Are your employees not as productive as you’d like them to be? Are jobs not getting completed on schedule? 

Without actual data, making decisions about how efficient your operation is will be difficult. Start tracking actual time to complete each operation. Compare different production lines running the same job. Is one line running more efficiently? If so, start looking at why. Track downtime, setup, etc. Once you start really analyzing each piece of the puzzle, you can begin to uncover areas that are ripe for improvement.

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If you’ve been successful doing something in the past, you want to keep doing it that way. Are your procedures documented? Do you have workflows defined? Would creating video tutorials be helpful, especially for new employees? Giving employees the tools to be successful helps to ensure the success of the business as a whole.

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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!

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!

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. 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.

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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.

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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.?

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