A1 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".

Resource Manager for Excel is User Solutions’ most popular package, offering a general purpose, flexible and adaptable approach to manage materials, workcenters, and labor for most manufacturers. It includes BOMs, MRP, Finite Capacity planning and scheduling, inventory, purchasing and receiving, costing, really just about everything for manufacturing management EXCEPT accounting,

Noah 2000 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 2000 allows the user to define independent workcenter calaendars, manages queue time, and is geared toward generating a realistic completion date and managing Jobs to meet the completion date.

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A2 All the functionality of Spreadsheet MRP was included into Spreadsheet Resource Manager, which were based on the Lotus Macro Command set. Spreadsheet Resource Manager was completely redesigned for Microsoft Excel (Visual Basic) and now called Resource Manager for Excel.

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A3 Products and Operations lists can be copied and pasted, linked, etc. directly from any system into the Product and Operation Lists. Configured BORs\BOMs can be copy and pasted directly into the Resource Manager BOR Input Table. You can match up the fields directly and use Copy, Paste Special, Values (skip blanks) to keep from overwriting formats, headers, etc.

After either case, Process Error check after data has been entered. The robust error checking built into the Resource Manager will find and auto correct many errors, and notify the user when it needs help (such as finding a duplicate Product Number -- which one to edit\delete).

For copied BORs that are missing key data, the error checking will even establish the logical linkages for all levels and routings in a simple click and choose format.

To bring over a string of completely pre configured BORs, you may consider copying the complete range of preconfigured BORs to filed BOR area, then saving model as MRPDATA.xls then opening new copy of Resource Manager and running the upgrade process. The program will find all data and redefine range names.

Other areas (order entry, inventory levels, master schedule) can be copy and pasted or linked directly to these areas. Once you are past the Master Lists and BOR\BOM configuration, there is no further error checking required.

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A4 You can choose the Build To Inventory under Sheets Options and selected when running through Plan to have the system automatically add projected End Item available at the conclusion of the Build To Inventory schedule.

You can enter beginning balances in Production 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 than to try to manage each transaction. Resource Manager assumes you will be ordering and receiving pretty much according to schedule. If you don’t, it is sometimes easier just to rerun an entire new schedule with correct updates than to try to isolate specific transaction error for a particular.

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).


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).

Other transactions are noted in Plan Adjusted Schedule and date specific inventory available is maintained in Production Calendar.

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A5 There are three areas in RM that can contain a schedule:
1. Build contains any BORs that are scheduled from the BOR input table. This is a single treaded approach. Pure explosions on all Products, capacity restraints govern operations schedule.
2. FORECAST contains Master Gross Schedule. Pure explosions on all Products, capacity restraints govern operations schedule.
3. PLAN can process Jobs from Build and\or Forecast and reschedules subject to all inventory consideration, priority schedule, and same capacity constrains as Build and FORECAST.

Many users use BUILD simply to build\edit BORs, and FORECAST to maintain schedule. PLAN is used if more exact Inventory control and\or Purchasing, Tracking, etc. is necessary.

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A6 If it is not part of any BORs, you can always add the correct number on first blank row of Product or Operations List, Process Error Check, then Process Purge old.

If number has been already used in a number of BORs, you might consider using the Edit Find and Replace number directly through the entire BULD Sheet. Note you may need to repeat process for other sheets, or just reinitialize other sheets as necessary to make sure they have current data.

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A7 The basic configuration (using Resource Multiplier and Sheets Option Single Resource) allows one or all resources to work on a Job. You can change the Resource Multiplier to the number YOU WANT to work on a particular Job, then Process Initialize Resource Calendar, make sure Single Resource is NOT checked (Sheets Options) and then schedule your Job.

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A8 Try using Custom Job Numbers in Forecast to schedule top level orders. You can use a SALESORDER-1, -2, -3, etc. to tie multiple products scheduled on different (or same) dates, to same sales order. The Job Planning Table provides a quick and easy way to add customers to any job. Of course, you can always include full customer information in customer job number. Remember, you have 32,000 characters and you can wrap text, change font, etc. to show up on reports.

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A9 Two ways to consider:

1. Define Days Chart as length of one shift and double resource multiplier for all resources that work both shifts.
2. Define Days Chart as length of all shifts and use ½, 1/3, etc. as resource multiplier for resources working one shift.

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A10 Check privileges on MSVBVM60.DLL. You can also use a tool called Depends.exe to figure out all the dependent files for ResourceManager.EXE. This tool is installed at “Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 Tools” -> “Depends” menu. You can pick up the EXE that you want to check its dependency and get a hierarchy view of all the dependent files. You can get the list of those files and check them one by one for the READ/EXECUTE permission for the necessary user accounts. For example, you may want to especially check permissions for the C:\WINNT\System32\MSVBVM60.DLL file as I got the error message in the log as follows ACCESS DENIED.

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A11 Use the CHANGE ID button.

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A12 Check your dates first, the calendars only go back to 1/1/2001 – you can’t schedule before that date. Next, there may be a problem with your BORs. Try using the VERIFY button on BORs form to error check and repair BORs.

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A13 Regarding archiving and restoring, one customer had created an archive, but had moved it from its original position to a new place, and deleted the original. So when he tried to do restore he couldn't get the archive file since the path name where the archive was written is saved in local registry file, and offer only those path names as a choice in the list box. This was a very important safety feature and the user should plan on archiving to whatever directory he needs to restore from.

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A14 Yes, while in Build\Edit BOR – select Workcenters\Workcenter desired and press configure button to set a specific number of resources, for a particular Job. Note, this number CANNOT be more than Global Setting as established in Workcenters Setup.

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A15 Two ways to consider:

1. Define Days Chart as length of one shift and double resource multiplier for all resources that work both shifts.

2. Define Days Chart as length of all shifts and use ½, 1/3, etc. as resource multiplier for resources working one shift.

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