Parts Ordering

[Honest Engine]

That's a simplistic title for this topic, but I have a specific concern. Is there an obvious technique that I'm missing for being able to look at an RO and know whether parts have been ordered or not? I may order parts, or my advisor may order parts, and once in awhile, we double up on it, because we don't have any visual indicator on the RO that parts have already been ordered.

From an intuitive point of view, it seems that the parts that have been ordered might get a little flag next to them, or even change color, if the "order parts" button has been pressed. Aside from that glaring omission, is there some other easy way to look at an RO and know if the parts were ever ordered?

[ricmorin]

Are you using PO's? If you are, just look to see if there any PO's made yet. Also, are you ordering electronically? If parts are ordered electronically, they don't come back as 'needed' a second time. Just need a little more info on your process.

[Honest Engine]

I'm not using PO's. I am ordering electronically (so the RO number essentially becomes a PO for the vendor), and what you're saying about them disappearing from the parts ordering screen USED to be the case in 5.9, but since I've updated to 6.4, those parts will come up for order every time I hit the parts ordering button. So I can order those parts 15 times, and it will still prompt me to order them again if I hit the parts ordering button.

Seems like, as soon as your order goes through, there should be some flag that's set that would signal the user that parts have been ordered.

[ricmorin]

So you don't have the Inventory module? If you were using PO's, it would be easy to see who ordered what. I couldn't imagine not using PO's. If you need that level of control, I suggest you need PO's.

[Honest Engine]

I'm not using the inventory module, though I had that on the 5.9 version. Didn't use it, as I don't see a need to add every part to inventory and track it that way. The only things I kept on inventory lists were common items: filters, fluids, etc.

Seems like not such a hard thing to make happen, yet I had the same issue with RO Writer back when I used that. :shrug: I guess we'll stick with the poking your head into the front office and shouting, "Hey, did you order that?" technique.

[timbre4]

Or to look at it a different way... it's not just about what you choose to stock.

There had to be a line drawn somewhere between two levels of Manager product, "Inventory" has been the name we've used since its introduction in 1997. It predates electronic parts catalogs and just-in-time ordering when shops stocked more than today.

While it's true you may stock only a fraction of what you used to or nothing, the Purchase Order provides the vessel to completely manage the parts ordering process. It should also be mentioned that you'd gain 44 additional parts specific reports to provide all kinds of oversight for parts planning.

It addresses your specific business and then some; anybody from any workstation can answer this question without waiting on anybody else.

[Honest Engine]

Interesting. I just started poking around, and on the "Order Options" window, there is no longer a purchase order or pick list button that I can select. Honestly, I haven't noticed it was gone, it apparently went away when I moved up to 6.X.

Can I not use PO's without having the Inventory module? It's not that I'm opposed to using the inventory module..... my rep just sort of suggested that I don't really need it for what I'm doing.

Which brings this topic right back around on the guitar, so to speak: lacking all of the Inventory/PO options, how can I look at an RO and know whether someone has clicked the "order parts" button?

[timbre4]

They are dimmed out in your Options because your SE is a Manager level version.

Product marketing strategy is that these functions are all related and thus offered together. [PW/PDL/Cruise, etc.]

[Honest Engine]

Roger that. I'm not convinced that it's the solution to today's query, but I'll note that for future reference. Thanks.

[liljoe]

On the parts ordering screen make sure the box for show parts needed is checked and not the box for show all parts. This might be the answer you are looking for. If the parts have been ordered, they do not show uo when the box for show the parts needed is checked.

[Honest Engine]

On the parts ordering screen make sure the box for show parts needed is checked and not the box for show all parts. This might be the answer you are looking for. If the parts have been ordered, they do not show uo when the box for show the parts needed is checked.

I have the appropriate box checked on that. I've tried playing with it both ways, it doesn't change for some reason. But like I said, it used to work that way, for some reason it doesn't now, and this is across all five machines in my shop.

:shrug:

I guess I just learn to live with it. My service writer and I just have to communicate better about "I've ordered parts for Jones" etc. I'll also run this by my Mitchell rep next time I talk to him.

[steven kiser]

Not for nothing but, when you updated did you do all stations? One time i didn't and when i updated the next time and did it threw a few things out of whack.

By no means an expert here and if and when i'm correct about computer stuff it's pure luck. However i do know that i can rely on Mitchell support to drag me out of the mire.

[Honest Engine]

Good question, Steven. Yep, I hit all of the machines with the update.

I'll get the Mitchell guy in here in the near future. He won't have an answer, but he'll research it and come up with something, probably.

[ricmorin]

No offense, but this has been answered. You upgraded from 5.9 with inventory to SE 6.4 without. It's the fact that you no longer have the inventory module that's causing the difference. There is no other answer. Upgrade back to inventory like you had and you'll be all set.

[Honest Engine]

I hear what you're saying, Ric. I understand that I can "pay more" for that feature, of which I won't use 99% of its capability.

Rather, I'd like to see Mitchell implement a simple software fix.... or maybe my rep has a workaround that he can help me with. The fact that I can simply "upgrade" not withstanding, I think this can be a better product than it is by making some simple changes to make the software more intuitive and user friendly.

Which, frankly, is the reason I bought the software in the first place: for its ease of use and intuitive interface. But that doesn't mean it can't be better.

[ricmorin]

Perhaps upgrade is the wrong word. You said you had inventory with 5.9, yes? So in fact you downgraded when you switched to 6.4 without inventory. So my suggestion should have said to get what you had before, then you'd have the same features.

[Rich]

We have used PO's so long I dont remember being without them. However, when we order parts from a non-electronic place, IE dealers. I enter the part number, description, quantity, cost list and the Vendor. I do NOT enter ANYTHING in the Manufacturer Code field. When I get the parts I enter the Manufacturer field which mirrors the dealer info to a point. (dealer name Traverse City Motors, manufactor code is TCVW) Thus when i look at the RO I can see what is here and what isn't.

Okay so that was a long story and what the heck is gonna do to help you? Perhaps YOU can leave the Manufacture line BLANK, untill the part is ordered, then you could enter it. When you look at the RO the lines show up and you know what is ordered and what isn't.

Just an idea, may never work. But try it.