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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

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Use of Calendars in LN

Kathy Barthelt 0 72254 Article rating: No rating

Enterprise Modeling Management module in Common: define the calendar of companies (company calendar) and enterprise units.

In the People module, you can link calendars to teams of employees. The Hours and Expenses module in the People package uses this information to get the default number of hours from the calendar lines.

In Common, you can link calendars to business partners and addresses; Procurement and Sales use this information when planning goods transfers.

Manufacturing: link calendars to work centers. The work centers' working times determine the available production capacity.

 

Warehousing: link calendars to warehouses.

Service: use calendars to specify when a cluster is available for servicing.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Save the Date: LX Communities WebEx- Shop Floor Application hosted by Crossroads RMC - March 14, 2017 - 10:00 AM CST

Tuesday, March 14, 2017 - 10:00 a.m. Central

Anthony Etzel 0 29045 Article rating: 5.0

Register Today!

Infor LX Communities Virtual WebEx on Shop Floor Applications
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
10:00 am | Central Standard Time | 1 hr

Attend this conference to discuss: 

  • Problems and concerns with the Shop Floor Application
  • Routing file and Work Center file reviews showing how specific settings can determine the expected outcome for shop floor information
  • Is downtime a big concern? How is downtime captured today? Is downtime considered when setting up capacity parameters?

Crossroads will have a team of seasoned consultants on the call.  This team has been working with the BPCS/LX ERP since the mid 1990’s.

Crossroads RMC has been an Infor partner for 10 years and offers a complete and comprehensive set of software solutions to support manufacturing optimization for companies running on the IBM i platform. Our solutions focus on delivering real-time visibility and control over your entire operation. With over 30 years of experience, Crossroads RMC has become a trusted advisor and technology partner for manufacturers across the globe. 

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Use of Calendars in LN

Kathy Barthelt 0 70412 Article rating: No rating
  • In the Enterprise Modeling Management module in Common, you can define the calendar of companies (company calendar) and enterprise units.
  • In the People module, you can link calendars to teams of employees. The Hours and Expenses module in the People package uses this information to get the default number of hours from the calendar lines.
  • In Common, you can link calendars to business partners and addresses; Procurement and Sales use this information when planning goods transfers.
  • In Manufacturing, you can link calendars to work centers. The work centers' working times determine the available production capacity.
  • In Warehousing, you can link calendars to warehouses.
  • In Service, you use calendars to specify when a cluster is available for servicing.

 Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

BPCS/LX Tip of the Week: At a Loss?

Anthony Etzel 0 53000 Article rating: No rating

Loss of Key Experienced Personnel– More and more of the original “super users” have changed jobs, or retired. In their place are skilled individuals who may have been trained to execute specific tasks, but lack the experience required to respond to new and unplanned business needs and opportunities. As a result, decisions are made that may cause unintended problems. 

What is the best way to deal with this BEFORE the problem occurs? Read our blog to find out:

Read Blog

 

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: At a Loss?

Kathy Barthelt 0 68472 Article rating: No rating

Loss of Key Experienced Personnel– More and more of the original “super users” have changed jobs or retired. In their place are skilled individuals who may have been trained to execute specific tasks, but lack the experience required to respond to new and unplanned business needs and opportunities. As a result, decisions are made that may cause unintended problems. 

What is the best way to deal with this BEFORE the problem occurs? Read our blog to find out:

Read Blog

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

BPCS/LX Tip of the Week: Why Would You Buy a BMW, But Use a Scooter?

Anthony Etzel 0 49203 Article rating: No rating

Congratulations! You bought that shiny, new car! It has all the features you can possibly want and goes a million miles an hour. It can take you anywhere your heart desires…….but you rely on a manual scooter to get you around. You know, the kind you had when you were a kid…BEFORE you could drive…before you could afford the BMW. Make sense? Uh... no.

You’d never do this, right? So, why are you doing this with the ERP system that runs your business? Why are you relying on spreadsheets and separate little Access databases to record and store the information that is the most critical to your business when you have an ERP system that is meant for this? Why continue to plod along at a snail's pace when you have the tools to take your business to the next level?

Your ERP system is your BMW. Use it. See what it can do for you. Think you’ve used it to its potential? Unlikely. We’ve helped customers breathe new life into their EXISTING ERP version all by unlocking functionality for them that was already there and ready to use! We’ve also helped by offering add-ons to the ERP that can make your productivity skyrocket.

Ask us how. We’ve got an extra set of keys to the BMW in case you lost yours.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Why Would You Buy a BMW, But Use a Scooter?

Kathy Barthelt 0 68169 Article rating: 5.0

Congratulations! You bought that shiny, new car! It has all the features you can possibly want and goes a million miles an hour. It can take you anywhere your heart desires…….but you rely on a manual scooter to get you around. You know, the kind you had when you were a kid…BEFORE you could drive…before you could afford the BMW. Make sense? Uh... no.

You’d never do this, right? So, why are you doing this with the ERP system that runs your business? Why are you relying on spreadsheets and separate little Access databases to record and store the information that is the most critical to your business when you have an ERP system that is meant for this? Why continue to plod along at a snail's pace when you have the tools to take your business to the next level?

Your ERP system is your BMW. Use it. See what it can do for you. Think you’ve used it to its potential? Unlikely. We’ve helped customers breathe new life into their EXISTING ERP version all by unlocking functionality for them that was already there and ready to use! We’ve also helped by offering add-ons to the ERP that can make your productivity skyrocket.

Ask us how. We’ve got an extra set of keys to the BMW in case you lost yours.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Tip of the Week: The 3 Secrets to Improving Your MO (Manufacturing Optimization)

Kathy Barthelt 0 91726 Article rating: No rating
  1. Identify the key metrics. You need benchmark data so you know what realistic goals are, then track them and publish your performance along with a brief comment from time to time on how things are trending and how you compare with others, particularly your primary competitors. The best thing about this is that it is a system that develops a life of its own.
     
  2. Measure it. Automatically, people start to think about improving things. Then the fun part, stuff begins to improve by itself. Once in place, the system just hums along and the benefits appear, because it has motivated people to think about it, and figure out what they can do to make it better.
     
  3. Communicate it. Publish your numbers, and explain to people how what they do affects the company as a whole and its success/failure. Once they see the numbers, employees quite often start to modify their behavior for the better.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

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Tips:  LX | BPCS | M3

Tips: LN | Baan

Eliminating ERP Customizations: Key Considerations and Modern Solutions

Transitioning away from customizations can indeed pose challenges, but it's not insurmountable with the right approach. Here’s a look at the real issues and solutions that can pave the way for a streamlined, up-to-date ERP.


Common Challenges:

  1. Dependency on Custom Processes
    Custom processes become ingrained, and removing them disrupts established workflows. However, business processes often evolve over time, as do best practices incorporated into modern ERP systems.

  2. Cost and Time Constraints
    Testing, retraining, and hiring consultants for an upgrade are valid concerns. Yet, consider the efficiency gains and reduced maintenance costs over time by utilizing standard ERP features.

  3. User Resistance
    Change management is critical, as employees can be skeptical of losing tools they’re familiar with. Effective communication about the benefits of standardized, future-ready tools can help ease the transition.


The Reality Check: Has Your Organization Changed?

Evaluate how much your business needs have shifted, how user expectations have evolved, and if any workarounds or interim solutions are now adding unnecessary complexity. Many companies discover that industry-standard ERP features can replace outdated customizations.


Did You Know?

  • ERP Upgrades Can Eliminate 25% - 50% of Customizations
    Modern ERP systems incorporate industry best practices as core features, allowing you to rely less on customizations and more on robust, standardized solutions.

  • Extensibility & Reporting Solutions
    Extensibility tools in Infor LN or Baan let users add last-mile functionality without modifying the core ERP. Reporting tools allow custom insights while keeping ERP data intact.


Solutions to Reduce Customization Dependency:

  1. Rewrite Customizations to Use Standard APIs and Libraries
    This ensures seamless interaction with core ERP features without modifying underlying code.

  2. Utilize Infor Extensibility and LN Studio
    Smaller tweaks can be handled with Extensibility; larger needs can leverage LN Studio for custom apps without touching the ERP's foundation.

  3. Incorporate Infor ION for External Integrations
    If customizations primarily manage integrations, Infor ION can connect and streamline external systems effectively.

  4. RMCgen for Custom Components
    RMCgen allows for custom development without altering standard programs, offering flexibility without compromising core stability.

  5. Analytics Dashboards for ERP Insights
    Dashboards offer tailored views and insights without requiring customizations in the ERP itself.

  6. Leverage Built-in Reporting Tools
    Infor Report Designer, Document Management, and BIRST can provide custom reporting, avoiding custom coding altogether.

  7. Assess Your Custom Components
    A thorough assessment of your customizations—internally or with Crossroads RMC consultants—can reveal areas for potential standardization and streamlining.

Let’s Talk Solutions

If customizations are standing in the way of your ERP’s full potential, Crossroads RMC can help. Connect with us at 800.762.2077, solutions@crossroadsrmc.com, or request a consultation to start your path towards a flexible, future-proof ERP.
 

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Kathy Barthelt

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