Purchasing, Inventory Control, Internet Tracking,
Data Collection, Traceability & Workflow Management
Purchasing
On-line purchase order processing is supported by purchase requisitions. Purchase orders with the receipt of goods and vendor invoice processing are integrated with accounts payable. Re-order reporting is triggered by the inventory replenishing process and buyers review and approve the purchase orders generated prior to releasing them. Tracking suppliers’ and contractors’ purchase order status is part of the full service supply chain with on-line access to the Internet. The purchasing cost for outside services is allocated by the costing system to projects, jobs, field services and capital projects.
Full Internet Tracking
Tracking of contractors’ activities over the internet improves the flow of materials across the full service supply chain, utility operations, engineering and field services.
Inventory and Warehouse Control
A bin locator is integrated with inventory and warehouse control, purchasing and receiving. Inventory control includes parts, materials, assemblies, kits, equipment software components, transformers, poles and meters by SKU and lot. Recording of the remaining length of an individual wire spool or cable (after cutting-off a piece of it) is part of ‘Roll Stock’ control. Re-ordering is triggered by min/max and safety levels during the MRP – Material Requirement Planning processing run or the re-order point for a set inventory level as part of the inventory replenishment process.
On-line access is provided to the bills of material ‘parts availability check’ and for creating a parts picking list.
Multiple units of measure include length, weight, volume (square footage) and containers for chemicals with conversion to metric or imperial units. Physical inventory ‘wall-to-wall’ or ‘cycle counting’ are available as a standard feature. Inventory costs are posted to the general ledger and the costing system.
On-line Data Collection
R.F., barcoded documents and touch-screen technology support on-line data collection across inventory stores, warehouses, vehicle maintenance and field services.
Traceability
Complete traceability is provided from raw material and parts to finished projects across inventory, warehouse locations by SKU, lot and individual specifications for wire spools, cables and steel coils. Traceability also provides the data for serial number tracking and warranty claims, and for recall of equipment with the appropriate documents appended to legal and accounting records.
Workflow Management
E-mail notification and event triggered action messages are integrated with workflow management to enhance the flow of materials across the full service supply chain and the flow of work through departments.
