Enhancements and Extensions to Infor Visual

AutoSoft Systems

2 Round Hill Court

East Greenwich, RI 02818

401.885.3631

401.884.5653 Fax

401.996.3631 Cell

AMDG

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autosoft@aol.com

Commercial & custom multi-user computer software for a variety of applications including performance metrics, statistical analysis, data extraction and merger from multiple large databases, computer simulation and management information systems. Founded in 1982.

We know Excel! Whenever possible, Excel is the user interface, VBA is the programming language, ODBC connects to the database of your choice.

Pharmaceutical & Biotech

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Infor Visual^® Manufacturing ERP Enhancements and Extensions

(Infor Visual is a Trademark of Infor. AutoSoft Systems is not affiliated with Infor)

(Click here it view Infor Visual's web site)

Infor Visual Manufacturing ERP software is best in class and an excellent solution for most manufacturers. However, it can't do EVERYTHING out of the box and many manufacturers require customizations, enhancements and extentions to Infor Visual in order to meet the requirements of the individual manufacturing facility.

Dr. Serdakowski was commissioned by Winchester Interconnect in Dayville, Conneticut to enhance and extend Infor Visual to meet their specific requirements. Winchester Interconnect manufacturers cables and cable assemblies at manufacturing facilities in the USA and Mexico. Dr. Serdakowski has been writing custom solutions for Winchester since 2004 so when Winchester implemented Infor Visual in 2019 it was a "no brainer" to include him in the implementation and customization process. Since Winchester committed to Visual in 2019, Dr. Serdakowski has invested over 1,200 hours (and counting) in customizations for Winchester. The extent of these customizations are staggering. We will only attempt to touch on some of the highlights here.

SQL Server is the back end database used by Infor Visual. Unlike most other ERP systems, Infor encourages developers to add additional tables to the database for customizations. Dr. Serdakowski has added 129 tables and 2,133 fields with over 59 million records.

Problem solved - Data migration into Visual from Legacy ERP

SQL Server is the back end database used by Infor Visual. The "vanilla" installation included 1,213 tables with 17,202 fields. Winchester has over 36,000 parts with over 200,000 unit operations to make them. These parts and operations were stored in their older legacy ERP system, and AutoSoft wrote a series of Excel macros that streamlined the migration process.

Problem solved - More than 10 Part User Data fields required

The first limitation that Winchester encountered with Infor Visual was Part User Data Fields. "Vanilla" Visual allowed for only 10 User Data fields for each part. Winchester's prior ERP system allowed for unlimited User Data Fields. As a result, some parts had up to 55 User Data Fields defined and Winchester needed to retain all of these going forward. AutoSoft's enhancement allowed Winchester to retain all of their information.

Problem solved - Format Visual's Text Boxes with Tables

Visual's Operation screen for the Master Bill of Materials includes a text box which allows for storage and display of detailed instructions. Unfortunately this text box is formatted with a variable space font and one is limited to manually typing information in it. Winchester wanted to store and present detailed specifications for each unit operation for their complex BOMs. AutoSoft's "Visual Part Manager" Quality screen allows for detailed specifications to be entered in a table on the right side of the screen shot below. Also note how the left side table displays the indented Bill Of Materials as stored in Visual. The color of each operation/component corresponds to the color as displayed in Visual.

A screenshot of a computer

Description automatically generated

The Specification Technician simplies completes the right table with the specifications for that part and unit operation. A default set of test methods automatically appear. The Tech can add, remove and rearrange the list as required. Also note the blue "EDIT MFG COMMENTS" button which presents another screen where more details can be entered if required. Once the comments and table are complete, the Technician simply presses the green "SAVE OPERATIONS TO VISUAL" button to upload into Visual. All parts that use the unit operation being edited are updated. Also, the user is given the choice to update any work orders already on the shop floor that use the unit operation. Visual then displays the following:

Problem solved - What does it cost to make something in different quantities?

Visual does an excellent job of calculating the total cost to manufacture even the most complext of parts. Every Visual user is familiar with the clever way that Visual presents a Visual representation of the Operations and Components required to make a finished good:

That being said, Visual cannot accurately determine the cost of manufacture a part if one needs to make more or less than the standard lot size entered in Visual. Visual's solution for this is to simply tell the user to enter different values for the standard lot size and let Visual recalculate the costs. If one needs to quote a finished good at different lot sizes, this becomes of labor intensive operation and the possibility of human error exists, either in transcription of the different price/quantities break down or even worst, leaving the wrong standard lot size in Visual after the pricing exercise is completed. AutoSoft solved this problem by harvesting all of the costs out of Visual and generating an complex Excel workbook that calculates the cost curve at different lot sizes and also calculates the price to quote at different lot sizes and different profit margins. On simply presses navigates to the Visual Part Manager Quality screen (pictured above), enters the Part Number and Site, press the light blue EXTRACT QUALITY SPECS Command button to load the part (less than 1 minute) then press the black WITH DRILL DOWN button to build the complex Excel workbook (less than one minute).

The resulting Excel Workbook has 4 worksheets. The "CostCurve" worksheet displays the manufacturing cost as reported in Visual (cell F14) and the results of the complex calculations that replicate how Visual calculates cost (cell F13). This is in column F. Columns B:E show the cost to manufacture at varying lot sizes less than Visual's standard lot size, and columns G:J show the cost to manufacture at greater lot sizes. Product prices at different margins are displayed in rows 21:31. Cells with a yellow background are user editable. So if the user does not like the suggested lot sizes in row 11 the user can enter any desired values there and the workbook will instantaneously recalculate.

The detailed calculations that replicate Visual are displayed in their full glory on the BART worksheet. BART = "Bill of Materials Automated Reporting Tool" and in a bit of whimsy Bart Simpson is displayed.

AutoSoft Systems | 2 Round Hill Court, East Greenwich, Rhode Island, USA 02818 | 401.885.3631 | Fax: 401.884.5653 | Mobile: 401.996.3631

This web page was last updated at 01/09/2024 10:50 AM and is written in EXCEL!

Visual is a Trademark of Infor - AutoSoft Systems is not affiliated with Infor