We have all seen recent examples of recalls in the news. I just received a voicemail from Costco yesterday about a range of thousands of lot codes from Jif peanut butter being recalled for Salmonella contamination. Sadly, families across the country are struggling to find formula due to a nationwide shortage. Why is this happening?…

As you know, Plex Smart Manufacturing’s robust accounting functions are great for capturing your real-time costs on the production floor and producing real-time financial reports based upon these transactions. Plex also has several advanced accounting functions which you may not be utilizing and may want to consider. Three of those advanced accounting functions which can…

The internet has introduced new ways of doing business for many industries and manufacturing is no exception. Gone are the days of bulky servers and cumbersome ERP packages. It is now possible to manage your entire operation via a web browser, smart phone, or tablet. Cloud-based ERP solutions are one of the fastest growing segments…

Proper workflows are essential to maximizing your Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform experience. Many customers have not fully explored the benefits that workflow can provide to their organization. For example, one recent customer was not using workflow as part of their purchase order process. Employees with access to the purchase order module were able to freely…

As a Project Manager deploying systems for over seven years, I can confidently say that one of the top killers of ERP projects is lack of leadership. ERP projects cannot be treated simply as an “IT initiative” for which only a handful of select people are accountable. These projects should be considered a company-wide operation,…

Continuous Improvement (CI) seems like a straight-forward concept, but what’s the best way to do that in an ERP environment and why should you consider it?   At its most basic level, CI is a way to prioritize smaller projects and initiatives with incremental steps that improve your business processes and the use of the system. It maintains ongoing progression and forward movement. And with that series of smaller improvements, momentum and an attitude to take on more are generated.  As we’ll…

Cheesecake – Cake or Pie? I was recently at dinner with a client when he asked the people at the table, “Is cheesecake a cake or a pie?” We all had a good laugh while people pondered. He encouraged us to not overthink this lofty question and just “go with (our) gut.” But, it was hard not to give this one some…

It’s late Sunday afternoon and you suddenly remember tomorrow is your anniversary. You have the perfect gift in mind, but you have one opportunity to get it before the store closes. Real Time Inventory is a relatively new concept, offering an increased level of convenience and transparency between customer and retailer. As someone who has…

What is Standard Cost? Is your manufacturing operation using Standard Cost or Actual Cost to value production costs? Are you wondering what the benefits would be if you switched to a Standard Cost valuation of the production of your products? In this blog post, I’ve listed the advantages and disadvantages of using Standard Cost to…

As an ERP and business consultant, I am often asked about the value of and need for inventory traceability. Inventory traceability is the ability to trace products and materials through the supply chain. For manufacturers, this feature is of particular concern. Manufacturers need the ability to trace the components and materials used in their finish…

Inventory Accuracy is the relationship of physical inventory compared to stated inventory.  To put in the simplest terms: “Do I actually have what my systems tell me I have?”  Inventory accuracy can be managed using spreadsheets or in any system with a method of tracking and monitoring inventory levels.    Inventory accuracy is crucial in any industry and affects the day to day operations of the…

In today’s business world, companies are driven by the need to make quick, well-informed decisions.  All levels of the organization rely on high quality, readily available data. A good ERP system can provide the data needed to make those decisions and optimize operations, sales, and supply chain functions and maximize efficiency, growth, and profitability.  The selection of an ERP system is a substantial and…