Archive for Manufacturing
Time Line Visualization
Posted by: | CommentsHave you seen Time Line Visualization? It is fantastic. View your Inventory Supply and Demand over Time in a Graphical presentation.
Best of all it is “Interactive“. That means you can play “What If”; and then decide if you want to send the recommended adjustments back to your production system. I got so excited about this new feature I just had to record a 14 min movie showing how to use this great tool. By the way, we include the Time Line Visualization at no charge when you purchase our Manufacturing Plus Database.
Enjoy the show:
Send Document via e-mail as PDF
Posted by: | CommentsYou are going to love this new enhancement to Foundation Pack. “SendAsPDF” is officially feature #59 of 60. We added the ability to send Quotes, Sales Orders, Credit Memos, Sales Invoices, and Purchase Orders instantly as an e-mail attachment in a PDF format.
You just create the document content as desired, then click “SendAsPDF” and it generates an e-mail with everything automatically filled in.
Here is a sample of the Quote Screen:
- Sample from the Sales Quote Page
Sample of the e-mail ready to be sent:
- Sample of the automatic e-mail prepared for you
How cool is that.
We started with a Blog from the NAV Developers, then added our own twist: Default Values.
Examples: Where to pull the e-mail address, and where to pull all the other content. It can come in blank, and then you just fill in as desired, or set your defaults and let the software do the work.
I just love this little time saving feature. If you are new to NAV, it is not too late to add “Foundation Pack” to your new installation. If you are an old timer, order “Foundation Pack” when you upgrade to Version 2009 R2. I am so excited about this new feature I just recorded a video showing how it works.
Watch the Video, then leave me a comment below. Thanks, Rick
Inventory Accuracy with Automatic Cycle Counting
Posted by: | CommentsA 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→
True cost of a Job
Posted by: | CommentsProjects 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→
Job Planning Lines
Posted by: | CommentsYou 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.
Manufactruing Tip: MPS or MRP?
Posted by: | CommentsThe 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.
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