Re: [webERP-users] how to record labor hours spent on a project

[Dale S. <dal...@sh...>]

Hi Phil and Exon, I'm glad to hear your interest and I'm sorry for taking so
long to reply.

Phil, I don't yet fully understand your requirements spec[1], but if I
understand you correctly it seems there are two potential strategies for
capturing time and collecting into projects using the current WebERP.

Strategy 1. Use a manufactured Item (i.e. a part number) to model a project.
Create a part number for each project, and use a work order to collect the
labor required to produce the item (project). As many labor type items can
be created as necessary, and a labor type can be defined when a stock
category is defined for a stock type - which allows for GL entries to
recover labor (CR a P&L account and DR WIP) when there is an issue of this
labor to a work order. These labor items can also be part of the bill of
material at a particular work center, and work centers can be mapped to
labor items. Having created a work order, you then issue materials and labor
to it and receive finished goods from it. When all the materials and labor
have been issued and the finished goods received from it the work order is
closed and the stock of the (unsold) finished items are revalued as
necessary.

Strategy 2. Use a Contract to model a project. webERP contract functionality
allows for entry of nominal items directly to a contract's cost, and stock
and labor can be issued to a contract work order. If necessary, multiple
contracts can be used with each contract a different section of the project
(e.g. prototype, software development...). Contracts can have dates
associated with them, as well as inter-dependencies, and could be presented
using a Gantt or PERT chart. For more details, see Phil's proposal[1].

I've mostly worked for companies doing their own engineering design, PLM and
project management, as well as manufacturing , which is probably why I
proposed Strategy 1 - a part-number and manufacturing centric process.
However, I think I conceptually understand Phil's proposal enough to
recognise the Contract approach could be equally suitable. I think which
process would be best for any given situation would depend on the type of
project and how much interaction the project has with part numbers, serial
numbers and manufacturing (prototypes and pre-production units).

I would like to propose "we" work through the two strategies and document
each the workflow for each one with screenshots. Essentially a graphic novel
version of WebERP (hmmm, that might be going too far ;-)). I still don't
understand WebERP well enough to work an end-to-end example, and think this
would be an excellent way to learn. I'll do the documenting, but I'll need
help with specifically what step comes next, so I hope you don't mind a
bunch of emails from me as I try and figure this out.

Do you have any suggestions on how we could work collaboratively? (assuming
of course you wanted to). I wouldn't mind trying out WordPress's
collaboration features. I started a blog post a week ago when I thought of
Strategy 1, and have a draft with initial setup and config screenshots, you
could login to review and edit. WordPress also has really convenient drag
and drop for media. I'm not sure if the mailing list would be suitable to
carry on a conversation that included embedded screenshot images. Assuming
you want to proceed, do you have an alternate proposal?

Regardless of the authoring tool, the final result would be yours also to
put on the WebERP website (wiki?), add to the WebERP user manual, or perhaps
add to your training material, presentation or handouts (assuming you
provide that service). 

Regards,
Dale

[1] http://www.weberp.org/wiki/ProjectManagementPercentCompletion

---
Transparency with Trust
Blog: http://www.dalescott.net
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dalescott
GitHub: https://github.com/dalers


-----Original Message-----
From: ExsonQu [mailto:hex...@gm...] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 7:22 PM
To: web...@li...
Subject: Re: [webERP-users] how to record labor hours spent on a project

*Dear all,*

             HRM is a important part in the real world.  It's very important
for cost control and management in today's business. If anyone has expertise
of this area, please bring out a spec, then we can discuss and fulfill it.
Cost control is a key in some business today. If we can have a concise and
powerful solution of this part, it'll help lots of existed or potential
users.

              Thanks and best regards!

             Exson

-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Daintree [mailto:ph...@lo...] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 3:18 AM
To: For the general discussion of webERP project
Subject: Re: [webERP-users] how to record labor hours spent on a project

Well having created a work order, you then issue materials and labour to it
and receive finished goods from it. When all the materials and labour have
been issued and the finished goods received from it the work order is closed
and the stock of the (unsold) finished items are revalued as necessary.

Yes  I do think a timesheet interface would be cool to put time into works
orders with employees in particular work centres perhaps mapped to labour
items.

I have for the past few years ... now working for a project engineering
business wanted to have a project which can consist of any number of
contracts.... webERP contract functionality allows for entry of nominal
items directly to the contract cost as well as issuing stock and labour to a
contract work order... each contract would be for a specific section of the
project and you could get into timings and which contracts need to be done
before subsequent "contracts" and a resultant gaant chart project plan.

I have started a spec describing this fairly extensive development.

http://www.weberp.org/wiki/ProjectManagementPercentCompletion

Since working for this engineering business where some contracts represent a
significant part of the turnover, percentage completion accounting has
become my new world and it would be cool to build this into webERP too - a
MASSIVE undertaking ... but building up for a new challenge. If only there
were a sponsor for this!!

Phil

Phil Daintree
Logic Works Ltd - +64 (0)275 567890
http://www.logicworks.co.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: Dale Scott [mailto:dal...@sh...] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 1:22 AM
To: For the general discussion of webERP project
Subject: Re: [webERP-users] how to record labor hours spent on a project

>> I could create
>> a part number for each project, and use work orders to record labor 
>> as if the project was a production part. Is this possible?
> 
> Yes that's correct... you can create any number of labour type items ... 
> the stock type when you define a stock category allows for a labour 
> type to be defined - this then allows for GL entries to recover labour 
> (CR a P & L account/DR WIP) when there is an issue of this labour to a 
> work order. These labour items can also be part of the bill of 
> material at a particular work centre.

Hi Phil, thanks for your comments. To experiment, I created a project
(manufactured stock item) and a labour stock item, then created a
manufacturing BOM for the project with the labour item only. However I can't
figure out how to use work orders. I've tried creating a work order for the
project, but it's not clear if it was in fact created, or what the next step
is. I'll post how far I've got to the forum with screen shots if it would
help. My goal is a documented procedure or HowTo, in whatever form would be
most useful to WebERP.

> Not sure of any other way... a timesheet interface would be cool to 
> put time into works orders with employees in particular work centres 
> perhaps mapped to labour items.

Having separate labour for each work center might be useful for work
capacity planning. 

Are you aware of any successful timesheet integrations with WebERP? Do you
think such a feature would be used at all? I think some basic level of "HRM"
together with basic level of project management capability could be really
useful to smaller organizations needing simple integrated low-cost tools,
although this may be too specialized a use to have significant interest. I
saw discussion of time sheets in the mailing list, but only concept - no
working code.

-----Original Message-----
From: ph...@lo... [mailto:ph...@lo...] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2016 5:40 PM
To: For the general discussion of webERP project
Subject: Re: [webERP-users] how to record labor hours spent on a project

Hi Dale,

> I could create
> a part number for each project, and use work orders to record labor as 
> if the project was a production part. Is this possible?

Yes that's correct... you can create any number of labour type items ... 
the stock type when you define a stock category allows for a labour type to
be defined - this then allows for GL entries to recover labour (CR a P & L
account/DR WIP) when there is an issue of this labour to a work order. These
labour items can also be part of the bill of material at a particular work
centre.

Not sure of any other way... a timesheet interface would be cool to put time
into works orders with employees in particular work centres perhaps mapped
to labour items.

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: Dale Scott [mailto:dal...@sh...] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2016 1:32 PM
To: web...@li...
Subject: [webERP-users] how to record labor hours spent on a project

Hello everyone, I would like to record the hours employees spend on various
internal projects as well as holidays, sick time, etc., so that I can get a
big picture for where the time has gone - essentially a timesheet system. I
get the idea from the manual that I could create a part number for each
project, and use work orders to record labor as if the project was a
production part. Is this possible? Is it the best way? Are there other ways?

I'd really appreciate any tips or anecdotal stories.

Thanks,
Dale