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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

BPCS/LX Tip of the Week: 6 Powerful Steps to Win With Automation

Anthony Etzel 0 54923 Article rating: 5.0
  1. Eliminate paper shop packet and distribution of the paperwork to the shop floor.     
  2. Eliminate manual (paper-based) recording activities and the need to key in the transactions.
  3. Easy electronic scheduling by sequence and changing job priorities.
  4. Evaluate differences using actual times compared to standards.
  5. Improve data accuracy and eliminate the need to chase and fix errors.
  6. Practice Real-Time data reporting to monitor efficiencies and identify problems as they occur.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: 6 Powerful Steps to Win With Automation

Kathy Barthelt 0 82615 Article rating: No rating
  1. Eliminate paper shop packet and distribution of the paperwork to the shop floor.    
  2. Eliminate manual (paper-based) recording activities and the need to key in the transactions.
  3. Easy electronic scheduling by sequence and changing job priorities.
  4. Evaluate differences using actual times compared to standards.
  5. Improve data accuracy and eliminate the need to chase and fix errors.
  6. Practice Real-Time data reporting to monitor efficiencies and identify problems as they occur.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Purchase Inquiry

Kathy Barthelt 0 76689 Article rating: No rating

In Baan IV Purchase Control, the purchase inquiry procedure enables user to:

  • Request a specific supplier to submit a quotation on the purchase inquiry for the delivery of an item.
  • Compare the prices and discounts of the quotations that are submitted by different suppliers.
  • Copy the inquiry data to a purchase order.

In LN, you can:

  • Request multiple business partners to submit a quotation on a specific request-for-quotation for the delivery of an item.
  • Compare the received quotations based on the following criteria:
    1. Price
    2. Quantity
    3. Vendor rating
    4. Delivery dates
    5. RFQ subjective criteria
  • Copy the quotation data to a purchase order, a purchase contract, or a price book.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

BPCS/LX Tip of the Week: Using Pre-Assigned Lot Numbers

Anthony Etzel 0 45385 Article rating: 5.0

Some items in the manufacturing process may require a lot number. A quick and easy way to release the Shop Orders with lot numbers is by using the Multi-Level Shop Order Release.

Simply select the end item from the selection screen and use action 10 for the multi-level order release. At the bottom of the release screen is the field “Pre-Assign a Lot Number to Shop Orders”. Select 1 for the pre-assigned lot number assignment option.

This option will use the pre-assigned lot number on the shop order, if the lot number exists. If the lot number does not exist, the system will automatically create a lot number and assign it to the shop order for all items that are lot-controlled.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Blonder Tongue Goes Live with Crossroads MES

Anthony Etzel 0 25869 Article rating: 5.0
Blonder Tongue Labs recently went live with the Crossroads MES solution over their current BPCS 6.0.4 environment. They selected the Crossroads MES solution for its shop floor management and reporting capabilities. Blonder Tongue is a leader in the field of cable-television communications products. They are planning an upgrade to LX and will expand the usage of Crossroads MES in the LX environment.

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Financial Year End – Have You Done All You Need To Do?

Kathy Barthelt 0 74774 Article rating: 4.0

I'm reposting this checklist for things to consider in order to finish out the year, and plan for next year…

  • Are your accounting records up to date so that you can make a projection of how the current year will turn out?
  • Are all account reconciliations currently up to date to facilitate the closing of the books after year end?
  • Are there accounts receivable that should be reserved for or written off prior to the end of the year?
  • If your business carries inventory, do you need to plan a physical count as of the end of the year?
  • Has depreciation on your fixed assets been recorded during the year? Have you considered depreciation on current year additions?
  • Have all new asset purchases and bank loans been recorded on your books?
  • Are there any liabilities, for example, pending legal actions or warranty issues, which will need to be recorded prior to year end? 
  • Do you have a plan in place to properly “cut-off” revenue at year end to properly match revenue and expense?
  • Will there be bonuses, profit sharing contributions or discretionary retirement plan contributions paid prior to the end of the year? How will these payments affect cash flow?
  • Will you be in compliance with your bank covenants at year end?
  • Do you need to make arrangements to receive statements as of the end of the year for cash value of life insurance, loan balances, etc.?

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

BPCS/LX Tip of the Week: Additional Electronic Signature Controls

Anthony Etzel 0 39520 Article rating: No rating

Electronic Signature Controls have been expanded to include additional programs, files and fields.  

When manufacturing work centers are updated through Work Center Maintenance (CAP100), the system can now require Electronic Signature processing to complete the process. This enhancement allows for broader Electronic Signature controls.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Problems With Staying on an Old Porting Set

Kathy Barthelt 0 71535 Article rating: No rating

Here are some issues that you might run into if you stay on an old porting set too long:

  • Incompatibility because of operating system patches
  • Printing issues because of out-of-date libraries
  • Potential performance issues if binaries are not updated
  • Updating third party products may not be possible because of dependencies
  • Limited support from Infor
  • Issues with updating database software/patches because of dependencies (if database is also running on same server as application)

Need help getting on a newer porting set? We'd be happy to help.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

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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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