A1
Resource
Manager for Excel (RMX) is an add-on for Excel and
offers basic planning and scheduling features for
the user who is familiar with Excel. Resource Manager-DB
(RMDB), while easier to use, offers many advanced
features for planning, scheduling, tracking, and rescheduling
with whatever updates are made. In addition, RMDB
can be a multi-user application while RMX is single
user doing edits at any one time and others would
be in view only mode.
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A2 Spreadsheet
Scheduler includes a simple approach to Project Management
and a quick method to generate Gantt Charts. It can
be thought of as a ‘lower end Microsoft Project".
Noah
Workcenter Scheduler is a customized version of Resource
Manager for Excel and focuses on forward scheduling,
finite capacity, for jobs configured to run with a
estimated number of hours per step. Noah Workcenter
Scheduler allows the user to define independent workcenter
calendars, manages queue time, and is geared toward
generating a realistic completion date and managing
Jobs to meet the completion date. In terms of comparing
Noah Workcenter Scheduler with Microsoft Project,
Noah allows you to load all jobs\projects at the same
time and Noah will NOT overload any workcenter but
will load up to
Resource
Manager for Excel offers a general purpose, flexible
and adaptable approach to manage materials, workcenters,
and labor for most manufacturers whose needs are fairly
simple. It includes BOMs, Routings, MRP, Finite Capacity
planning and scheduling (Forward or Reverse), basic
planning inventory, purchasing and receiving, costing,
etc. Just about everything for manufacturing management
EXCEPT accounting.
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A3 Use
the Data Import Module to map over data from most
any system (Excel, Access, SQL Server, PSQL, FoxPro,
Text, etc). The mapping is done only once, then you
can refresh upon demand, or automatically, whenever
needed. Call US for more details, or – better
yet, send US a sample of your data and we will show
you how to import it in during walkthrough.
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A4 Due
to the flexibility of RM-DB, and the wide variety
existing systems, no two applications share exactly
the same steps in implementing RM-DB. However, there
are some important considerations that can vastly
simplify implementation and maintenance. For your
reference, please review the following points and
then call us to discuss your specific implementation
options. Chances are, we have already done several
very similar implementations to yours and can help
you get er done fast!
What
do you want out of the system? This is the most important
question, to decide what you want. If you don't know
already, we recommend you contact US to schedule a
walkthrough and review the Quick Start with Sample
Data and get familiar with the various parts of Resource
Manager-DB and its capabilities. Then, try to separate
all of your goals into groups:
Group
1: Must have certain functionality for success
Group
2: Would like to have sooner than later
Group
3: Would be nice to have
What
data is required, for Resource Manager-DB to accomplish
above goals? For example, if you want to implement
Finite Capacity Planning and Scheduling, you will
need process information such as cycle times, batch
times, line speeds, etc.
Does
this data already exist? Where is it? What are my
options on getting the data into Resource Manager-DB?
It greatly speeds up implementation if there exists
needed data in some other computer system. Product
Lists, Vendors, Customers, Demand Orders, Bills-Of-Material,
Routings, WIP Tracking, etc., are all types of data
that can be readily incorporated into Resource Manage-DB.
To assist with import mask definitions, you will find
a special TAB in the report file (RMRpt.xls) with
a listing of ALL Tables and Field Names. In the IMPORT
MASK definition (and in doc) you will find which fields
are required and which are optional. Finally, the
first field (column, etc.), of a mask usually has
to have the key field. So, you may find that you need
to (pre-format) your source data first, moving columns
around, combining data, etc., to facilitate error
free imports.
In
the case that Resource Manager-DB will be an add-on
to another system, and utilizing data from anther
system, what rules must be established to ensure system
integrity? For example, do all master Bills-Of-Material
exist in a 3rd Party ERP System? Will all routings
and process times be added and maintained in RM-DB?
Then, procedures must be defined to ensure all current
BOMs, from3rd party ERP system are updated with RM-DB
Routings correctly. There are various flags and options,
throughout RM-DB, to support these considerations.
Review all Options under General Options AND review
the Import specific options under Import Data Options
button.
Are
there any special reports you would like to see? Do
you have a sample of desired report? RM-DB supports
some customization of standard reports, and this may
be the quickest and easiest method to generate desired
report. Or, perhaps the custom reports lends itself
to utilizing the Data Export functions to get the
exact report you are looking for. Thirdly, perhaps
it is something we can include for you.
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A5 RMDB offers a data
integration wizard to facilitate easy integration
with most any system. The other products can integrate
with other data with some limitiations. Basically,
you can copy-and-paste data direct into appropriate
Excel tables as long as you are careful.
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A6 Contact US to schedule
a walkthrough first and then once we verify RMDB is
a good fit for your needs, we can arrange for a 30
day trial.
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A7 While we don’t
refer to RMDB as an ERP System, it does in fact have
most of the components of ERP Systems EXCEPT for accounting.
So, for smaller companies, a combination of RMDB and
an accounting system (QuickBooks, PeachTree, MYOB,
etc.) is a great alternative to purchasing a complex,
expensive, ERP System.
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A8 Yes, RMDB contains
many of the Advanced Planning and Scheduling features
found in system costing 100K and more. RMDB supports
alternate workcenters, alternate routings, overlaps,
queue, multiple constraints at each step, forward
and reverse scheduling, rescheduling by workcenter,
priority codes, locked jobs, ‘what-if’
planned jobs, dynamic resource allocation and re-allocation,
Visual drag-and-drop scheduling and updates, and many
more.
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A9 All
top level inventory control options can be adjusted
with a click of button. Built to Inventory, use Safety
Stock, perform automatic transactions or manual transactions,
back flushing, Lean manufacturing, etc.
Also,
RMDB supports importing and exporting of inventory
transactions to sync with other systems.
You
can also easily enter beginning balances in Product
List or Inventory Calendar. If your LOT SIZES and/or
MINIMUM SAFETY STOCK are high enough, the system will
generate orders to replenish these and have material
available for subsequent schedules.
Keep in mind, the system does NOT require all the
detail in-out inventory transactions. It is easy to
maintain and keep things in an exception mode for
most users rather than to try to manage each transaction.
The system will automatically increase available inventory
when:
1. Lot size is greater than schedule requirement
2. Safety stock goes below minimum
3. Amount received on PO is greater than what was
ordered.
4. Build to Inventory is checked and used (End Item
is added to inventory).
5. Manual adjustments to inventory calendar
The system will automatically decrease available inventory
when:
1. There is inventory available to use, on date is
needed from schedule (both end items and subs) and
automatic transaction are turned on.
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A10
RMDB is written in Visual Basic 6.0
with migration plans to VB.net. System requirements,
at a minimum suggestion, is a P2 with 1 Meg Ram and
Excel 97 or UP. To network, RMDB only needs a shared
directory on server to store Database.
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A11
We have integrated RMDB with just about
all the leading ERP systems available, including:
Exact Macola, Made to Manage, Visual Manufacturing,
Lawson, JD Edwards, Prism, SAP, MAS 90, MAS 200, Decision
Support Systems, MRP 9000, Exact Job Boss, Epicor,
Fouth Shift, and many more.
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A12
In addition to ERP Systems noted
previously, all of which include Accouting, RMDB has
been integrated with AccPac, Peachtree, QuickBooks,
MYOB, Process Plus, Peachtree, Timberline, and many
more.
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