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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's Support Schedule for LX & BPCS

Anthony Etzel 0 61495 Article rating: 5.0

Infor recently announced their support schedule for all versions of BPCS/LX. Not sure what your company’s strategy should be moving forward?

Let us help you figure out the best path forward for YOUR company. Our goal is to put you on a path that ensures that you are supported and that your needs are met today and in the future without breaking the bank. Learn More>
 

Conversion of SiM Tasks for WFi Workflows

Anthony Etzel 0 67955 Article rating: 5.0

This enhancement simplifies access to LX programs that are available through System i Manager (SiM), as well as Workflow for System I (WFi). This provides an easy way to promote common WFi business processes from one LX environment (for example, test or environment) to another LX environment (for example, production). 

LX also provides a set of four-character task codes that can be used within SiM, System i Workspace (SiW), and WFi, for default programs in LX. These predefined LX task codes begin with 0,1,2,3, or 4. Users can specify task codes for their custom programs that are flagged as valid menu options in LX, but these task codes cannot begin with 0,1,2,3, or 4. Users can specify the task codes in Infor LX Object Master Maintenance, SYS625D. This enhancement provides simplified access to LX programs that are flagged as valid menu options in System i Manager and Workflow for System i environments. In SYS625D, The user can also specify task codes in SYS625D for customized programs that are flagged as valid menu options.

Does your existing data collection equipment and barcode label printers need some love and attention?

Kathy Barthelt 0 33226 Article rating: 5.0

Crossroads RMC knows that new equipment is not something that everyone can or wants to include in their budget. Sometimes you need to make due with what you have. We are proud to partner with a local company that repairs existing data collection equipment, and sells refurbished devices as well.

Want to bring a little life back into your equipment and extend their use? Contact us today to see if your data collection equipment can be given new life! 

Kathy Barthelt – VP Sales
Crossroads RMC
Phone: 1.630.955.1310, x113 | Cell: 1.630.408.7759
kbarthelt@crossroadsrmc.com

Do you have spreadsheets and separate databases that may or may not be tied to Baan/LN?

Kathy Barthelt 0 36629 Article rating: 5.0

Do you have spreadsheets and separate databases that you’re keeping on the side that may or may not be tied to Baan/LN?

-Do you wish they were integrated so that you didn’t have to manually go into each system to report on the data or look up information? 
-Are you running into problems because you don’t have exposure to all of the data that is critical to running your business?

Crossroads RMC has a team of integration experts who can create the integration you’ve been dreaming about… AND we have developed RMCconnector to allow for quick and easy translation data from your front end system into a format accepted by your back end ERP. 

Learn More

Baan/LN Tip: Saving Space in Your General Ledger

Kathy Barthelt 0 78078 Article rating: 5.0

Compressing Integration Transactions

One way to save space in your general ledger is to compress integration transactions. The transactions are combined into one ledger account number. However, the detail is still available in the integration transactions sessions.

The compression is seen after the transactions are finalized. 

Compression is established in the mapping scheme by checking the box under the columns “Compression of Debit/Credit Transactions". This can only be done in a mapping scheme that is not activated. 

BPCS/LX Tip: Backup and Save options

Anthony Etzel 0 55570 Article rating: No rating

Users are no longer limited to backing up or saving files to a tape or diskette.They can now use a Save File (SAVF) to save data and objects. LX programs that perform saves and/or backups were modernized to add a new SAVF option.  

There were numerous places in LX where users are prompted to save a file or library. These screens have options for tape or diskette. Diskette refers to the old 8” diskettes used on System/38. These devices are outdated and virtually obsolete. The current means of saving objects on the IBM i, is through the use of a Save File (SAVF). This compresses the data into a single object that can be saved and is easily transferred between systems.

These objects were modified and/or created for this enhancement:

  • Backup Simulation (FOR630C, FOR630D, FOR630FM, FOR640HT, and FOR630HT)
  • Month End Close (INV903D, INV903FM, INV901C, and INV903HT)
  • Purge YTH/Restore Archived Lots (INV912C, INV912D, INV912DHT, and INV912FM)
  • Purge and Save ITH records (INV932C, INV932D, INV932FM, and INV932HT)
  • Labor Ticket Save (SFC905D, SFC905FM, SFC901C, and SFC905HT)
  • Backup Infor LX Files (SYS700C, SYS700D, SYS700FM, and SYS700HT)
  • Backup Infor LX Programs (SYS710C, SYS710D, SYS710FM, and SYS710HT)
  • Backup Infor LX Source (SYS740C, SYS740D, SYS740FM, and SYS740HT)
  • Save File Name Selection (SYS912D, SYS912FM, and SYS912HT)


Benefit

Use the Backup Simulation to copy a simulation file to a SAVF or tape. Users may want to do this to transfer simulation data from one system to another, from site to site, or to save the data before permanently deleting it from the system.

Navistar goes global with Crossroads RMC!

Kathy Barthelt 0 26701 Article rating: 4.7

Navistar, a leading manufacturer of commercial trucks, buses, defense vehicles, and engines, has selected Crossroads RMC’s data collection middleware to use for their global data collection solution. Implementation began in late 2018 with Navistar’s Illinois facility and will be completed in all other divisions by the end of 2019.

Don’t Let Malware Destroy Your ERP System!

Crossroads RMC 0 23631 Article rating: 5.0

We just got a report that another one of our customers has been affected by malware. In this case it wiped out their ERP server. We are working with them to restore it an get everything up and running again. It is highly likely that this got into their network by an email attachment. This seemed like a good opportunity to remind everyone to be extremely careful with email attachments. Even if it appears to be from someone that you know, email “From” addresses can be forged.

Best practice is to save the attachment to a folder, and run a virus scan before opening or viewing the file.

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Tips:  LX | BPCS | M3

New IDF Inquiries 

Infor LX has a long history of providing IDF inquiries over most critical business areas, but there are still some areas that lack this capability.
The following IDF inquiries are now available in 8.4.2:

  • Customer Quote
  • Customer Quote Line
  • RMA (Return Material Authorization)
  • RMA Line

Benefits

  • Ability to sort, subset, filter, and view information in a modern and intuitive way
  • Point and click navigation to related information – 360 views
    • Exceptional personalization and extensibility capabilities

New IDF Inquiries 

Infor LX has a long history of providing IDF inquiries over most critical business areas, but there are still some areas that lack this capability.
The following IDF inquiries are now available in 8.4.2:

  • Customer Quote
  • Customer Quote Line
  • RMA (Return Material Authorization)
  • RMA Line

Benefits

  • Ability to sort, subset, filter, and view information in a modern and intuitive way
  • Point and click navigation to related information – 360 views
    • Exceptional personalization and extensibility capabilities
Last

Tips: LN | Baan

Infor LX & BPCS: Why You Need MES

You know your plant better than anyone, and most likely you'd admit that there is room for improvement. Perhaps too many defects are causing costly issues down the road, or maybe your production is behind and orders are shipping late? Do you know what needs to be improved? Do you know about the root causes of the problems that you’re experiencing? Is it fair to say, you don’t know what you don’t know … yet?

MES helps you dig into the problem and better yet, SOLVES the problem!

What Is MES and How Does It Work?

Many companies still enter data manually or share work instructions on paper. Most of them, however, know there’s a better way to organize the mass of activity happening on the plant floor. MES provides visibility to that activity as well as the underlying data and uses that data to improve how that activity is done and makes it repeatable. MES connects multiple sites, integrates with equipment, and raises the effectiveness of business applications all to better optimize operations.

The 3 Pillars of MES:

  1. Establishing a plan and staying on schedule. The system takes your input — production shifts/times, production goals, etc. — and calculates the rate at which you need to complete production in order to meet customer demand. Operators see real-time progress on dashboard graphics, knowing the progress at every moment.
  2. Enforcing a repeatable process. Knowing your process is being followed exactly as defined provides the ultimate peace of mind. Every target, from fastening to product routing, is achieved just as you defined it time after time.
  3. Creating a rich data set. Capturing data is one thing; being able to act on that data is really the key to driving improvement initiatives. Use your analytics, explore your data set, and identify and solve your hidden inefficiencies.

All three of these MES pillars are used to help you reach productivity and quality goals by:

  • Solving production scheduling challenges
  • Discovering and sharing your best operators’ insights
  • Uncovering inefficiencies in your process and fixing them
  • Reducing the exhausting task of putting out fires
  • Establishing a continuous improvement philosophy
  • Increasing operator engagement and dedication

And if you need another reason... according to Forbes.com, MES ranks in the Top 5 Key Areas to Affect How Goods Are Made in 2023 - Five Predictions For Manufacturing And Logistics In 2023.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/02/13/five-predictions-for-manufacturing-and-logistics-in-2023/?sh=1155863f1f76

So, what's next? Work with Crossroads RMC, an experienced MES partner who has seen situations just like yours and who has guided companies in your position. And best of all, Crossroads RMC doesn’t just know MES, we have a team of experts who are knowledgeable about manufacturing best practices, your Infor ERP, and MES and can bring all of that knowledge together to help you formulate the right plan for your company’s success.

Contact Anthony Etzel at Crossroads RMC today. He can provide you with a free MES ROI calculator to give you some concrete numbers to help you see what MES can do for your business. 800.762.2077

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