Archive for Manufacturing

A very common complaint from end-users is that they can’t trust the computer to deliver accurate Qty on Hand information. They don’t trust the computer. They would rather walk out to the storage area and look before they commit delivery to a customer.

Yet is seems so simple: Receive into Inventory and the Qty goes up. Sell out of Inventory and the Qty goes down. So what is the problem? 99.9% of the time it is a human problem. Read More→

tafbutton blue16 Inventory Accuracy with Automatic Cycle Counting
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Apr
16

True cost of a Job

Posted by: Rick Baxter | Comments (0)

Projects always come in under budget if you don’t post any costs to them. Projects always come in under budget if you don’t post all job related costs to that job.  Don’t teach the computer to lie to you. Be honest with your entries and if a cost is job related post it to that job.

If the entry is going to push the actual cost over the estimated cost, make the entry! Don’t run and adjust the budget either. You need to know. You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know you have a problem. Read More→

tafbutton blue16 True cost of a Job
Categories : Manufacturing
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Apr
15

Job Planning Lines

Posted by: Rick Baxter | Comments (0)

You use Job Planning Lines to list your expectations of the job, either schedule (what items, resources and G/L expenses you expect to use) or contract (what you agree with your customer that he should pay for the job).

You can set up planning lines for each job task on the job. If you have agreed with your customer that he should pay one total amount for the entire job, regardless of the usage on the individual job tasks, you only have to set up one job planning line of type Contract for the entire job.

Only planning lines of type Contract or Both Schedule and Contract can be invoiced. Planning lines of type Schedule are regarded as not chargeable.

The confusing part is that a “Planning Line” can have multiple uses:
a. BOM
b. Task Cost Estimate Details
c. Billing information

We recommend to our Project/Job customers that you setup lines as either Schedule (Estimate) or as Contract (Price), but not both. Both is too confusing, make two separate entries to make it easier to track.

To assist in the process we recommend you setup tasks for each type of work that you do, to further separate the job allocations. Example: Welding, Painting, Installing, Developing, Training, CNC, or Demolition. Under each of these tasks add your “Planning Lines” to hold the detail estimate of that task.

If your business is project/job oriented you can view a video that shows how a well placed task line can clarify your work breakdown structure.

tafbutton blue16 Job Planning Lines
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Apr
15

Manufactruing Tip: MPS or MRP?

Posted by: Rick Baxter | Comments (0)

The terms “running the planning worksheet” or “running MRP” refer to the calculation of the master production schedule and material requirements based on actual and forecasted demand. The planning system can calculate either Master Planning Schedule (MPS) or Material Requirements Planning (MRP) on request, or it can calculate both at the same time. Tip to my readers, run them separately to avoid any confusion.

•    MPS is defined as the calculation of a master production schedule based on actual demand and the production forecast. The MPS calculation is carried out for end items that have a forecast and/or a sales order line. These items are called “MPS items” and are identified dynamically when the calculation starts.

•    MRP is defined as the calculation of material requirements based on actual demand for components and the production forecast on the component level. MRP is calculated only for items that are not MPS items. The overall purpose of MRP is to provide time-phased formal plans, by item, to supply the right item at the right time, in the right place, in the right quantity.

The planning algorithms used for both MPS and MRP are identical. The planning algorithms concern netting, reuse of existing replenishment orders, and action messages. The planning system process looks at what is needed or will be needed (demand) and what is on-hand or expected (supply). When these quantities are netted against each other, the program provides action messages. Action messages are suggestions to create a new order, change an order (quantity or date), or cancel an order already on order. The term “order” includes production orders, purchase orders, and transfer orders.

Proper planning results depend on the set up done on Item Cards, Production BOMs, and Routings. When you are first setting up NAV,test the effects of changes on the item card’s parameters as it relates to the results of the planning worksheet’s recommendation.

tafbutton blue16 Manufactruing Tip: MPS or MRP?
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