available to ship

[randva]

Pervasive, Macola 7.5.102e

We manufacture products that are bulky. Typically we stock all the components to make a sale-able SKU, and just package parts when customers order them. These products have multiple level BOM's with POP value added costs at most steps in the production process.

Our salesmen want to know if a product is in stock. Since the parent items are never in stock, they can look at the major components of the BOM (first level) and have a rough idea. To compound the issue, many of the first level components are used in several different sale-able items.

Does anyone have a suggestion how our salesman could easily inquire how many of an item we can package from existing components on hand. -- Please keep in mind that these are salesman, so the solution needs to be fairly easy to use and quick, or they won't do it. (Ideally, I would like a button on the Multiple Level Item view screen that they could click and see how many we could build from existing on hand components.)

All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[MacolaHelp]

Have you checked out the gross requirements report in BOM? I'm not sure if it will blow through your product structure as far as you want to go.

Also, in OE setup there is a check component qty check box on page 2. Does this have any effect for your issue? It may slow other things down, though...

 

[stravis]

This could certainly be done using Flexibility, but this can not be done easily using standard Macola. You could also create a custom crystal report that would give you the results you are looking for and you don't have the extra cost of upgrading. The crystal solution doesn't provide a "button" but given your current version of Macola it probably gives you the cheapest option.

This is a custom solution that would require development effort which you would need to hire someone to create for you if you do not have the resources on hand. I would suggest talking to your current reseller about providing a solution.

Scott Travis

http://www.infospring.net

 

[MacolaHelp]

I'm just curious: what is your turn around time on order to ship? Are some of these components allocated to other orders already when your salespeople are checking to see if you can fulfill a particular order? If so, have you already generated a POP for the other customer? How would you know if components are truly available or not? Do you use PP/pull parents?

 

[tpllc]

Have you looked at the ATP, Available to Promise, button on the Multilevel item viewer?
There is a view components button on that screen.
If your bills have many components you may be better served by a Crystal report.

Steve Henley
Trianglepartners.com
Exact Software consulting, sales and implementations.

If the only tool you can use is a hammer then all your problems look like nails.