masterminds

The leading manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, recently profiled aPriori Technologies’ Lean Cost Management Platform in the recent issue of Quality Digest.  Cutler details the benefits of cost management platforms in the feature:

• Manufacturing products produces waste that ranges from overproduction, waiting time, and transportation costs to overprocessing, excess inventory, unnecessary motion and scrap. By eliminating these wastes, production time and cost of goods sold (COGS) are reduced, and quality is improved.

According to Cutler, COGS reduction is one of the fundamental drivers of a lean manufacturing initiative. Used to measure the ongoing success of lean manufacturing, it fundamentally captures material, labor, overhead and tooling costs. However, COGS reduction should not be thought of as a phase in a lean manufacturing process initiative.

If lean manufacturing initiatives are reducing COGS, manufacturers must be able to accurately measure and manage costs in real time. Only real-time, predictive cost estimates can reliably be used to validate lean initiative decisions and guide corrective actions throughout all the processes of engineering, planning and production, sourcing, quality control, program management and production delivery.

According to Frank Azzolino, President and CEO of aPriori, a producer of cost management software, “It is essential to improve the economics of discrete manufacturing companies throughout the entire product development, production and delivery process by quantifiably and measurably reducing COGS.” Innovative cost management software platforms provide accurate, predictive, real-time cost estimates for all individuals in the process who directly influence or manage product costs such as engineering, planning, manufacturing, procurement and program management.

aPriori’s Cost Management Software Platform enables manufacturers to better understand product cost decisions early and throughout the product lifecycle.  aPriori’s Cost Management Platform empowers manufacturers to lower cost-of-goods sold (COGS), provides real-time visibility to “cost-critical” decision information, and builds critical cost knowledge to go on the business “offensive.”  aPriori’s patent-protected cost management platform allows companies to assess, control, and reduce cost of goods sold by whole percentages.  The aPriori Platform enables “Cost Knowledge Before it Matters.”

Buying software online can be tricky, especially if you are new to shopping via the internet. Whether you are upgrading an existing software package or looking for a specific program to install, the process will be a lot less complicated if you know what to look for.

Software Buying Tip # 1

Read customer reviews. Many popular online stores, such as Amazon, allow users to leave their comments about a particular product. Reading other customer reviews may help to make your decision easier because it gives you an idea of others who have experienced the product firsthand.

Software Buying Tip # 2

When considering any type of software, make sure that it is compatible with your computer. Most software requires a specific processor type, such as Pentium or Celeron, and a certain amount of free hard drive space. The reason is because, in order for software to function properly at quickly, the computer must be able to handle the application. By being familiar with your computer’s configuration, you will be able to select the right software.

Software Buying Tip # 3

Become familiar with the software by reading it’s description and capabilities. Before purchasing any type of software, you should make sure that it is exactly what you want or will enjoy learning. Often times, after software is opened, there is no refund policy for buyer’s remorse.

Software Buying Tip # 4

Purchase software from a reputable company. This will ensure customer service, reliability, quality products and timely shipment. By purchasing software from a reliable source, you will also ensure that the title is authentic and not an illegal copy. The best way to check out a business’s reputation is through the Better Business Bureau.

Software Buying Tip # 5

The best part of shopping for software online is the competition. Because there are so many retailers, prices are more competitive than if only one store had the software that you want. Shop around and compare prices before making a final decision.

Software Buying Tip # 6

When making a purchase online, consider using a credit card. Most credit card companies provide a dispute resolution process, which is beneficial if the product is not delivered, is not as advertised or is damaged and the company will not stand behind the transaction.

Software Buying Tip # 7

If purchasing from another individual, such as often the case with online auctions, confirm that the software has all manuals and/or product keys to ensure proper installation.

Software Buying Tip # 8

Learn about the company’s return, refund and/or exchange policy. In many cases, especially with software, the company may refuse to accept the product back for a refund. However, there is always the possibility that a program is damaged or doesn’t function properly, in which case the store should honor the purchase with an exchange for the same title. When buying software online, it’s best to purchase from a store that is reasonable when it comes to exchanges if not refunds.

Software Buying Tip # 9

When purchasing software online, take a moment to look at the company’s shipping costs, methods and availability of a way to track the package following shipment.

Software Buying Tip # 10

Common payment methods include credit cards, checks and/or money orders. If you want to purchase software online, you will need to do so from a company that accepts a convenient payment method. If you do not have a credit card, most companies will accept a mailed payment. Most companies, however, recommend not sending cash.

In today’s high-tech world, there are thousands of computer viruses lurking, waiting to infect YOUR computer. If your computer is not protected, any of these malicious viruses can sneak into your computer and do some serious damage. Viruses have been known to replicate and clog email systems, slow a computer or network down significantly, erase data, and stop a computer from working all together.

If you don’t already have an antivirus program running on your computer, how would you know what programs are available in the market and which one is the best for you? A good place to start discovering this information is PCWorld.com, a leading computer information source on the internet. Specifically, visit their Top-10 antivirus comparison study at http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,124475,00.asp , where they list the 10 most popular and effective antivirus programs available to individual users. This list should help you a great deal.

From personal experience, my first choice would be McAfee VirusScan 2006 because it is easy to use, virus definition updates occur very often, meaning you get up-to-date protection, and the performance is solid. My second choice would be Symantec Norton Antivirus 2006, which is also solid. I’ve never had a problem with it. My third choice is Trend Micro PC-cillin. In my opinion, the free programs in the market provide some protection, but they do not provide adequate protection because they have basic virus scanning capabilities and their virus definition updates occur less often than their counterparts. No matter which one you ultimately choose to use, make sure you install an antivirus program on your computer. Some protection is also better than no protection at all!

The requirements for business network are different from the requirements for a personal computer at home. If you run a business that has a company network with multiple computers and need antivirus protection, consult a network security expert about choosing the right protection for your company. A business network that is infected by viruses can be disastrous. Make sure you have the right protection.

Information technology has transformed the way we live and the way we do business. ERP, or Enterprise Resource Planning, is one of most widely implemented business software systems in a wide variety of industries and organizations. In this short article, we’ll try to concisely explain the basic yet important concepts relevant to ERP.

What is ERP - ERP is the acronym of Enterprise Resource Planning. ERP definition refers to both ERP software and business strategies that implement ERP systems. ERP implementation utilizes various ERP software applications to improve the performance of organizations for 1) resource planning, 2) management control and 3) operational control. ERP software consists of multiple software modules that integrates activities across functional departments - from product planning, parts purchasing, inventory control, product distribution, to order tracking. Most ERP software systems include application modules to support common business activities - finance, accounting and human resources.

ERP Systems - ERP is much more than a piece of computer software. A ERP System includes ERP Software, Business Processes, Users and Hardware that run the ERP software. An ERP system is more than the sum of its parts or components. Those components interact together to achieve a common goal - streamline and improve organizations' business processes.

History of ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the evolution of Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP) II in 1980s, while MRP is the evolution of Inventory Management & Control conceived in 1960s. ERP has expanded from coordination of manufacturing processes to the integration of enterprise-wide backend processes. In terms of technology, ERP has evolved from legacy implementation to more flexible tiered client-server architecture.

Benefits of ERP - ERP software attempts to integrate business processes across departments onto a single enterprise-wide information system. The major benefits of ERP are improved coordination across functional departments and increased efficiencies of doing business. The implementation of ERP systems help facilitate day-to-day management as well. ERP software systems is originally and ambitiously designed to support resource planning portion of strategic planning. In reality, resource planning has been the weakest link in ERP practice due to the complexity of strategic planning and lack of adequate integration of ERP with Decision Support Systems (DSS).

ERP Failures - We couldn’t conclude our brief guide to ERP without mentioning ERP failures. The failure of multi-million dollar ERP projects are reported once in a while even after 20 years of ERP implementation. We have identified the four components of an ERP System - 1) ERP software, 2) Business Processes that ERP software supports, 3) Users of ERP systems, and 4) Hardware and Operating Systems that run ERP applications. The failures in one or more of those four components could cause the failure of an ERP project.

Does any Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system equals any other ERP system? And if not, where are all those differences? First what is ERP? Or at least what are some main differences to make a first rough selection?

• Enterprise resource planning systems (ERPs) are management information systems (MISs) that integrate and automate many of the business practices associated with the operations or production and distribution aspects of a company engaged in manufacturing products or services. (www.wikipedia.org)

There are too many differences, but many of them are small. Different packages have their main focus on some sector segment. And the definition of Wiki hits an essential point (of difference).

There are different kind of companies that require the overall management of their resources. Production companies are the most obvious ones, but a (distribution) company like DHL or FEDEX are happy to control their resources. The interesting thing about these distribution companies is that they do not really produce themselves their main focus is to deliver what has been produced by others.

Where a production company (Boeing, Philips, etc) need to control the resources in order to manufacture a product, a distribution company needs to control the resources that are to be transported. Information about this transport is often a critical factor. For example if you travel and your flight schedule has changed, it is important to know where you luggage is located.

The ERP systems that are designed and built are often owned by companies that have a specific origin. Some of those companies have been outsourced, and started to produce for others. The question then is, what type of company was the mother organization; a producer or a distributor.

A ERP Supplier focused on production will most of the time also deliver logistical modules, but their expertise is production. The third type of ERP is again quite different than the previous ones. Both the production and the logistics focus of an ERP supplier share the fact that they concentrate on primary business processes.

The third type of an ERP system excels not in production, nor in logistics, but in finance. Finance is the area where both logistics and manufacturing meets, but it is not part of the primary process. According to the profile of your organization you should set your focus on one of these three ERP characteristics.

Are you having trouble deleting the QuickStatement from the Online Banking Center in QuickBooks? This is an issue for some clients that Intuit is not actively resolving. Here are a few tips and suggestions that will hopefully resolve the issue for you.

First, in the QuickStatement make certain that all matchable transactions have been matched. Then, at the main Online Banking Center page, make sure the QuickStatement is highlighted yellow, then click the Delete button in the lower right corner of the screen. If this does not delete the QuickStatement, here are a few options to consider:

1. Press Control--Delete. Instead of simply pressing the Delete button, press Control--Delete. This may do the trick.

2. Newest Release? Make certain you are running the most current release of your software. For 2004 and 2005 versions of QuickBooks, from the File menu, select Update QuickBooks and follow the instructions. For the 2006 version of QuickBooks, from the Help menu, select Update QuickBooks and follow the instructions.

3. Run the Verify Data utility. From the File menu, select Utilities, then select Verify Data. This may find a glitch in the data file causing your QuickStatement to remain undeleted. If one is found, run the Rebuild Data utility. Please refer to QuickBooks' internal help before running the Rebuild Data utility, especially if you are using QuickBooks on a network.

4. Restore a backup. If you made a backup immediately prior to your online banking session, AND the backup did not contain any of the unmatchable transactions, you may restore it. However, any work you did during your online banking session will be lost. You need to weigh whether or not this will be a good approach to solving the problem. And of course, it does not solve the problem if the unmatchable transactions were downloaded before you made the backup.

If none of these methods work, you may either contact Intuit directly, contact your QuickBooks professional who can then contact Intuit on your behalf, or you may try this work-around. Be advised that this work-around somewhat complex. Please read through these instructions carefully and make certain you understand all of them before you begin.

Add, disable, reverse, check, reconcile, re-enable. Using this method, you will add the transactions to the register, disable the account for online access, reverse the entries you added, check your work, reconcile the account, and re-enable the account for online access. Here is how to do it:

• Add each transaction. Click the Add to Register button to enter them into the register. Open the Account field, and scroll up to create an Other Current Liability account called, "QuickStatement Use Only." Enter all unmatchable transactions using this Other Current Liability account. The QuickStatement must be empty before you proceed; however, do not close the QuickStatement when you are finished entering transactions.
• Disable Online Access. Go to the Chart of Accounts and locate the account you were just working in. Highlight it, right click it, and select Edit. In the Edit Account screen, select the tab that says Online Info. Uncheck the box that says Online Account Access. Since the QuickStatement is still open, QuickBooks may or may not allow you to disable the account for online access. If it does not:

  a. Go back and close the QuickStatement. Then try again to disable the account for online access. Hopefully it will let you.

  b. If it does, great! Proceed as follows.

• Reverse the entries you just entered. There are at least three ways to do this. Only one is shown here:

  Go to the Chart of Accounts and locate the Other Current Liability account you just created ("QuickStatement Use Only"). Highlight it, right-click it, then select Use Register. Go through the register, and using today’s date, record a new and opposite entry for each entry here. In other words, if an entry appears in the Increase column, record an entry in the Decrease column of the same amount. Or if an entry appears in the Decrease column, record an entry Increase column of the same amount. You are not altering, in any way, the previously entered transactions—-you are adding new ones that cancel out the entered transactions. In both instances make sure you use either the bank account or credit card account you used during your online banking session, and that the dollar amount is exactly the same as the entry you are reversing. Go through the register and do this for all entries that appear there.

• Check your work. When you are finished, the balance at the bottom right corner of the "QuickStatement Use Only" register should be zero. Also, go through the bank or credit card register and make sure that the corresponding entries you just made show up there but in the opposite column of the downloaded transaction. If needed, comb through your work and make certain you recorded each entry correctly.
• Reconcile. Next time you reconcile the account for which you could not delete the QuickStatement, in the reconciliation screen you will see all of these entries you just made, both the entries from the QuickStatement, and the reversal entries. Be sure to check these off, as you do not want them to appear in any subsequent reconciliations.
• Re-enable Online Access. Go back to the Online Banking Center and re-enable the account for online banking.

Using online banking with QuickBooks is a huge time saver, but not if there are problems with it. One common source of problems is downloaded transactions that cannot be matched.

When transactions are downloaded from the bank or credit card company, QuickBooks assigns each a “Matched” or an “Unmatched” status, then places all of them into the Online Banking Center’s QuickStatement. The “Matched” status means only one thing: you previously entered the transaction into QuickBooks, then when the transaction cleared the bank and was downloaded, QuickBooks “Matched” the downloaded transaction with the transaction already entered.

The “Unmatched” status is where problems occur. The “Unmatched” status actually means one of four things:

1. It’s brand new. The transaction was not previously entered into QuickBooks. If this is the case, enter the transaction now. QuickBooks will assign it the “Matched” status.

2. It’s different. The transaction was previously entered into QuickBooks, but in a different amount than how it cleared the bank. If you are sure you already entered the transaction into QuickBooks, scroll through the bank register to find it. Once you do, change the amount to the downloaded amount. QuickBooks will automatically match it.

3. It’s already downloaded. Sometimes clients accidentally overlap download dates, meaning that they download the same transaction more than once. If there are entries in the register that have a small lightening bolt in the Cleared column, these have been downloaded already. QuickBooks will not match them to transactions in the QuickStatement, even if they are the same transaction.

4. It’s reconciled. This is similiar to #3, but instead of being previously downloaded, the transaction is reconciled. To verify if this is the case, scroll through the register and look for transactions with a checkmark in the Cleared column. Again, QuickBooks will not match them to entries in the QuickStatement, even if they are the same transaction.

Notice that once the first two situations are resolved, QuickBooks automatically matches them. But in the last two situations, QuickBooks will not match the transactions; they are unmatchable. If you determine that some downloaded transactions are unmatchable:

• Make sure that all matchable transactions are matched. You are going to delete the QuickStatement, and if you accidentally delete matchable transactions, you may later have to enter them manually.
• Once all matchable transactions are matched, click Done.
• QuickBooks will ask if you are sure you want to finish. Click Yes. You are now at the Online Banking Center main page.
• Delete the QuickStatement by clicking the Delete button located near the lower right corner.

That’s it. Your unmatched problems are over, and you now understand the process better. This will help you circumvent future problems when using online banking with QuickBooks.