are both cost-effective and reliable.

Crossroads RMC offers RMClabel which can be tied to any data collection system, or run stand-alone. Create barcode labels with 1D

Infor LN & Baan: Data Collection

Be honest. Does your business REALLY operate in real time?

Kathy Barthelt 0 40971 Article rating: 5.0

Do you have up-to-date real-time information on labor, machine time, and parts consumed? How accurate is your data? Can you get an accurate picture of what is going on across your operations at any time?

If not, Crossroads data collection solution should be considered. By combining sessions, eliminating duplicate entries and using available information to complete a transaction, Web Collect, formerly RMC3 extends the Infor LN and Baan applications to ensure efficiencies and timely information flow and reporting. 

Consulting News: Are you familiar with your Infor LN / Baan System Log?

Kathy Barthelt 0 39293 Article rating: 5.0

Data about the system and the application is stored in a system log. The system data includes information about:

  • The application environment
  • Any reorganization of tables
  • The available free disk space
  • The back-up schedule
  • The user data reports
  • The updates
  • Changes in the system
  • The error messages and solutions

Are you comfortable with reading your ERP system log? Have you checked it lately? Need help interpreting if your system may have a problem? Contact Kathy Barthelt today and one of our expert technical consultants can help to put your mind at ease and make sure your system is running as it should.

Infor LN & Baan Tip of the Week: Warehouse Blocking – LN 10.7

Kathy Barthelt 0 74880 Article rating: 5.0

The functionality to block a warehouse for inbound or outbound transactions has been enhanced. A check for blocks is performed not only during receipt and shipment confirmation, but at multiple stages in the process. In addition, you can specify these blocking options for the inbound and outbound processes:

• No

• Yes

• Interactive

For example, if Blocked for Inbound is set to Yes, no inbound actions are allowed in the warehouse. Consequently, users cannot confirm receipts, generate and put away inbound advice or storage lists, and perform inbound inspections. 

If Interactive is set, during a non-automatic warehouse inbound procedure, warnings are displayed which offer the user a choice to either cancel the action or continue. Batch or automatic inbound processes continue, but the corresponding reports and logs make note of the blocking. However, in all scenarios, receipt confirmation is not allowed.

The same rules are applicable for the warehouse outbound procedure steps. The restriction for receipt confirmation also applies to shipment confirmation.

For warehouse transfer orders, not only the ship-from warehouse is checked for outbound process blocks, but also the ship-to warehouse. This prevents situations in which goods get stuck in transit due to inbound procedure blocks that apply to the destination warehouse. Now, the transfer process is already blocked during outbound.

Partner News: Are you up to date on all of the sales tax changes that have gone into effect this year?

Crossroads RMC 0 34697 Article rating: 5.0

Like it or not, requirements for collecting sales tax change monthly and keeping up with those changes requires someone to be “on it” full time. Fortunately, Avalara handles all of that. Learn How >

Contact us to learn how we can take this burden off your plate and ensure that you are 100% in compliance, 100% of the time.

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Tips:  LX | BPCS | M3

Tips: LN | Baan

Digital Transformation & Your ERP

70% of global executives said the pandemic will accelerate their digital transformation pace

Transformation: (definition)  A thorough and dramatic change.

We all dream about it….how can we transform ourselves into something better…something more desirable? Maybe it is our appearance that we want to improve, maybe it is our physical strength and stamina, or maybe it is our mental toughness.

Have we thought about transformation when it comes to our businesses? More specifically, our ERP systems that are the lifeblood of our businesses?

When it comes to this type of transformation, we’re talking about a digital transformation. This means taking disconnected business systems and manual processes and transforming or converting those systems into a world where achieving greater efficiencies, collaboration, improved delivery speed, and greater customer satisfaction is not only possible but probable.

As the world becomes more digital, so must organizations large and small, despite the unexpected. One survey found that 70% of global executives said that the pandemic will inevitably accelerate their digital transformation pace. https://dmexco.com/stories/is-the-coronavirus-pandemic-an-engine-for-the-digital-transformation/

ERP has a major impact on digital transformation. When it comes to ERP, transformations are often referred to as ERP Modernization. Here is just a sampling of how ERP modernization can impact your business:

  • Cost Reduction – Supporting legacy software and on-premise servers requires resources, but not just any resources. You must have resources that know the ins and outs of software and hardware that is decades old. Older software and platforms often result in higher maintenance costs and significant limitations to overall data management and system performance. Moving to the cloud, or the latest version of on-premise systems opens many doors that would otherwise be closed to you.
  • Eliminating Data Silos – Separate databases and disconnected systems mean that collaboration and communication are not possible. Missed opportunities abound for increased productivity. What would it mean to your business for all personnel to be operating off the same set of data and getting updates in real-time?
  • One Cohesive System –  Using ERP add-ons is helpful, but unless the systems talk to one another, duplicate data entry is required and real-time updates aren’t possible. How can you truly take advantage of the investment you made in a CRM or inventory management system if it doesn’t communicate with your ERP?
  • Visibility Across the Supply Chain –  No idea when your supplier is going to deliver the parts you need? Are you literally calling or waiting for an email to be sent? If that is how you’re getting updates, you’re likely not getting them timely enough to properly respond to those updates. Customer satisfaction issues can greatly be eliminated with real-time updates and complete visibility up and down the supply chain. With global supply chain issues prevalent in most industry sectors, visibility becomes more important than ever.
  • Scalability Becomes Possible – When your business needs change, your ERP system should be capable of handling the growth or increased functionality requirements to support it. This can be achieved by staying current on the ERP version or at least getting to a version where integrations with complementary systems are possible.

Transformations don’t happen with one act or one giant step. They happen with small steps and interim goals that can and should be celebrated along the way. Need help deciding when or where that first step should take place? Need someone to be your coach for the transformation? Contact Crossroads RMC today for recommendations, best practices, and solutions for this all-important journey for your business. 

800.762.2077 or click here to get a free phone consultation!

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