Scheduling

Constraint Scheduling for Assemblies & Jobs

We are pleased to announce Ostendo supports full constraint scheduling down to time of the day, across both machines and employees, and for Assemblies and Job Orders. So what do we mean by Constraint Scheduling; in simple terms we allow for scheduling resources within either a production / engineering environment or for a jobbing / service environment that optimises the use of those resources to best meet the required dates for the orders with the system. When scheduling we take into account constraint resources, load balance across multiple resources, varying working patterns, continuous operations, efficiencies and process step overlaps. 

Scheduling Process

Let’s look at what options are available when creating a schedule: 

1. You are able to set the priority of orders to 3 levels, in other words you may wish to prioritise based on Whether the Order has been started, then by Order Required Date and finally by the date the Order was entered. The options for each level are: (‘Order Sequence', 'Required Date', 'Order Date', 'Critical Ratio', 'Order Priority' & 'Order Started)
2. You are able to sel ect the order class (Assemblies and/or Jobs)
3. You have the option of including ‘Planned’, ‘Quoted’ & ‘OnHold’ orders
4. The Date Horizon for which you wish include orders (either based on Required Date or Order Start Date)
5. The ability to restrict a specific site (if you have more than one physical site)
6. The ability to restrict to an order sequence range (only for Assembly Orders). This facilitates the ability to schedule for products that may need to be sequenced (i.e. Colour or thickness sequencing)
7. The ability to include Firm scheduled orders for a specific date range. Designed for where you wish to lock in the previous firm schedule, up to a date, and then re-schedule from that date forward
8. You also have the option of displaying the previous planned schedule, or the previous firm schedule

If you selected the option to Create a new schedule you are presented with a screen titled ‘Constraint Scheduling Orders’ which displays all the orders that met the criteria from the previous definition screen. From this screen you are able to adjust the following sorts of information that will then be used when generating the schedule:

1. The ability to individually exclude the order from the run
2. The ability to adjust the remaining schedule hours per resource code (labour code). This is important if actual times/timesheets are not up to date
3. The ability to select an override resource code (in other words manually swap to another resource) and also set the speed factor (in case the resource you’re swapping to is either faster or slower than the default resource)

Once you have made any changes to the orders and have clicked on the ‘Continue’ button, you’ll be presented with a ‘Please Wait’ dialog that stay on the screen while the main process of scheduling occurs (the time taken to schedule is very much dependant on the number of orders, number of resources, how many resources are constrained, and how far out the horizon is set). After the schedule process has completed you’ll be presented with the main Constraint Scheduling Board. 

Within the Scheduling Board you’re presented with the following main panels:

1. A Related Toolbar displaying related screens that can be accessed by clicking on the various buttons
2. A conditional filtering toolbar that is primarily used when in the Graphical Schedule tab (displays in a gantt/calendar style of view)
3. The Loading / Utilisation panel that provides at a quick glance the loading for a resource (or Department) over a 30 day (or week) period, colour coded to highlight potential capacity issues. The colour coding can be defined in separate ‘Loading Indicators’ screen
4. The main scheduling panel which allows for the changing of the generated schedule by manually editing or dragging & dropping within the scheduling grid. There are also 2 more tabs with this panel:
1. Graphical Schedule: This presents a graphical calendar/gantt style of interface where you can drag & drop the resource allocation records around when in resource mode. If in Order mode, you’re able to view the orders in a project style of interface displaying the total elapsed time for each step/task and the inter-dependant links between each, within that order. 
   
2. Loading & Capacity: This is charting representation of the loading verses the capacity enabling grouping by: (Department, Resource, Year-Week, Year-Month) 
   
5. The bottom panel displays a user defined query (like the Job Calendar) – in other words when you’re sitting on a record in the scheduling grid the query can display any further information required that relates to line (i.e. displaying the order notes).

Setup & Initialisation Screens

There are a number of new screens and some modified existing screens enabling the settings for scheduling to be defined. In essence we use the Labour Codes as Resource Codes and allow for working times and overrides to be defined at that level. We also provide for the ability to define whether a particular labour code is scheduled, and also whether that code is automatically replaced with another code when scheduling (this may be required in jobbing where multiple labour codes are used for pricing/costing purposes, but they all represent a specific scheduling resource). These labour codes can also be defined as a group of like machines/people, in other words there maybe say a packing department which has 10 staff, it wouldn’t make sense to schedule for every person, so  a code can be defined as representing more than 1 resource (in this case 10).

Finite / In-Finite Capacity (Constrained Resources) 

Most importantly when scheduling we have built in the concept of constraint or finite scheduling. You can define against each labour code whether it is a constraint (Finite Capacity) or not (In-Finite Capacity). Based on that setting the work will be scheduled around that constraint – it is recommended that you keep the number of constraints to a minimum – remember that this setting restricts the overall loading on that resource per time period, whereas, all the physical time constraints apply to all resources – to explain let’s look at the following examples:

a) Machine A (Finite Capacity): When scheduling the work to run on/through that machine, if on a specific day there was 8 hours available, that machine would be loaded horizontally until that 8 hours was consumed; then loading would continue to the next available day(s).

b) Machine B (In-Finite Capacity): When scheduling the work to run on/through that machine, if on a specific day there was 8 hours available, that machine would be loaded horizontally for each activity and then with each new activity, the machine would be loaded in parallel (not taking into account any other loading from other orders). Although, if there was 3 hour activity and the start of the day was 8:00am then the finish time would be 11:00am (so basically, in-finite capacity means that we are still constrained to the normal time period, but we don’t consider other work happening in that same period).

Alternates & Load Balancing

Another important factor to take into account when scheduling is whether we have alternate resources that can be used to undertake the same work (i.e. you have 10 CNC machines in your factory that can perform basically the same work, maybe at varying speeds). We provide the ability to define alternates for that labour code, and with each alternate, a speed factor is also entered. At the same time, you are able to define whether or not those alternates are load balanced – in other words, let’s say you have 2 bottling lines in a beverage plant – one of the lines has just been updated and runs 2 times faster than the other. Let’s also assume that you have defined the updated line as the default code against all bills of material; now if we didn’t define the second line as an alternate, and that its load balanced, all work would be scheduled on the updated line only. To allow for balancing of the work across those lines (you can define as many load balanced alternates as you like), you define the second line as an alternate to the first with a speed factor of 50%. This will ensure that when scheduling the work on the first line, the routine will continuously balance the work taking into account the difference in speed to optimise the throughput, therefore minimising process time.

Continuous verses Non-Continuous

There are some operations that require continuous running – typically in the process industries or where setup time is large. We have added the ability against the labour code to flag it as a Continuous Operation. This will ensure that when scheduling the activity, it will only be loaded if there’s enough time to complete it continuously. This doesn’t mean that you have to have a 24 hour operation, but means that once that activity has been scheduled, no other work will be started on that resource until it completes. Even if the labour code has not been flagged as continuous, you still have the ability to define a minimum gap required for slotting in work.

Efficiency’s & Number of Resources

When defining a labour code, as mentioned previously there is the ability to specify how many resources there are linked to this code. In other words you may wish to define a labour code for a group of machines or a number of people, if so, you can enter the number of resources for that code therefore factoring the capacity available for any given period. In conjunction with this you may wish to alter the efficiency % for that labour code (either decreasing or increasing the output); this could apply to where a resource or group of resources are not performing to their standard rates and it might be necessary to adjust the efficiency, rather than adjusting all the bills of material or job templates.    

Working Times, Holidays & Overrides

There are 4 levels of working times available per labour code, these are as follows:

1. The standard working times held against the company
2. Specific working times per labour code per week day (i.e. Monday, Tuesday etc...)
3. Holidays as defined in the company holidays screen
4. The most specific is where you are able to define override times that will effectively override any standard working times and any holidays defined

Resource Loading Board

This screen provides the big picture view of the loading/utilisation for all resources or departments, for a 30 day or 30 week period. You have the choice of either displaying the Firm schedule or the latest Planned schedule.

Graphical Plant View

We have added another new screen to graphically display the layout of a factory/plant displaying the loading, capacity and utilisation for resources and departments. This enables the person at a quick glance to view exactly what planned to go through the operation in a way only possible via a picture. Let’s look at a sample of what’s possible (Please Note: The actual layout is purely up to your own imagination, the Ostendo Graphical Designer is used to draw representation).

You’ll notice in the screen shot there is a panel located at the top of the screen allowing for the selection of the ‘Firm’ or ‘Planned’ schedule, a specific date or a week, and a checkbox to allow edit mode (controlled by user security). 

The idea is that the layout of the resources and/or departments you wish to monitor (multiple schemes/slides can be defined for where more detail is required than can be put on one screen), can be drawn, and then associated with the actual labour code or department code while back in the Graphical Plant View screen.  Help on how to do this is built into the sample file (graphicalplantview.dat) found in the base Ostendo directory.

Once you have assigned the text objects (labels) to a specific resource or department, while in ‘Edit Mode’, you can turn off edit mode and the labels will be populated with the following:

1. The Labour Code or Department Code
2. The Utilisation Percentage
3. The loading hours
4. The available capacity hours

The loading and capacity information presented will depend also on the date / week start you’ve selected in the top panel (Note: You will need to have created the schedule before this information is available).

Another nice feature is the fact that you are able to drill down on a specific resource / department by simply clicking on the associated label, this present a screen similar to the following:

The linking of the graphical file (like the touch screen files) is stored in the ‘Requirements-Requirement Rules’ screen.  

General and Technical

Drag & Drop Items in various screens (BOM’s, Inventory Adjustments, Orders screens) 

We have added the ability to drag & drop Items into the following screens:

1. Bills of Materials (and Configured BOM’s within Sales and Job Orders)
2. Sales Orders
3. Job Orders
4. Purchase Orders
5. Assembly Orders
6. Inventory Adjustments
7. Matrices

The Drag & Drop Items screen can be launched via the Related Menu (Toolbar) and is set to stay on top, ensuring is always available for use. The screen works very much like the windows explorer environment, where you are able to multi-select using your ‘ctrl’ and ‘shift’ keys and then drag the items selected and drop them onto the appropriate screen.

System Short Cut keys 

We have added the ability define short cut keys against users (System Configuration-System Shortcuts). These short cut keys (using control-#) can be linked either to screens or to scripts (i.e. ctrl-t might call up the Timesheets screen)  

Due Date Indicators

We have added some new fields to highlight (via colour coding) the required date status of orders, invoices and call tickets in the system. The idea is that when viewing the screens, there is an instant visual indicator as to whether the order, payment or ticket is either due tomorrow, due today or overdue. The screens are:

1. Sales Orders (new field is CURRENTDUECOLOUR): Compares Required date to the current system date
2. Purchase Orders (new field is CURRENTDUECOLOUR): Compares Required date to the current system date
3. Job Orders (new fields are CURRENTDUECOLOUR & PLANNEDDUECOLOUR): The CURRENTDUECOLOUR  compares Required date to the current system date, and the PLANNEDDUECOLOUR compares the Required Date with the Planned End Date
4. Assembly Orders (new fields are CURRENTDUECOLOUR & PLANNEDDUECOLOUR): The CURRENTDUECOLOUR  compares Required date to the current system date, and the PLANNEDDUECOLOUR compares the Required Date with the Planned End Date
5. Sales Invoices (new field is CURRENTDUECOLOUR): Compares invoice due date to the current system date
6. Call Tickets (new field is CURRENTDUECOLOUR): Compares action required date to the current system date

The colour coding is as follows:

Filter Screen Conditions

We have added a new style of filtering screen contents, one that enables pre-defined conditions to be assigned to buttons, given a caption and then linked to a screen. The conditions can allow for anything fr om grouping items on the new Drag & Drop screen based on say fixed categories, or for displaying quotes that are due with a dynamic number of days. 

The conditions are defined in a new screen called ‘File-Customisation Configuration-Filter Screen Conditions’ and are dynamically added to the assigned screen as follows: 

Queue Services

We have added a module called ‘Queue Services’, this module is designed to run events (like emailing reports, running the accounting link, executing scripts, etc...) on a fixed or regular basis.  The idea is that you can define in the ‘Queue schedule’, the event you wish to run, when and how often, and, so long as the Queue Service is running on the server, those events are executed. 

The actual service is started on the server via passing command line parameters to the Ostendo executable (like the Web Service) i.e. "C:\Program Files\Ostendo\Ostendo.exe" STARTUPID:DEMO QUEUESERVICE Username=Admin Password=Password.

The Output Types (types of events you can run) are:

1. Email Report: This is designed for regular emailing of reports (i.e. send the Weekly Sales report to the Sales Manager every Friday Night). You’ll also notice there is the ability to enter the recipients, the body, the selection criteria for the report, CC & BCC email address, and any file attachments you wish to include with the email.
2. Print Report: This is designed for regular printing of reports (i.e. print the previous days orders in, every morning). It should be noted there is a new rule in Sales Rules allowing One Step Invoice printing to use the Queue Service – this can alleviate the need to wait while the invoice is being sent to the printer before starting the next order.
3. Email: This is designed for sending out regular emails (This feature is very useful for sending emails based on triggered events - i.e. email a customer once a sales delivery has been shipped  – see the separate section on ‘Using Events with Queue Services’   
4. Script: This is designed for executing/running standard scripts at regular/fixed times (i.e. collate Business Key Performance data and email it to senior management every week night, run the Inventory Replenishment once a week, etc...).
5. Accounting Link: This allows for the automated running of the Accounting Link screen within Ostendo (see the ‘Run’ option for executing the Ostendo-Accounting System automatically as well)
6. Run: This option allows the regular/fixed execution of external applications. This is useful for running the Ostendo-MYOB, Ostendo-QB, or the Ostendo-Evolution links automatically – note that you need to pass a command line parameter ‘background’ for the programs to run in non visual mode. See the image below: 

Using Events with Queue Services

There are numerous times when changes in the database require further action (i.e. email the Customer when a Sales Delivery has been shipped, email the Sales Manager if an order is greater than a certain value or margin, email the Project Manager if the job/project is going off track, etc...). To accommodate this there is a table called ‘OUTPUTQUEUE’ which can written too (via say a Database Trigger) when that event occurs, and the Queue Service will then action the request.

User Defined Pricing Rules

Understanding that there will be times where the pricing and discounting rules required are so specific that the standard options available will not be adequate; we have provided empty stored procedures that if populated, will be used within Ostendo when calculating prices and discounts. So what this basically means is that pretty much any line pricing, discounting or order pricing rules can be created, that will either supersede or compliment the standard pricing rules.  The three stored procedures are:

1. USERRULES_GETPRICE: This procedure is called when the line price is being determined for a product or service. The help on this procedure is commented within the procedure body.
2. USERRULES_GETDISCOUNTQTY: This procedure is called when the line discount is being determined for a product or service. The help on this procedure is commented within the procedure body.
3. USERRULES_GETORDERPRICING: This procedure is called before the Order Pricing Rules are called after lines are inserted, updated or deleted in an order. This allows for rules to be written that related to the order as a whole, rather than line by line. The help on this procedure is commented within the procedure body.

Reporting

Budgets (See also Job Budgets)

We have added the ability to create Budgets for Sales & Purchases, and then compare those against history or other budgets via the new Budget Comparisons screen. A new Budget can be created from 1 of 3 methods:

1. Manual creation
2. Copy from another Budget
3. Generate from History

 The third option to generate from history has the following options: 

1. Budget Class: Either Sales or Purchasing
2. Budget Year: The year this budget is for (the start month comes from the Financial Start month in the System Settings screen)
3. Budget Type: The type can either be (Revenue, Cost, Qty, Profit) – although Purchasing budgets can only be Cost or Qty.
4. Budget Style (1-3): The budget styles are in effect the level the budget is being generated for. In other words we may wish to create a budget for say a Customer Region and Product Category, or Customer Type, Salesperson and then Category; one or all 3 of the styles can be defined, therefore providing for multiple ways of analysing performance (Note: There are no limit to the number of budgets that can be created for the same year, so long as they all have different budget names).
5. From Previous Year or Monthly Average from past # days: Either the history for the year specified will be used, or an average will be generated based on the number of days entered.
6. Factor % to use: This enables the history to be factored either up or down.

Once the budget has been created you are able to modify the contents within the lines grid (the budget styles selected for that budget will determine the lookups available). There are 2 useful columns in the lines grid called ‘Annual Spread Amount’ and ‘Spread Factor’, these allow the entry of an annual amount and a selection of a spread factor (General-Settings-Spread Factors). If values are entered into these columns, and then the record’s saved; the annual amount will automatically be spread over the 12 month period, based on the ratios held against the spread factor definition.

Budget Comparisons

We have added a new screen for comparing Budgets to Actual History, or Budgets to other Budgets. This screen provides the user with the option of then generating a Pivot, Analysis or Chart view of the comparison. 

Job Budgets (see also Budgets)

We have added the ability to create Budgets for Jobs (distinct from Sales & Purchase Budgets), and then compare those against history via the new Job Budget Comparisons screen. Setting up a Job Budget is different than setting up a Sales or Purchase Budget; you link the budget to a specific Job and the period of the budget is 36 months (start month being derived from the Order Date of the Job). 

There are 2 style dropdowns available for a Job Budget, in effect they are the levels you are budgeting for. In other words you may wish to create a budget for say Tasks and only Labour, or simply an overall Job revenue budget, therefore providing for multiple ways of analysing the job performance. Revenue and Profit budgets can only be created for the Job as a whole, where as Qty and Cost budgets can be for any level.  

Job Budget Comparisons (see also Budget Comparisons)

We have added a new screen for comparing Job Budgets to Actual History. This screen provides the user with the option of then generating a Pivot, Analysis or Chart view of the comparison.  

Graphical Web Dashboards 

We have added a new module for creating web Dashboards. The idea is that you setup a Dashboard (File-Dashboard Configuration) and then assign that Dashboard(s) to an employee (we use the POS password for logging into the Dashboards). A Dashboard is basically a collection of gauges, charts & grids that provide the user with a graphical snapshot of how the particular part of the business is performing (Key Performance Indicators). To illustrate how these are setup we have included a couple of samples in this update (more help will follow). 

To actually run the Dashboard you will require web services, or you can test them in the script editor (there is a new feature that will enable running the web services script in the local browser – without having to have web services running). You will also need to download the new script template that enables the Dashboard to run; to do this, add a new Web Services script in the Script Editor and then click on the ‘Download Online Template’, from which you will be able to select the ‘Dashboard’ template (you will also be prompted to download another dependant script called ‘dashdata’ – just accept that). Once you have installed that script, you’re ready to try it. Go to the ‘Script’ tab and click on ‘Run (local)’. You should be presented with a login screen for employees (remember the password can be defined as a POS password in the Employee screen and you will need to assign the dashboards to each employee). Once logged in you should see something like the following: 

Web Inquiries (see also Dashboards)

We have developed a web services script that enables simple inquiry screens to be run from any web browser (like the Web Dashboards). The idea here is that you may wish to provide online information to employees remotely (i.e. Open Orders, Outstanding Invoices, Job Information, Stock Availability etc...). The actual inquiry screen is built in the standard ‘Report & View Developer’ and is then assigned to employees (File-Reporting Configuration-Web Inquires). 

Like the web Dashboards you will require web services running, or you can test them in the script editor (there is a new feature that will enable a web services script to run in a local browser – without having to have web services running). You will also need to download the new script template that enables the Web Inquiry to run; to do this, add a new Web Services script in the Script Editor and then click on the ‘Download Online Template’, from which you will be able to select the ‘Inquiry’ template (you will also be prompted to download another dependant script called ‘inquirydata’ – just accept that). Once you have installed that script, you’re ready to try it. Go to the ‘Script’ tab and click on ‘Run (local)’ and you should be presented with a login screen for employees (remember the password can be defined as a POS password in the Employee screen and you will need to assign the dashboards to each employee). Once logged in you should see something like the following: 

Specific Form Messages 

We have added a new screen to allow the entry of messages that can be linked to specific forms and given an effective start and end date. The forms this applies to are:

1. Invoices
2. Statements
3. Sales Quotes
4. Sales Orders
5. Job Quotes
6. Job Orders
7. POS Invoice
8. POS Payments
9. Purchase Orders

This can be useful for periods like the Christmas break, where maybe the hours of trade are different or where contact details have changed. 

Change Report Conditions and Refresh Report Contents

We have added the ability while in the Report Preview screen to pull up the report conditions, change them and then refresh the report contents, without having to exit the report and re-run it.

Sales, Jobs, Assemblies & Purchasing

Order Matrices for Sales & Purchases

We have added the ability to create Matrices for using in both Sales & Purchase orders. This functionality is commonly required in the apparel industry, but can be used for a variety of other environments. The concept is that you define a Matrix Style and linked to that style are 2 or 3 dimensions (i.e. Colour, Size, Fit), and then the individual Item or Descriptor codes are linked to a combination of those dimensions (the new Item Drag & Drop functionality works in this screen). A point to note is that we using individual product codes to represent each combination, not a single product with inventory tracked characteristics (such as: Colour, Size, Batch, Grade etc...). Images & properties can also be linked to that Matrix Style, and appear when in the order screens. 

Using Matrices in order screens

In both the Sales and Job Order Line tabs you will see a new Batch Entry panel option called ‘Matrices’ – this, when clicked on presents the ‘Batch Entry – Matrices’ screen where you can add and select a Matrix style. Once the style has been selected you will notice a 2/3 dimensional grid displays at the bottom of the screen, where valid combination cells are editable (invalid combinations are filled with ‘----‘, and are read-only). The other thing you’ll notice is that there is a ‘Properties’ tab that displays any properties and images pre-defined for that style.

Any Items/Descriptors that are linked to a Matrix Style will be automatically added to that the style within the order even if they are entered directly into the order lines (in other words it doesn’t matter that you add or modify lines within or outside of the Matrix entry – both are updated). 

Order Touch screens (See also POS Touch Screens)

We have added the ability to create user defined Touch Pads that can be then linked to any of the order screens (Sales, Jobs, Purchases, and Assemblies). Although initially designed for POS, the idea of having a user defined graphical panel within order screens provided for the following useful features: 

1. Setting up buttons for inserting commonly used codes 
2. Providing for a graphical ‘How Do I’ (i.e. Credit processing, Company Policies, etc...)
3. Because scripts can be linked to buttons/objects with the touch pad, the ability to provide related user defined functions is limitless

The linking of these touch pads to order screens can be done firstly in the appropriate Rules screens (i.e. Purchase Rules for the Purchase Order screen), and then, if you wish to have user specific touch pads, then in System Configuration-Touch Pads.          

Many to one for assets to Jobs

We have added the ability to link Customer Assets directly to the Job Task (as long as the Job Style = ‘Customer’, if ‘Customer Asset’ then only one asset can be linked).

Auto Apply Deposits for Sales & Jobs 

We have added the ability to automatically apply deposits entered against a Sales or Job Order at the time of printing the invoice. This feature existed previously only for One Step Invoices (in Sales Orders).  There is also a new Sales Rule called ‘Auto Apply Order Deposits when printing Invoices’ which, if set, will default the auto apply deposit flag against all orders (this can deactivated at an order level).

Pay Now for Batch Invoices

We have allowed the ‘Pay Now’ option to be used in the Batch Invoicing screen (previously only in Direct Invoices). This basically allows a payment to be entered into the invoice screen, which then automatically applies to that invoice and prints to that effect on the invoice itself. 

Allow Delivery Invoice before shipping

We have added a new Sales Rule called ‘Allow Delivery Invoice before Shipping’. This rule, if set, allows invoices to be generated in the Sales Delivery screen before the delivery has been flagged as shipped. The idea of this is to allow invoices to be sent for approval (maybe even paid for) before the goods are delivered.   

Use Delivery Number as Invoice number

We have added a new Sales Rule called ‘Use Delivery No as Invoice for Deliver Invoice’. This rule, if set, will use the Sales Delivery number as the Invoice number (with a suffix of -## catering for multiple invoices for a delivery – in case of crediting).

How to Update Costs for Closed Jobs & Assembly Orders

We added a new a new rule in Purchase Rules called ‘How to Update Costs for Closed Jobs/Assy Order’. This rule defines how the system deals with extra costs posted to a closed Job or Assembly (i.e. a supplier invoice comes in 1 month after the originating Job has been closed). There are 3 options:

1. Open Order and Update Costs then Leave Open: This option re-opens the order updates the costs and leaves the order open for manual closing
2. Open Order and Update Costs then Close Off:  This option re-opens the order updates the costs and then closes the order (either posting the cost variance to COGS or to a variance account – dependant on other settings)
3. No Automatic Opening of Closed Orders: This option will prevent additional costs from being posted, unless the order is re-opened. 

Job Lines – Grid Entry & Tax Inclusive Unit Prices

We have enabled the ability to modify the Order Qty, Order Unit Price, Tax Inclusive Unit Price, and the Line Number within the lines grid (for faster line maintenance). The most significant change is that fact that you can now enter the tax inclusive unit price and the tax exclusive unit price is back calculated (previous only POS allowed for entry of tax inclusive prices). A point to note is that there are now multiple methods of creating lines:

1. Creation via Templates (from either the beginning of the Job or in the Line tab)
2. Creation via Lists (these can be specifically defined or dynamically generated via history)
3. Drag and Drop from the new Drag & Drop screen
4. Batch Entry via the Batch Entry Toolbar in the lines tab
5. Lines automatically created via Purchase Orders / Purchase Receipts/ Purchase Invoices
6. Manual entry with the ability to define the Speed Entry field order (and definition of which fields are keyed in before a new line is automatically created) 
7. Copying from another Order/Quote
8. Lines can be automatically inserted via the new Order Pricing Matrix based on pre-defined rules

Sales Lines – Grid Entry & Tax Inclusive Unit Prices

We have enabled the ability to modify the Order Qty, Order Unit Price, Tax Inclusive Unit Price, and the Line Number within the lines grid (for faster line maintenance). The most significant change is that fact that you can now enter the tax inclusive unit price and the tax exclusive unit price is back calculated (previous only POS allowed for entry of tax inclusive prices). A point to note that is that there are now multiple methods of creating lines:

1. Creation via Lists (these can be specifically defined or dynamically generated via history)
2. Drag and Drop from the new Drag & Drop screen
3. Batch Entry via the Batch Entry Toolbar in the lines tab
4. Manual entry with the ability to define the Speed Entry field order (and definition of which fields are keyed in before a new line is automatically created) 
5. Copying from another Order/Quote
6. Lines can be automatically inserted via the new Order Pricing Matrix based on pre-defined rules

Assembly Rules – Auto Update Current Step

We have added a new rule called ‘Auto Update Current Step on Issues’. By setting this when any issues any entered for an order, the step associated with that issue is checked against the ‘Current Step’ held in the Assembly header, and if it is a later step (based on sequence number) it automatically updates the current Assembly step. This in conjunction with the ‘Analysis – Assembly Progress’ and the Desktop views (remember if there is only 1 view it is automatically maximised, and you also have a automated refresh timer) provides for real time feedback on progress of assembly orders through the factory.

Job Rules – Auto Update Current Task

We have added a new rule called ‘Auto Update Current Task on Issues’. By setting this when any issues any entered for an order, the task associated with that issue is checked against the ‘Current Task’ held in the Job header, and if it is a later task (based on sequence number) it automatically updates that current task for the Job. This in conjunction with the ‘Analysis – Job Progress’ and the Desktop views (remember if there is only 1 view it is automatically maximised, and you also have a automated refresh timer) provides for real time feedback on progress of job orders.

Job and Sales Order, Batch Invoicing, Job Calendar Speed improvements

We have improved the speed for volume Job orders and Sales orders where there are 100’s to 1,000’s of lines. As a consequence, Batch Invoicing for multiple Jobs & Sales Orders has also improved, along with significant Job Calendar performance improvements.    

Assembly Order – Top Level Order & Source Information

We have added some additional fields to the Assembly Order allowing for full traceability back up to the originating source of the top level parent order. In other words if we have a multiple level BOM structure and wish to group all assembly orders that relate to say a top level Sales Order, this feature enables that. 

Bills of Material – Line Grid Editing

We have added the ability to edit the following fields from within BOM lines grid (for speed of maintenance):

1. Step Name
2. Line Number
3. Qty

Configured Bills of Material – Line Grid Editing

We have added the ability to edit the following fields from within Sales & Jobs Configured BOM lines grid (for speed of maintenance):

1. Step Name
2. Line Number
3. Qty

Direct Invoice Lines – Grid Entry & Tax Inclusive Unit Prices

We have enabled the ability to modify the Invoice Qty, Invoice Unit Price, Tax Inclusive Unit Price, and the Line Number within the lines grid (for faster line maintenance). The most significant change is that fact that you can now enter the tax inclusive unit price and the tax exclusive unit price is back calculated (previous only POS allowed for entry of tax inclusive prices). 

Purchase Lines – Grid Entry

We have enabled the ability to modify the Order Qty, Order Unit Price and the Line Number within the lines grid (for faster line maintenance). A point to note that is that there are now multiple methods of creating lines:

1. Creation via Lists (these can be specifically defined or dynamically generated via history)
2. Drag and Drop from the new Drag & Drop screen
3. Batch Entry via the Batch Entry Toolbar in the lines tab
4. Manual entry with the ability to define the Speed Entry field order (and definition of which fields are keyed in before a new line is automatically created) 
5. Copying from another Order

Sales Rules – After One Step Invoice

We have added new rule to the Sales Rules screen called ‘After One Step Invoice’. This allows for automatic creation of a new order immediately after the invoice (Using ctrl-I) has been created in a One Step Invoice style of Sales Order.

Pricing

Order Pricing Matrix

We have added a new style of pricing facility into Ostendo, that is, the ability to define pricing rules that dynamically apply to the order as a whole. What we mean by this is, while you’re entering order lines the order level rules are being evaluated and adjustments are made on the fly. To explain this more, let’s look at a few pricing scenarios that are handled by this new module:

1. Discount for a combination of Customer and Product Category:  You are able to define a rule that will automatically apply a discount based on a category value for that order (across multiple products)
2. Automated Freight addition based on Value, Qty, Weight or Volume: You are able to define a rule that will automatically add a descriptor code (for the freight charge) based a value, Qty, Weight or volume range. There can be multiple rules for different ranges (i.e. < $1000 we charge freight and > $1000 we provide freight free)
3. Bonus or Promotional Items: You are able to define rules that can automatically insert either additional Items (or Descriptors) into the order based on say a value, or a quantity of a certain category, or specific product (i.e. If you buy more than 2 car tyres this month you receive a free wheel alignment)
4. A pre-determined On-Charge rebate based on say the customer region and services provided: You are able to define rules that automatically insert an On-Charge descriptor that will either automatically invoice the On-Charge Customer (as defined against the On-Charge descriptor), or accumulate against an item code for future sale. Real world examples of this are the Australian Solar Credits or New Zealand Home Insulation Credits.
5. Automated Miscellaneous Charges: You could define rules to automatically insert miscellaneous charges based on things like region or customer type. This might apply to something like travel time for jobs.

The above examples are only a few common ones, there are likely to be hundreds of ways of using this new pricing facility.

You are also able to de-activate the Order Pricing Matrix rules for a specific order by setting that option in the overrides tab in the order header. This may be required where the rules need to be overridden for a specific circumstance (i.e. we are not charging freight for this order because it’s a replacement product).If you don’t set this override, the system will automatically apply all the appropriate rules after you make any change to the order.

Qty breaks in Discount matrix

We have added the ability to define a quantity break against a Discount Matrix rule. Where more than one qty break is required multiple rules can be defined, price levels, or the new Order Pricing Matrix can be used. 

On-Charge Descriptors

We have provided for a new type of descriptor, one that can be defined as an On-Charge type. This enables descriptor codes to be entered into orders as say rebate/discounts lines and then charged on to another customer or accumulated against an inventory item for invoicing at a later date.  The setup of this is done in the new On-Charge tab, found in the Descriptors screen. Also see Order Pricing Matrix for more information.   

POS

POS Orders (Ability to take Orders as well as the existing Quotes & Invoices)

We have added the ability to take orders within the POS module. Previously you were able to enter quotes and invoices; this now means that for true pre-orders, POS can be used rather than Sales Orders. If orders are created in POS, they generate demands (like in Sales Orders), and are taken into account via Inventory Replenishment, Create Required Orders and Inventory Availability.

POS Touch Screens

We have added the ability to create user defined Touch Pads that are then linked specifically to the POS Station.  These Touch Pads are edited through the Ostendo Graphical Designer (ostdesigner.exe), the same one used to edit Workflows and Custom Data screens. The size of the touch pad is determined by the actual size you have designed – in other words the POS grid is dynamically resized to suit. You are able to setup any layout, as many drill downs for groups of products/services, and link buttons/objects inserting Items/Descriptors with predetermined quantities if needed. For help on how to link codes to the buttons, see the sample file for ‘John’s Fresh Fruit Store’, and click on the ‘Help’ image. The sample POS touch pad file is found in the base Ostendo directory, and is called ‘OstendoPOSTouchPad.dat’ – link to this file in the POS Stations.

Inventory & Requirements

Adjustment Cost Default

We have added a new rule into Item Rules called ‘Adjustment Cost Default’. This basically sets the cost to be used when the cost is defaulted in the Inventory Adjustments screen. 

Create Required Orders – New Sub Assembly Option for Assemblies

We have added the ability to explode through all levels of a manufactured product at the time of creating the order via the Create Required Orders screen. To further explain this, let’s set the background for this feature:

1. Assembly Order Requirements appear in the Create Required Orders screen either directly via another order (if the product is source on demand) or from Inventory Replenishment.
2. When defining Bills of Material you are able to state, that if they are used in another parent BOM (in other words it is a sub-assembly), they are treated as a phantom, and therefore automatically blown though to the next level. Now this has the effect of flattening the resultant structure, so everything is included in one assembly order.
3. Where separate assembly orders are required (even if they are dependant sub-assemblies) you have previously only had the option of defining them as ‘Source on Demand’ and then running the Create Required Orders a few times to then generate all child assembly orders, or running Inventory Replenishment for multiple levels (which will create all the sub assembly orders, but not automatically linked to their dependant parents). 

So what we’ve provided is the ability to decide at the time of creating the parent assembly order, whether you wish to:

1. No Explosion: Generate the parent Assembly Order as it did before
2. Explode Source on Demand: This will create all sub-assembly orders for where the sub-assembly has been defined as ‘Source on Demand’ only
3. Explode All: This option will generate Assembly Orders for all sub-assemblies required, no matter whether they are source on demand or supply from stock.

Now, to allow for full traceability we have added another new feature, and that is, we hold against each Assembly Order not only the direct parent order, but the top level Assembly Order number and also the top level source – see the following topic on this.                   

Inventory Items Re-Order Basis

We have added a new field called ‘Reorder Basis’ into the Items screen,  which allows the dynamic calculation of reorder levels based on inventory history. There are 2 options:

1. Fixed Qty: This works exactly as it did before, allowing for fixed quantities to be entered for the reorder level and the reorder qty
2. History Days: This allows the entry of the number of days of stock you wish to keep as your minimum level, and then the minimum number of days you wish to order via the replenishment routine. Also, there are 2 new rules in the Item Rules screen called:
1. Reorder History Period Basis: This provides for a dropdown of 2 options (‘Use ReOrder Days’, ’Use History Period Days’). The idea behind this is that you may wish to base your reorder level on 5 days of stock, but want those 5 days to be a daily average of the past 30 days of inventory usage; therefore you would select ‘Use History Period Days’.
2. Number of History Days: This is the number of days used, if the above basis is set to ‘Number of History Days’.    

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