Supply Chain Management and its parts Warehouse Management System, Consignments, Shipment Picking and Packing, Delivery Trucks Route Optimization is based on Barcode scanning, RFID, real time or batch mode integration of scanned data with Microsoft Dynamics GP Distributions set of modules. Distributions series in Great Plains include Sales Order Processing, Purchase Order Processing, Inventory Control and extensions to these modules, such as Purchase Confugurator (simple MRP solution). When you are selecting WMS or another part of SCM, it is often reasonable to expect some customization budget, as in such processes as Sales Order Allocation, Merchandize Purchase Receipts companies have their own unique way of competing on the SCM network. In this small paper we would like to emphasize how WMS could be realized for Microsoft Dynamics GP:
1. WMS as extension to Sales Order Processing, Purchase Order Processing and Inventory Control. Sometimes you see also Bill of Materials (if you do picking and packing or simple manufacturing) or even several modules from Great Plains Manufacturing suite. Inventory intersite transfers, physical count, adjustments are done in WMS by exposing Inventory Transactions to Barcode scanning. Sales Order Fulfillment is typically done in SOP Sales Order by enabling manual line allocation via barcode scanning. Similar in Purchase Order processing module, you expose to barcoding Purchase Receipt for WMS inventory replenishment functionality
2. Selecting WMS Technology Partner. While Dynamics GP pool of resellers could include CPA oriented organizations, typically tuned to do Corporate ERP Software licenses sale and generic implementation – if your goal is real Barcoding, Logistics and WMS modules and logic implementation may require additional homework and background check in picking your Microsoft Dynamics GP VAR and ISV. Barcoding itself is pretty challenging in such technologies as RFID, handheld devices, programming for Barcode scanner Operating System (fitting to small screen dimensions and scaling down WMS client). You should be sure that your proposed Dynamics GP Barcode Partner has large number of SCM and WMS successful implementations under its belt
3. How to get additional info? Please, call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com We’ll try to do the best for local service in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, California, Texas, Georgia from our offices in Chicago, Naperville, San Diego, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta
Modern Warehouse Management, Picking and Packing, Shipping and Receiving, Assembly or Discrete Manufacturing oriented enterprises in Michigan and USA nationwide often require Barcode Scanning automation. In this publication we are describing Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly known as Great Plains Dynamics) Barcoding add-ons and technologies, in order to give you sort of orientation session. If you already have your Corporate ERP system implemented on Dynamics GP platform or if you in ERP and MRP system selection phase – this should be good initial info for deciding what is the next in your homework:
1. Dynamics GP and Supply Chain Management. In Great Plains you have Distributions set of modules: Inventory Control, Sales Order Processing, Purchase Order Processing, Bill of Materials plus Manufacturing suite (which is good fit for generic discrete manufacturing). SCM functionality is technically in the Distributions modules, however if you need SCM routines to be performed on the warehouse floor with barcoding – you do need either integrated External standalone WMS or various SCM system integrated with Dynamics GP Distributions modules, or the second option would be implementing Dynamics GP WMS, SCM extensions
2. External WMS or SCM versus Extensions. External Warehouse Management Systems are typically more established and they have integration packages or connectors to major ERP applications, including such popular ones as Microsoft Dynamics GP, AX, NAV. However external WMS might be a bit too complex and you would potentially need to pay for the same Supply Chain Management functionality, which you already have (and paid for) in Dynamics GP Distributions modules, for example. External WMS also might be geared toward large Wholesalers, Retailers and Warehouse managing companies, as its integration may require pilot testing phase and further customization. We are favoring WMS and SCM extensions versus recommending External Warehouse Management Systems
3. WMS extensions technology. Barcode scanner is tiny device, which runs its own operating system, where WMS client application should be running. This is one of the reasons to deploy very simple and conservative programming tools (pre .Net), such as Visual Basic. WMS client talks to WMS Server – typically Windows Server or Workstation, which is in its turn connected to your office Ethernet (or Optical if you expect high level of Barcode scanning, or Wireless – if you are smaller operations) and communicates scanned records to Dynamics GP Server via ODBC connection and direct SQL feeding (we have special technology layer – Order Connector)
4. How to request further information. Please call us 1-866-528-0577, if you are located in Southern, Central and Eastern Michigan – we are serving you from our Benton Harbor/St. Joseph location. If you are in USA Nationwide or internationally we are serving you from our Headquarters in Chicago, or San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County California, Houston offices
Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Great Plains Dynamics has reasonably powerful set of Distribution modules: Sales Order Processing, Purchase Order Processing, Inventory Control. Plus its integrations and customizations technologies, such as GP Dexterity, Integration Manager, eConnect as well as generic SQL ODBC connection based querying – open Dynamics GP for SCM extensions, such as Warehouse Management System, Picking and Packing, Shipping and Receiving, EDI fulfillments, Consignment and other Barcode Scanning based modules. In this small publication we would like to review Barcoding for Great Plains and such existing add-ons as WMS, Truck Route Delivery Optimizer in Consignment:
1. Barcoding for Dynamics GP. Barcode scanner if connected directly to your Great Plains user workstation bearing computer works the same way as simple keyboard entering. The problem however begins when you need to open new screen, switch from one field to another, as barcode scanner is not really intended to work with Graphical Screens of your Corporate ERP application. Instead, scanner works in programmed step-by-step sequence of commands – in the new generation of scanners you may have graphical interface with simple screens, walking you through the scanning of one document with several item lines or even the batch of documents. This is one of the reasons to deploy Barcoding extensions and enabling applications
2. Warehouse Management System for Dynamics GP. Being mid-market ERP and MRP platform, Great Plains already has major pieces of WMS functionality: Order Fulfillment (SOP Order Line manual allocation), Inventory Restocking (POP Purchase Receipts), Inventory Transfers and Adjustments (as Inventory Control transactions). Technically WMS, having WMS client and Server are exposing SOP Transaction, POP Purchase Receipt, Inventory Transaction to the Barcode scanner logic. WMS client runs directly on the Barcode Scanner Operating System, this application is coded in VB to secure simplicity and low computer resources consumption requirements. WMS Client talks to WMS Server, which is hosted on Windows computer, connected to your Ethernet or in the case of lower level of transactions, via Wireless to your Dynamics GP SQL Server via ODBC connection. Transactions from your Warehouse floor barcode scanning are integrated to Dynamics GP in the real time mode
3. Picking and Packing on the Warehouse floor. Here you might be looking at more complex items allocation, where you would like to deploy Lot Numbering, Bins, Serial numbering, consolidation into containers with possible including of GP Bill of Materials, as you may be assembling the shipment to the customer as the kit or number of parts, ready to be assembled onsite into finished final unit. Another scenario is when you are cutting length from rolls, and records remaining length toward the roll serial number
4. How to request further information? Please, call us 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com We provide USA, Canada nationwide service plus local service is available in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County California, Houston
Barcoding for Microsoft Dynamics GP often requires unique business logic addition. This means that out-of-the-shelf barcode add-ons for GP might not do what you need and you have to take so-called custom solution way. In this small publication we are offering Barcode highlights, and how this solution could be implemented and customized.
1. Printing Barcodes. Barcode printing can be performed from the Purchase Receipt Entry window, when the purchase receipt transaction is entered, or on demand, for any inventory item, from the Item Card window. The format of the barcode label can be changed easily because it is a Crystal Report. We typically recommend using a simple barcoding standard, such as 3 of 9. It is important to decide if your client wants to simply barcode item numbers or if they also want to barcode serial numbers/lot numbers.
2. Inventory Transfers. We offer two options: transfers via a regular GP client (on a workstation) or via a handheld wireless scanner. The inventory transfer via the regular GP client is done through a modified Inventory Transfer window, where the user simply determines the FROM and TO sites and then the user can scan all barcodes representing the items to be transferred.
3. The solution in the handheld wireless scanner requires a few additional hardware and software components (such as wireless routers, the scanner itself, and Wavelink, a wireless application manager). These components significantly add costs to the project and are only applicable if the warehouse users need the mobility offered by such solution. The functionality is similar to the one offered by the desktop version.
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