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...

MEASURE WHAT YOU WANT TO IMPROVE!

Six simple words, but put together they convey a powerful concept that can transform manufacturing companies. It’s a basic concept that’s hard to argue with: Collect data, see where the data leads you, and make changes that have a positive impact on the data. Repeat often.

If your company is manufacturing a product, you’re...

What items should be MPS planned, and what items should be MRP planned?
Master Scheduled Items are those items that are finished goods, or service items, that receive their requirements either specifically from Independent demand, or both Dependent and Independent demand.

• Independent Demand is demand that cannot be calculated from higher-level demand in the product structure, and therefore must be either a forecast or an actual customer order (Finished Goods or Service parts sold to customers).
• Dependent demand is derived from higher-level demand in the product structure. Dependent demand includes components, raw materials, and sub-assemblies. (these are not normally Master Scheduled Items).
• Service Parts may have both independent demand from forecast and/or customer orders, as well as dependent demand from higher-level demand if that item is also used in other sub-assemblies or products.
• Cumulative Lead Time is a concept used in Master Production Scheduling (MPS) that combines the “fixed” lead time, and the “variable” lead time needed to produce the product. It is the longest path through a given Bill-of-material. Based on the MPS setup options, Infor LX (ERP LX) will calculate the cumulative lead time (also called “the Critical Path”) for you (use the “indented BOM” display in BOM300 and find the item with the longest lead time “L/T”). Note: You may have to use Action 21, Line Detail, to see the “L/T” lead time for each item.

What items should be MPS planned, and what items should be MRP planned…

Master Scheduled Items are those items that are finished goods, or service items, that receive their requirements either specifically from Independent demand, or both Dependent and Independent demand.

• Independent Demand is...

LX User Group Event

Tuesday, May 10 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET
Infor Partner Spotlight | Crossroads RMC

Come hear recent success stories with Crossroads RMC's software MES Ultimate, Analytics Dashboard, and Avalara's interface, along with consulting services that focus on a joint upgrade and MES project with Infor.

Crossroads RMC Welcomes Robert Brown, as a Sr. Business Consultant!
Bob brings 30+ years of shop floor and project management skills to Crossroad RMC. He is a self-starter that has progressively mastered the Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Finance modules within Infor LX. Bob will get started with EDI/ECM set up for new trading partners and within the Supply Chain ranks. Bob is a great addition to the Crossroads RMC team, and we look forward to his leadership expertise on implementations and upgrades in the near future.

Did you implement your ERP system 5 years ago… or maybe 20 years ago? At the time, it was like a brand new car… sleek, fast, top-of-the-line, and fuel-efficient. And although it may have needed a few minor “adjustments”, overall you were very pleased. Fast forward to today. Does it still have that new car smell? Does it run as efficiently as it used to? Do you know how to fix a problem when it occurs?

While ERP systems are certainly designed to last, over time, your business changes, your customers’ needs change, employees change and you are left with a system that may run “fine”, but you certainly don’t feel the same way about it as you did when it was brand new.

So the good news is that you CAN restore that “new car smell” with a utilization review, or business process review.

What is a Utilization or Business Process Review and Why Do I Need One?
Simply put, a business process review is an...

Did you know that the average cost of a cyber attack is $2.6 million? Here is a recent article by Anthony Green - FoxTech, discussing the top threats for 2022 and what to do to prevent an attack on your business.

The HR Director: Top cybersecurity threats for 2022 and how to protect against them.