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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

Crossroads RMC's Analytics Dashboard serves as the perfect complement to extend your MES solution

George Moroses 0 35717 Article rating: 5.0

Did you know our Analytics Dashboard serves as the perfect complement to extend your MES solution?

Need real-time information regarding what shop orders are active, which lines are down, and overall OEE? Want to display all of this data in easy to understand graphs and charts with drill-down capability?

Contact us today to find out how our Analytics Dashboard can provide all of the information you need in real-time.

  • MES Work Center Job Step Status
  • MES Work Center Machine Status
  • MES Shop Order Status
  • MES Order / Operation Status
  • MES Order / Parts Status
  • MES Badge Status

Contact George Moroses to learn more.

Infor and Crossroads RMC Partner to Drive Success at Ridewell

Anthony Etzel 0 36781 Article rating: 5.0

Earlier this year, Ridewell Corporation inked a deal with Infor to move their BPCS 4.05 CD system to Infor LX. As part of that deal, Crossroads RMC’s MES software was selected to provide shop floor automation. 

For the ERP upgrade, Infor reached out to Crossroads RMC to provide support for both Finance and Data Conversion due to our positive track record with 4.05 CD to LX migrations. Crossroads RMC has extensive migration experience and developed a methodology for converting legacy 4.05 CD GL into CEA. 

The process Crossroads RMC developed makes it cleaner, more manageable, and easy to embrace from the client perspective. Infor also engaged Crossroads RMC to provide technical support to manage the data conversion, utilizing the Infor utilities and converting Ridewell’s 4.05 CD data to standard LX.

IDF: Defining the Attributes for a New Object

Anthony Etzel 0 30548 Article rating: 5.0

Attributes are the fields you define in your System i file.

You can begin by building your attribute list in Integrator by synchronizing the object with the host. This process reads the file definition from the System i and builds your list of attributes. The synchronize process will automatically run and read the definitions for the first occurrence of this file name within the library list. You can repeat this process manually multiple times if you change the file definition on the host by using the ‘Synchronize with Host’ option. However, the synchronization process will not recognize changed field names.

Non on key field attributes: The integrator requires a unique key for each object. If the host file already has a key, the synchronization process will automatically identify fields as part of the key as well as add a sequence number to multiple key parts. If the file does not have a unique key, you must either create a keyed logical file or identify the key manually. Key fields are the default sort order for all list views for an object.

Why do you need OTTO? Let’s let our customers tell you…

George Moroses 0 26396 Article rating: 5.0

“Our priorities change daily. It’s important to manage the priorities instead of having someone here in the office constantly expediting. We don’t want to run MRP every day, that would just introduce nervousness, all plans and priorities are likely to change and the flood of recommendations would be unmanageable. We run MRP once a week and rely on OTTO to track the constantly shifting priorities day-to-day.”  
Production & Inventory Control Manager, Top U.S. Crane Manufacturer

Learn More About OTTO

Crossroads RMC is proud to announce the release of the following dashboard views that come STANDARD with the LX Analytics Dashboard

George Moroses 0 30124 Article rating: 5.0

Standard Analytics Dashboard Views: 

  • Sales Bookings (ECH)
  • Accounts Receivable (RAR)
  • Accounts Payable (APH)
  • Planned Orders (KFP)
  • Purchasing (HPH)
  • Shop Order Material (FMA)
  • Shop Order Operations (FOD)
  • CEA
  • Order Booking (ECS)
  • Labor History (FLT)
  • Sales History (SIH)
  • Material Status (IIM/ILI)

Click Here to Learn More

If you can't see everything that happens on your shop floor, you are at a competitive disadvantage

Anthony Etzel 0 31579 Article rating: 5.0

If you’re not able to see everything that happens on your shop floor in real-time, you’re at a HUGE competitive disadvantage! Your competitors are running MES. 

Crossroads MES software provides:

  • A user-friendly interface and an easy exchange of information between the shop floor users and your ERP database. 
  • Planners the ability to schedule work to a specific machine or work area. In addition, it allows for work to be re-sequenced and split for better flexibility in scheduling shop floor activities.
  • Factory workers with the ability to receive the work schedule electronically as well as interacting with it by reporting transactional activity.
  • The ability to electronically display Drawing, Process Instructions, and Quality Instructions so you can eliminate, or minimize, the need for some of the paper on the shop floor.
  • The ability to pass shop floor transactional activity to dashboard displays as well as the ERP system. 

Click here to learn more about Crossroads MES 

or Contact Anthony Etzel today to learn more.

Infor LN & Baan Tip of the Week: Job Groups in LN

Kathy Barthelt 0 84415 Article rating: 5.0

In a scenario where performing job A depends on the result of job B, it is hard to decide at what time job A must be scheduled, and how long job B runs. To handle dependent jobs, you can now create a job group. Use the Job Groups (ttaad5140m000) session to create a job group. A job group has a name, with the same characteristics as a job name, and a description. The Status and User of the job group are handled automatically.

After creating the job group, the jobs are added to the group, approximately in the order the jobs must be performed. The first job in the group (with the lowest Group Number) determines the handling of the whole job group, such as execution date and whether the job group is being repeated. If the job group is not repeating, the job group and all non-repeating jobs in the job group are deleted when the job group has run.

The dependencies of the jobs in the job group are also determined. A job in the job group can only depend on a job in the same job group with a lower job number.

You can use the specific options in the Job Groups (ttaad5140m000 andttams5640m000) sessions to change the status of the job group. The job group statuses have the same meaning as the status of the jobs and the same status changes are allowed.

Note: Job groups are only handled by the BSE service Job Scheduler Service.

A/P Payment Update in LX 8.3.4

Anthony Etzel 0 43349 Article rating: 5.0

A/P Payment Update in LX 8.3.4. ACP660B creates a file using a layout required by the bank; the file informs the bank to pay invoices. These conditions must be met to create the file:

  • FIM is an installed product in SYS821  ­
  • The user is authorized to FIM in SYS600 ­
  • The company is active in FIMCOMIT in SYS105  ­
  • The payment type is in BONPAYTP (SYS105)
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Tips:  LX | BPCS | M3

Tips: LN | Baan

Kathy Barthelt

Infor LN & Baan Tips & Tricks for EXECUTIVES

FINANCE: Use of Electronic Bank Statements

All actions required for converting, validating, matching, and posting electronically received bank statements can be performed within a single session:

  • Bank Statement Workbench (tfcmg5610m100)
  • Bank Statement (tfcmg5610m000)

Alternatively, you can use the sequence of electronic bank statement sessions outlined below.

Steps to Process Electronic Bank Statements:

  1. Convert Electronic Bank Statements (tfcmg5202m000)
    Convert the received bank file to a format that LN can process. LN stores the converted bank statement files in the directory specified in the Path For EBS Archive field of the Bank Relations (tfcmg0510m000) session. In the Pathname EBS File field, you must add the file name. To add the current date to the file name, append a tilde (~) to the file name.

  2. Validate Bank Statements (tfcmg5202m000 / tfcmg5510m000 / tfcmg5511m000)
    Validate the converted electronic bank statement.

  3. Match Bank Statements (tfcmg5210m000)
    Automatically match as many of the imported statements (status Validated) as possible with open items. LN can match the statements with sales invoices, purchase invoices, and anticipated payment documents.

    Matching Options:

    • Match - Surplus on Aging / Unallocated (Default value)
    • Match - Surplus on Unallocated
    • Match - Surplus to be allocated Manually
    • Allow Underpayments
    • Use Payment Difference Tolerance
       
  4. Matching Results (tfcmg2500m100)
    Review the results of the matching process.

    To handle an unmatched amount, you can:

    • Manually add an unallocated payment or receipt line.
    • Reconcile the surplus with remaining open entries of the business partner.
       
  5. Post Bank Statements (tfcmg5210m100)
    Post the bank transactions to the General Ledger.

    Update the business partner’s bank account number and other details in the Bank Account by Pay-by Business Partner (tccom4115s000) session, based on the details read from the bank statement file.

OPERATIONS: What is Statistical Inventory Control (SIC) and How Does It Work?

Statistical Inventory Control (SIC) is an inventory-controlled order system designed to maintain stock levels based on predefined thresholds, rather than being demand-driven like EP (Enterprise Planning). Since SIC relies on inventory levels, it may lead to higher stock levels. To minimize financial risks, SIC is best suited for:

  • Low-cost items.
  • Items with predictable demand or short lead times.


Applications of SIC

  • Low-Cost Items: Particularly effective for inexpensive goods.
  • Predictable Demand or Short Lead Time: Suitable when demand patterns are stable or lead times are minimal.
  • Warehouse-Specific Planning: Useful for planning by warehouse rather than across the supply chain.
  • Trading Industries: Commonly employed in sectors like supermarkets.
  • Immediate Demands: Effective for items required immediately by customers.
  • Ease of Use: Simple to implement and manage.


Limitations of SIC

  • Does not account for dependent demand from planned orders (e.g., MPS/MRP/INV).
  • Does not generate distribution orders.
  • Ignores time-phased planned orders.
  • Lacks forecast consumption techniques.
  • Uses both nettable and non-nettable warehouses.

How SIC Works

SIC operates based on the Reorder PointStock Levels, and Order Method.

Triggering SIC

When Economic Stocks (calculated as On-Hand Inventory + On-Order – Allocated Stocks) on the Horizon Date fall below the Reorder Point, SIC triggers the creation of:

  • Planned Purchase Advice.
  • Planned Production Advice.


Order Methods in SIC

The quantity for these advices is determined by the Order Method, which can be one of the following:

  • Replenish to Maximum Stock
  • Fixed Order Quantity
  • Economic Order Quantity (EOQ)
  • Lot-for-Lot

Example: SIC in a Supermarket

Scenario: Managing stock for Ice Cream (1 Kg Pack)

  • Current Stock: 10 PCs
  • Reorder Point: 5 PCs
  • Safety Stock: 2 PCs
  • Lead Time: 1 Day
  • Order Method: Replenish to Maximum (Maximum Stock: 20 PCs)
  • Maximum Anticipated Consumption: 3 PCs/Day

Process:

  1. Customer purchases reduce the stock.
  2. When stock reaches 5 PCs, SIC is triggered.
  3. A Purchase Advice is generated for 15 PCs to replenish stock to the maximum level (20 PCs).
  4. During the lead time (1 day), the remaining 3 PCs (excluding Safety Stock) meet customer demands.
  5. In emergencies, Safety Stock can also be utilized.

Statistical Inventory Control offers a practical approach for managing inventory levels, particularly in industries with predictable demand or fast-moving items. However, its limitations make it less ideal for complex or time-phased planning scenarios.

TECHNOLOGY: Archiving Data from tipcs300 and ticst300 Tables

1. Archiving tipcs300

  • Using Session tipcs2260m000:
    • When archiving PCS projects, selecting the "Archive Financial data" option ensures that:
      • Records in tipcs300 are archived to the archiving company.
      • Records are deleted from the original company.
    • If records remain in tipcs300:
      • They may belong to projects that have not been archived.
      • The project may have been archived without selecting "Archive Financial data."
    • Verify there are no errors during the archiving process.
  • Using Session tipcs3500m001:
    • The session "Delete Financial Transactions by Project" can delete records from tipcs300.
    • Note: This session is not for archiving; it removes records without copying them to the archiving company.

2. Archiving ticst300

  • Using Session ticst0250m000:
    • The session "Archive Production Orders" allows:
      • Archiving and deleting records from the original company.
      • Only deleting records from the original company.
    • When executed:
      • Records in ticst300 associated with archived orders are removed.
      • Remaining records belong to unarchived orders.

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Kathy Barthelt

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