I still want to make some videos, but time is not cooperating.
1) Make sure to review and fill out every setting that makes sense. Each setting tells you about it at the bottom of the screen when selected and in a pop up near the edit area.
2) If you intend to use the inventory functions, create 2 special job numbers (in the jobs module click new job)- one of type "Stock" and one of type "Stock Adjustments". Enter these job numbers in the settings Module: SKU. There is a setting for default stock job id and default stock adjustments job id.
From here it really depends on how you intend to use EM. It is not possible to do a complete ERP implementation all at once, it is best to jump in one module at a time. This holds for my software as well as any other. Each step should probably be at least a month, if not more.
My suggested course of integration would go like this (although to a HUGE extent this will need to be modified based on the way your business runs and what you want to use EM for):
1) Create jobs in EM (when you first create a job you can specify its job #, after that it is locked in... use this to create your existing jobs in EM).
2) Start using EM to track timeclock and project time. This will require you to create activity codes in the employees menu for them. This will get your employees used to the interface and work flow. This should last a month or more.
3) Create vendors and begin using the purchase orders module. Place your orders via this system, receive the orders from the vendor. Record vendor invoices. As you go, create SKU items for commonly ordered items. Again this should be a months long process. In this process you will get SKU items and Vendors created.
4) Start using EM to record sales (Contracts) and issue invoices against jobs. This will get your back end people into the game for real.
4) Next start importing assembly information from CV and using it to create work orders. This will give you the ability to track completion, shipping. This will force you to start creating associations in EM between SKU items and CV materials.
5) Start using MRP to automatically order items (or at least suggest orders, it can do either). First a few, then add more. You will need to change the SKU items you keep on hand to a Stock SKU and enable all the settings related to this. You will probably also want to begin running the Server module on a dedicated server machine, this will automatically fax orders that meet minimums for you on specified days, run MRP at specified times, and can automatically update CV's materials with actual cost/vendor information at specified times of the day as well.
There are lots of ways to skin this cat.
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One thing I guarantee with any ERP/MRP system: if you try to just jump right in and do everything at once you will be overwhelmed, and the project will fail. Nobody can set up that many things exactly right all at once.
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Thanks for the info. I am working on it some now. I am now trying to sort of create customers and jobs and then I will start integrating more and more from there.
A couple questions here,
1 Am I supposed to get email notifications from this forum?
2 When creating customers, should I use a contractor as a customer or create the customer and assign the contractor to the customer in the information area? Am I making sense here?
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Customer is YOUR customer, so that would be the contractor. The properties in Job Properties are specified in the database, so if you wanted to record the ultimate owner's name you could add a custom property for it (this is kind of advanced).
These forums suck. I've set one up on my website and will migrate everything over there at some point.
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Can we use the new forum? It looks like it could be nice.
Does each employee need to login for time punch or is there a way for employees to punch time without logging in?
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Ok maybe it is the given code on the bottom. Each time it fails, my password is removed and it tells me to enter the given code which of course I was doing.
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Where should I start or what order should I be loading information?
I still want to make some videos, but time is not cooperating.
1) Make sure to review and fill out every setting that makes sense. Each setting tells you about it at the bottom of the screen when selected and in a pop up near the edit area.
2) If you intend to use the inventory functions, create 2 special job numbers (in the jobs module click new job)- one of type "Stock" and one of type "Stock Adjustments". Enter these job numbers in the settings Module: SKU. There is a setting for default stock job id and default stock adjustments job id.
From here it really depends on how you intend to use EM. It is not possible to do a complete ERP implementation all at once, it is best to jump in one module at a time. This holds for my software as well as any other. Each step should probably be at least a month, if not more.
My suggested course of integration would go like this (although to a HUGE extent this will need to be modified based on the way your business runs and what you want to use EM for):
1) Create jobs in EM (when you first create a job you can specify its job #, after that it is locked in... use this to create your existing jobs in EM).
2) Start using EM to track timeclock and project time. This will require you to create activity codes in the employees menu for them. This will get your employees used to the interface and work flow. This should last a month or more.
3) Create vendors and begin using the purchase orders module. Place your orders via this system, receive the orders from the vendor. Record vendor invoices. As you go, create SKU items for commonly ordered items. Again this should be a months long process. In this process you will get SKU items and Vendors created.
4) Start using EM to record sales (Contracts) and issue invoices against jobs. This will get your back end people into the game for real.
4) Next start importing assembly information from CV and using it to create work orders. This will give you the ability to track completion, shipping. This will force you to start creating associations in EM between SKU items and CV materials.
5) Start using MRP to automatically order items (or at least suggest orders, it can do either). First a few, then add more. You will need to change the SKU items you keep on hand to a Stock SKU and enable all the settings related to this. You will probably also want to begin running the Server module on a dedicated server machine, this will automatically fax orders that meet minimums for you on specified days, run MRP at specified times, and can automatically update CV's materials with actual cost/vendor information at specified times of the day as well.
There are lots of ways to skin this cat.
One thing I guarantee with any ERP/MRP system: if you try to just jump right in and do everything at once you will be overwhelmed, and the project will fail. Nobody can set up that many things exactly right all at once.
I did post the first 2 videos, which are basically a how to install.
I plan to work on more videos as soon as I can, probably a couple each week.
They are in a link "Videos" posted on the EM web page, or here:
http://www.fletcherwoodproducts.com/Enterprise_Manager_Video.html
Thanks for the info. I am working on it some now. I am now trying to sort of create customers and jobs and then I will start integrating more and more from there.
A couple questions here,
1 Am I supposed to get email notifications from this forum?
2 When creating customers, should I use a contractor as a customer or create the customer and assign the contractor to the customer in the information area? Am I making sense here?
Customer is YOUR customer, so that would be the contractor. The properties in Job Properties are specified in the database, so if you wanted to record the ultimate owner's name you could add a custom property for it (this is kind of advanced).
These forums suck. I've set one up on my website and will migrate everything over there at some point.
Last edit: Paul 2012-12-19
Ok, that is what I was thinking.
Be back with more later:)
Can we use the new forum? It looks like it could be nice.
Does each employee need to login for time punch or is there a way for employees to punch time without logging in?
Sure, it can be used. I just haven't announced it yet.
Yes, each employee needs to log in, then punch in and/or begin allocating time to a job.
I couldn't get an account setup on the new forum. Seemed to be password related. I had 10 character password with the listed suggestions.
You don't even have to follow its guidelines. I was able to register as soon as the password indicated said "Average" for strength.
Ok maybe it is the given code on the bottom. Each time it fails, my password is removed and it tells me to enter the given code which of course I was doing.
When in the timeclock module, What is supposed to be in the upper right box? I have 6 employees entered but only 3 show up there.
A list of all hourly employees plus the logged in user without regard to whether he/she is hourly.