Inventory Forecasting Overview

• Inventory Forecasting
• Inventory Families and Groupings
• Inventory Optimization

Before inventory levels can be optimized, it is essential that sales forecasts are as accurate and reliable as possible. The Forecasting Module addresses this requirement by providing the tools to achieve this.

Given that the forecasting algorithms base their calculations exclusively on sales history, it is important that the sales history (as held in the forecasting system) is a true reflection of the sales demand made on the company's inventory (i.e. it should include any sales lost because there was no inventory available to satisfy a demand).

Warehouse Management Systems Slotting

Why do you see inventory items in a store on the end-caps or strategic locations on shelves? Why does it cost suppliers more discount allowances to the store for those items to be located on an end-cap instead of the middle of the shopping aisle? They are visible, quickly picked up, and are more likely the buyer will purchase them. So give your customers what they want, faster and more efficiently.

Microsoft has issued new Windows update packages to fix the printing problems introduced by the MS16-098 security updates on August 9.

We have tested these updates and can confirm that printing from BarTender now works as expected.

46 states start their fiscal year on July 1. With that comes a whole new set of sales tax laws to follow. Are you up to speed with what you need to know about the big changes taking effect? The proposed changes could impact your business when they’re enacted as law.

When it comes to the 50 states and sales tax, it is confounding and frustrating to keep up with the new regulations. If your business sells nationally (whether by the Internet, catalog or other means), it is time to review the systems, software and rates you are using.

(Not all systems will automatically update to the latest rates and rules)

To help you get your team up to speed, we have an overview of the basics about sales tax, new laws and what’s “in the news” regarding proposed sales tax regulations.

It has been said “necessity is the mother of invention” which leads us to make enterprise software upgrades with a “wait until there is a problem” mindset. This only makes sense if you think “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” shows wisdom and foresight.

Waiting for when things are “broke” or an emergency will result in high costs, untrustworthy fixes, and decisions that will have a long-term negative impact. Many issues lie under the surface and unobvious to a less experienced enterprise management team. Cash flow, revenue growth, waste, warehouse efficiencies, the speed of customer service, and inventory accuracy are but a few areas impacted.

Frankenstein software monsters are created when new software is invented and attached to an old system. Systems already broken may not appear to be so.

i.e. Your accounting department is running off of a stand-alone accounting package; your sales team is using a separate CRM, and your inventory is tracked in Access or Excel.

New Announcement: Winner of New Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute and New Manufacturing Hub Competitions

The Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, brings over $140 million in public-private investment from leading universities and manufacturers to develop smart sensors for use in advanced manufacturing.

The 2016 Intenet Security Threat Report provides an overview and analysis of the year in global threat activity.

Last year, 2015, Symantec discovered more than 430 million new unique pieces of malware. Remarkably, these numbers no longer surprise us. Attacks against businesses and nations hit the headlines with such regularity that we’ve become numb to the sheer volume and acceleration of cyber threats. Most threat reports only scratch the surface of the threat landscape, whereas the breadth of Symantec’s data enables the Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) to examine multiple facets, including:

• Targeted attacks
• Smartphone threats
• Social media scams
• Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities
• Attackers’ tactics, motivations, and behaviors

INTRODUCTION:

Manufacturing Material (Inventory) Requirements Planning (MRP) - an APICS Review; is a discussion of a major functional system, MRP, within most ERP software products. MRP operates as if it is your onboard Materials and Resource Management Ph.D. MRP is a system that knows all and tells all. That is, of course, what it can only know are data within your database included for calculations determining your gross and net requirements for materials and resources. If data are external to the system, they are excluded. You are encouraged to use your ERP system fully to gain the most value.

MRP Benefits:

• Reduced Inventory with fewer (to no) shortages
• Improved Customer Service
• Improved Direct Labor Productivity
• Reduced Purchasing Cost
• Reduced Traffic Cost
• Reduced Obsolescence
• Reduced Overtime
• Correct numbers to run the business
• Accountability throughout the organization
• Improved Quality of Life