Integrating Inventory Management with Other Modules

The Inventory Management module can operate on a stand-alone basis, or other modules can be integrated with Inventory Management to take full advantage of the information stored in the system. When integrated, each accounting module shares common information with any related modules. Sharing eliminates any double entry of information already stored within the system.

The following modules can be integrated with the Inventory Management module.

General Ledger

The General Ledger module is the key to integrating all financial information from the Inventory Management module, and from other accounting modules. General Ledger provides complete, timely financial reports, which consistently reflect current information.

All journal entries generated from Inventory Management are posted directly to the general ledger following the printing and updating of the Daily Transaction Register. The financial statements and other General Ledger reports printed after the update of the Daily Transaction Register reflect postings on the register.

The General Ledger module, when installed, is assumed to be integrated with Inventory Management unless the General Ledger check box is cleared in Inventory Management Options. If the check box is cleared, Inventory Management makes no postings to the general ledger following the Daily Transaction Register printing. If General Ledger is not installed, the General Ledger check box determines whether or not Inventory Management posts the journal entries to the General Ledger Detail Posting file.

Sales Order

The Sales Order module is not a stand-alone module; it must be integrated with the Accounts Receivable module. The Sales Order, Purchase Order, and Inventory Management modules provide a comprehensive Sales Order system that simultaneously tracks all inventory activity.

When used in conjunction with these modules, the Sales Order module allows you to print sales orders, invoices, picking sheets, shipping labels, and back order reports using information from the Inventory Management and Accounts Receivable files. Extensive daily and monthly reports are available to recap sales by item, product line, customer, and division. As sales orders are entered, customer credit limits and inventory stock are checked. Prices are calculated based on the price schedules established for the item and the customer price level. If an item is out of stock, a list of alternate items can be displayed for selection.

When a sales kit item is entered in Sales Order Invoice Data Entry or Sales Order Entry, the component items can be added to the order. This component detail information can then be modified using Sales Order Invoice Data Entry or Sales Order Entry to accommodate specific kit configurations.

Purchase Order

The Purchase Order module is not a stand-alone module; it must be integrated with the Accounts Payable module. The Purchase Order module can also be integrated with Inventory Management. When used in conjunction with these modules, the Purchase Order module provides a fully-integrated purchasing and inventory system.

All invoices that are posted to the Accounts Payable module as purchase orders are received through the Purchase Order module. In addition, you can inquire into the status of all open purchase orders for each vendor. If the Purchase Order module is integrated with Inventory Management, items ordered and received are posted directly to inventory. You can also inquire into the status of open purchase orders for each item. Purchase orders can be generated automatically based on Inventory Management reorder requirements.

Job Cost

The Job Cost module allows you to post the cost of inventory items to a job. The Job Cost files are then updated to reflect all job-related inventory transactions. A detailed report of job distribution information is also provided.

When the Job Cost module is integrated with Inventory Management, Transaction Entry can be used to issue inventory items to a specific job number and cost code/cost type. The Daily Transaction Register lists distribution information for the inventory items issued. During the Daily Transaction Register update, the issued items are removed from inventory and the appropriate costs are posted to the designated Job Cost files.

To integrate the Job Cost module with Inventory Management, the Job Cost check box must be selected in Inventory Management Options. For a description of integrating Inventory Management with the Job Cost module, refer to the Job Cost Help system.

Bill of Materials

The Bill of Materials module allows you to keep a detailed record of the components and miscellaneous charges that make up your finished items and subassembly components. These records, in turn, provide important cost information for making purchasing and pricing decisions.

The Bill of Materials module provides comprehensive capabilities that exceed those provided by the single-level Sales Kit Maintenance task. The Bill of Materials module supports up to 99 levels of subassemblies. Multiple revisions of a single bill can be maintained separately, and engineering change order information can be maintained for each bill.

The Bill of Materials module supports bills with different configuration options. Up to nine option categories can be defined for each bill, and each category can consist of any number of option selections. You can specify the actual configuration of a bill when exploding the components for reporting and production entry.

Production Entry allows you to record the manufacturing of finished goods. During the Production Entry Register update, the quantity of the finished goods produced is recorded as a receipt, and the components of the finished goods are issued based on the bill of materials.

Comprehensive reports, including Indented Bill of Materials Report, Indented Where-Used Report, Costed Bill of Materials Report, and Component Requirement Report, provide up-to-date information detailing the structure of your bills. These reports also detail where individual components are used, and which components must be purchased to fill anticipated orders.

Work Order

Routing information can be assigned to specific items to be produced. In addition, work centers and operation codes can be assigned to each routing step. When work orders are created, you can print work order travelers, picking sheets, dispatch sheets, and operation tickets. Work Order Transaction Entry allows you to record activity for a work order, including work order release, material issue, labor, miscellaneous labor charge, miscellaneous material charge, outside processing charge, work order completion, and work order close transactions. Work orders can be completed to inventory, to a sales order, or to another work order.

The Work Order module requires integration with the Inventory Management module. When the Work Order module is installed, the quantities required for work orders and quantities-on-work orders are tracked for each inventory item. Work Order Inquiry and Item Inquiry allow you to display outstanding work orders for an inventory item. The Back Order Fill Report includes a list of work orders requiring an item received if the Print WOs on Back Order Fill Report check box is selected in Work Order Options.

Material Requirements Planning

The Material Requirements Planning (MRP) module looks at current inventory levels to plan material acquisitions. The MRP module provides information to the purchasing and production departments so that they can maintain sufficient amounts of materials on hand at all times.