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/\ ///\\\ /////\\\\\ LONE ///////\\\\\\\ /////////\\\\\\\\\ PINE ////////\\\\\\\\ //////////\\\\\\\\\\ PROGRAMS ////////\\\\\\\\ //////////\\\\\\\\\\ PO BOX 13114 /////////\\\\\\\\\ ST. LOUIS, MO 63119 ///////////\\\\\\\\\\\ /////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 314-344-5450 |||| |||| |||| |||| ============================================= COPYRIGHT 1987 North Woods Software The Inventory Base Module from Lone Pine Programs presents a realistic alternative to manual inventory record keeping. This unique system offers several features that surpass manual methods. In particular, the system offers: * On-Line Inventory Status - The system promptly reports item availability, item substitution and summary data. * Multiple Data Inquiry - Inventory can be retrieved in a variety of ways so that key information is readily available for decision making. The Inventory Base Module is the central building block for an integrated manufacturing system. Its implementation can provide significant impact upon efforts to control costs and improve profitability. The Inventory Base Module should help you find that delicate balance between having sufficient inventory levels to provide adequate customer service and excessive inventory levels that result in needless cost. We, at Lone Pine Programs, are proud to offer you a high quality, high value Inventory Base Module. We believe that this system is a meaningful tool in assisting you to plan for future events. We also appreciate the opportunity to assist you in your continuing success and future growth. INTRODUCTION The Inventory Base Module is designed to simplify both inventory maintenance and analysis. Operating in an on-line environment, it answers information requests immediately. Balance on hand maintenance, item activity, and physical inventory control are management tools built into the system. The Lone Pine Programs Inventory Base Module is a powerful tool for inventory management. It is our hope that this system will help you find that proper balance between insufficient and excessive inventory levels. The system was designed with three central concepts in mind. * Timeliness - The system quickly provides information needed to make knowledgeable inventory decisions. Having the right inventory at the right time boosts production efficiency while minimizing inventory investment. * Efficiency - The system facilitates record keeping which frees management time for other activities such as inventory analysis and planning. * Understandability - The strength of the system is that it is easy to understand and use. The entire system is menu driven and is written to provide information. Key system features include: * Menu orientation for ease of training and use All of the data collection and inquiry processing are menu oriented. This means that personnel can be rapidly trained to use the system because there are no special codes or instructions to learn. Each function is selected from a menu. The user simply decides which operation to perform, and begins entering data or inquiring against the data base. * On-line documentation There are two types of on-line help for the user of the system. While entering data, or using any of the programs, the bottom line of the screen always gives helpful prompting messages. They tell what the program is waiting for and what type of answers will be acceptable. If, at any time, the user needs additional help in how to work with the program, complete on-line documentation is available with one key stroke. When the program is waiting for the initial entery into a screen, the prompt line will say "Press 'F9' for help." At this time complete documentation for the program will display on the screen simply by pressing the 'F9' key. This will display one to several pages of operating instructions. When all of the instructions have been displyed the screen will restore as it was before the 'F9' key was pressed. * On-line data validation and error checking As information is entered into the system it is validated against the data base. This catches typos and other data entry errors as they happen. * Substitute item inquiry Maintaining a production schedule or meeting a crisis demand sometimes requires using a substitute for a missing component. Each item in the system can reference another item as a substitute if the need arises. * Screens, Reports and Prompts All of the screens in the system have a similar layout. The top portion of each of the screens contains the company name, the program function, the system serial number, and the internal program name. The main body of the information goes in the center of the screen. Below the box that outlines the screen is an area that is called the prompt line. It is used to display prompts and messages to you as you operate the system. Many of the prompts require a yes or no answer. These should be answered with a single letter "Y" or "N", followed by the "ENTER" button. In most cases the "ENTER" button may be used to indicate a default answer to a prompt. The default answer, however, will not result in a change to a record that is on the database. In order to update, change or delete records, a deliberate response must be made. All of the reports share the same format. They all show the title information in the top left hand corner of the page. This title information contains the company name, the report title, and subtitles or search criteria and the date the report was created. The date is the current system date. The title information is always clustered together and located in the same position on all of the reports. MAIN MENU The main menu of the system is the first and the last screen seen by the user. After the program is loaded, the main menu will be displayed on the screen. It is from this menu that all functions are performed including exiting the system. The menu is divided into two sections. The functions on the left side of the menu pertain to the inventory data itself. They address operations such as adding records, changing inventory counts, etc. The functions on the right side of the menu pertain to reporting of the inventory data. The operations report the data in a variety of formats. Notice not all of the numbers have been used. This allows for future expansion of the system. *------------------------------------------------------------------* | Lone Pine Programs 80080000 | | Main Menu INMENU | *------------------------------------------------------------------* | | | 1. Maintain Inventory Records | | 2. Maintain Inventory Counts | | 3. Period End Processing | | 4. File Display | | 5. Status Report | | 6. Availability Report | | 7. Movement Log | | 8. Bin Labels | | 9. Price List | | | | | | | | | | | *------------------------------------------------------------------* Please make selection, or press 'F10' to exit To perform any of the above functions, type the number that is shown next to the selection, followed by the 'ENTER' button. After all of the processing is done, press the 'F10' button. This will cause the program to end and control will return back to the disk operating system or to the main manufacturing menu. Briefly the functions are: Maintain Inventory Records This function adds, changes and deletes the inventory records. It is the workhorse of the system. From this option, the basic inventory information is kept current. Maintain Inventory Counts Receipts and issues can be entered into the system through this program. It is used to maintain the on hand inventory count figures. It will not be necessary if some of the other system are used in conjunction with the inventory system. For example, purchasing will update the receipts automatically. Issues in the shop floor control system will update the issues automatically. If this is the only, or perhaps the first system installed, this function must be used to keep the counts accurate. Period End Processing At the end of each month it is necessary to run this program. It adds the month to date figures to the year to date, and it then zeroes out the month to date values. At the end of the year it moves the year to date figures to those for last year. File Display This program produces a display of all of the items that are on the file. Quantities for on-hand, on-order, allocated, and work in process are shown. From these numbers it calculates the quantity that is available to promise to sell or use. The file listing can be displayed on the screen or printed. Status Report A listing that shows the current values for all of the fields in the inventory record. Availability Report This report shows the part number and description along with the cost for each item selected. It shows the on hand, on order, allocated, and work in process quantities. It also shows the dollar value associated with each of these quantities. Movement Logs This is a log of all issue and receipt transactions to the inventory file. Bin Labels This program will print gummed bin labels for all or selected inventory items. Price List This will print a price list of all or selected items on the file. MAINTAIN INVENTORY RECORDS This program adds, changes or deletes records in the inventory file. All of the fields that are in the inventory record can be maintained with this program. To Begin: At the main menu, select function '1'. *------------------------------------------------------------------* | Lone Pine Programs 80080000 | | Maintain Inventory Records INVM0010 | *------------------------------------------------------------------* | Part Num. Substitute | | Descript. Short Name Loc. | | | | Record Type On Hand | | Commodity Code On Order | | Category Allocated | | Unit Of Measure Work In Process | | Weight Avail To Promise | | ABC Code | | Starting Balance | | Make/Buy (M/B) Month To Date | | Last Cost Year To Date | | Std Material Cost Last Year | | Current Labor Cycle Count Code | | Price Last Cycle Count | | Last Receipt | | Last Issue | *------------------------------------------------------------------* Enter number, 'F9' for help or 'F10' to exit Operation: The inventory record is too large to fit on one screen. It is shown and maintained on two screens. The only field that is actually required to run the system is a part number. All of the other fields are supporting information for the inventory system or some of the other related systems. On the first screen enter a part number into the part number field. The system will search the inventory file to determine if the part number is already on file. If the part is not, the prompt line will display, NOT ON FILE - WANT TO ADD ? If this is a new part, answer with 'Y'. The program will then step you through entering all the fields in the record. If the part number was entered in error, respond with 'N'. The screen will restore and wait for another part number to be entered. If the part number is on the file, it will be displayed. The prompt line will then ask, DELETE THIS PART ? A reponse of 'N', or simply pressing the 'ENTER' button will keep the record and continue on with the inquiry or editing process. A 'Y' response will cause the program to ask for confirmation. The prompt line will display, ARE YOU SURE ? Another 'Y' response will delete the record. A response of 'N' or just pressing the 'ENTER' button will keep the record and continue with the inquiry or edit process. NOTE: The system will not allow you to delete a record if there are units in inventory. The item must have zero inventory to be deleted. The fields in both screens are clustered in groups of related information. At the top of both screens, the part number, its description, substitute part number, short name for the part and warehouse location are displayed. The first screen is divided into four more clusters of information. At the top left is the classification data for the part. This information gives further definiton to the part. The bottom left data contains the costing and pricing information. Note that the last cost and average cost (if used) are calculated by the system and are not entered. When posting receipts and issues these values will be determined. There are three fields for prices. After the second and third price is a field to input the quantities that need to be sold in order to qualify for that price. The top right group shows the current physical count status of the part - on hand, on order, allocated, and work in process. The available inventory is calculated by the program and displayed. The bottom right hand column shows usage information. It shows how many parts were on hand at the beginning of the month, how many have been used during the current month, the current year, and the previous year. It also shows the date of the last receipt and the last issue. *------------------------------------------------------------------* | Lone Pine Programs 80080000 | | Maintain Inventory Records INVM0010 | *------------------------------------------------------------------* | Part Num. Substitute | | Descript. Short Name Loc. | | | | Reorder Point Low Level Code | | Maximum On Hand Component Count | | Economic Order Qty Where Used Count | | Lead Time | | Reorder Policy Buyer | | Reorder Cost | | Shrinkage Vendor: | | | | Max Order Qty / / | | Max Order Dollars | | Future Periods / / | | | | Low Level Labor / / | | Low Level Matl | *------------------------------------------------------------------* Do you want to change this portion of the record? The second screen retains the two top lines of information, showing the part number, description, substitute, short name, and location. The top two groups of information in the left hand column contain data that is used by the purchasing system and by the material requirements planning system. The two fields at the bottom left show the labor and material costs that have been accumulated from the lower level components in the bill of materials. These two costs do not include the material and labor costs from the current level in the bill. This means they do not include the labor and material from the first screen. For a further explanation of this, see the bill of materials manual. The next line contains a space for the initials of the person who is responsible for replenishing this item. The bottom right portion of the screen contains the vendor number, the vendor's part number, the date of the last receipt, the quantity received, and the cost on that receipt. This information is shown for the last three receipts. To End: When the program is waiting for a part number on the first screen, press the 'F10' button. This will return control back to the main menu. MAINTAIN INVENTORY COUNTS This program allows the operator to enter receipts and issues of inventory. To Begin: When the main menu is on the screen enter a '2'. *------------------------------------------------------------------* | Lone Pine Programs 80080000 | | Maintain Inventory Counts INVM0020 | *------------------------------------------------------------------* | | | | | | | PART NUMBER ________________ | | | | QUANTITY _______ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | *------------------------------------------------------------------* Operation: The screen will originally be displayed with two prompts - part number and quantity. Enter the part number being reported. The program will find the item in the data base and display its description. If it is not on file a message will so state on the prompt line. Press the 'ENTER' button and the program will wait for another part number to be entered. Next enter the quantity being received or issued. The program will ask if this is a receipt or an issue. If it is an issue, answer with 'I'. This will indicate to the program to update the month to date issues value in the record. The program will then ask for the customer number or the department that the issue is being charged to. Enter the customer number or department and select which of the three prices is being used. The program will then go back to the top of the screen and wait for another part number to be entered. Customer number Price 1 Price 2 Price 3 If the transaction is a receipt, there will also be more information needed. The program will ask for the vendor, the vendor part number (if it is different), and the cost. The most recent cost will display, and will be used as the default cost if no other value is entered. Vendor number Part number Cost The inventory record will have several fields updated with the receipt transaction. The last cost and average cost will be changed if the average cost option has ben chosen. The vendor information will be updated - vendor, vendor part number, cost, last quantity received, and date received. Both transactions will update the on hand quantity information. To End: If all of the transactions have been entered, press the 'F10' button when the program asks for another part number. PERIOD END PROCESSING This function must be run once a month. It replaces the month to date figures with zeroes. To Begin: When the main menu is on the screen, select option '4'. *------------------------------------------------------------------* | Lone Pine Programs 80080000 | | Month End Processing INVP0020 | *------------------------------------------------------------------* | | | | | | | | | | | Is this month end or year end? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | *------------------------------------------------------------------* Please enter 'M' or 'Y' Operation: There is only one piece of information that has to be supplied to the program. Is this month end or year end? It will ask if this is a month end or a year end process. If it is for the end of the year, the year to date information is moved to last year, and the year to date field is zeroed out. If this program has been entered in error, press the 'F10' key to escape before altering the file unintentionally. It is a good idea to make backups of the files before running this program. There could be a power failure or any number of events that might cause the loss of a file while the program is running. Therefore, it is always recommended that backups be made first. To End: The program will return to the main menu when it has completed its work. No operator action is required. REPORTS Wherever appropriate, selection options are provided to allow you to zero in on the information that you are seeking. The selection criteria allow you to look at the data from a range of options. When present, they are consistent from report to report. These selection criteria are: 1. All Items All active part numbers on the inventory file 2. Part Number A particular part number or range of part numbers 3. Short Name An abbreviated, or more generic, name for the item 4. Commodity Code Product type (steel, plastic, etc.) 5. Category Product family or group (pumps, mixers, etc.) 6. Record Type Type of record (material, tool, resource, equipment, etc.) 7. Warehouse All active items by location 8. Below Minimum All active items that have inventory below the established minimum The value and use of the reports is directly related to the care and planning that you utilize when defining the various fields within the inventory record. It is highly recommended that you give serious consideration to making the best use of the fields in the records so that the data can be segmented and analyzed. DESCRIPTION OF THE REPORTS File List This program retrieves data in two ways; on-line and printed copy. The on-line version is a handy lookup to verify what part numbers are on the system as well as to determine current inventory count. The hard copy is an excellent reference document. It should be produced periodically to keep current on part number additions and deletions. Status List This report is a valuable reference and editing document. By reviewing all of the fields for a part number, it is possible to identify omissions or misclassifications. The report can also be kept as a snapshot, at a particular point in time, of the inventory status. Availability List This report provide a calculation of the value of the inventory. By showing the breakout of dollars by on hand, on order, allocated, work in process, and available to use, it is possible to identify potential cash flow bottlenecks. For example, if the value of the 'on order' column appears excessive in relationship to the other columns, it may signal possible lost sales due to an inability to deliver on time. Conversely, a high 'available to use' column may signal over investment in a part if there are no orders to deplete the inventory. The value of knowing how your resources are being employed is important to better inventory management and return on investment. Movement Log Every step should be taken to maintain accurate control over data that goes into the system. Each receipt or issue transaction that is entered into the system is captured. They are all printed out on the Movement Log. This provides an excellent manual audit trail. Bin Labels Labels are printed with this program. They are used as bin markers to help in warehouse organization. Price List Price lists can be printed out for selected portions of the inventory. The price list shows the part number, description, and price of selected items. If an item uses the second and/or the third price, they are also shown along with the quantities required to receive those prices. PRINTING OF REPORTS There are two basic ways to print the various reports. Many of the reports are printed from a selection-menu. This selection-menu allows the user to print the entire file or to just select portions of it. The selection criteria are defined at the beginning of this report section. The others operate without the selection-menu. In this group are reports that print by themselves without any input from the operator, and some that require minimal operator input. Operation: Report Type 1 - printing from a selection-menu The reports that fit into this group are: Report Name Menu Number File List 4 Status 5 Availability 6 Price List 9 If any one of these reports is selected, another selection menu will appear. *------------------------------------------------------------------* | Lone Pine Programs 80080000 | | Print Report | *------------------------------------------------------------------* | | | | | | | Please make a selection | | | | 1. All Items | | 2. Part Number | | 3. Short Name | | 4. Commodity Code | | 5. Category | | 6. Record Type | | 7. Warehouse | | 8. Below Minimum | | | | | | | | | *------------------------------------------------------------------* Make a selection, or press 'F9' for help or press 'F10' to exit Choose one of the options shown and enter its number. Depending upon your choice there might be additional information needed by the program before it can start processing. For example, if the choice was '2' Part Number, the system will need a beginning and an ending part number to print. Number '1' and '8' are the only ones that do not need more information. If number '6' Record Type is chosen, the possible record types are displayed on the screen as a helpful prompt. Choices '4' Commodity Code, '5' Category, and '7' Warehouse, will optionally display all of the codes that have been entered into the system. For example if the choice was to print by warehouse, number '7', a portion of the screen will clear and all of the warehouse codes will display. When any of these report is finished, this selection-menu will be redisplayed. Choose another portion of the file to print or press the 'F10' key to return to the main menu. Report Type 2 - no selection-menu The reports that fall into this group are: Report Name Menu Number Movement Log 7 Bin Labels 8 Of this group, the Movement Log will run by itself without any further information from the operator. When it is finished the system will return to the main menu. The Bin Labels program will need some additional information. It will need to know what part number to start printing with and when to finish printing. You will have to key in a beginning part number and an ending number. Optionally, bin labels can be printed for all items within a specific warehouse. The Bin Label printing program will ask you to do two other things. It will stop and tell you to take the regular paper out of the printer and put in the gummed label paper. After all of the labels have been printed, press the 'F10' key. The program will stop again to remind you to take the gummed label paper out of the printer and put the regular paper back in. To stop printing of any of the reports, press the 'ALT' key and the letter 'C' at the same time. When the print buffer empties, the program will display this message - 'QUIT (Q/A/I)'. Press the letter 'Q' and the printing will cease. **************************** NOTICE ***************************** * * * * * Please register your program. By doing so, you will be able * * to receive phone assistance, as well as, additional program * * updates. You will also be kept informed of other product * * offerings from Lone Pine Programs. Thank-you for your * * support. * * * ******************************************************************* ----------------end-of-author's-documentation--------------- Software Library Information: This disk copy provided as a service of The Public (Software) Library We are not the authors of this program, nor are we associated with the author in any way other than as a distributor of the program in accordance with the author's terms of distribution. Please direct shareware payments and specific questions about this program to the author of the program, whose name appears elsewhere in this documentation. 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