In this issue:

A Call to Action for Manufacturers

Like everyone, there’s no shortage of articles and reports vying for my time – and quite often barely enough time to evaluate which merit undivided attention.  But one recently greatly resonated with me, for the points it stressed are top-of-mind with many manufacturing executives I’ve met and spoken with recently.
    
The piece was a transcript of a keynote speech at the fifth annual Progressive Manufacturing Summit in June, given by David R. Brousell, editor-in-chief of Managing Automation. In the past year, due to the economic crisis and the acceleration of many trends in place for some time, “developments have forced us to question many basic assumptions,” he declares.  He posed the critical question of “what builds lasting value?” – linking it inseparably with “what is the future of manufacturing itself?”  He cites GM’s recent bankruptcy as a seismic event that crystallizes the importance of asking – and answering – these questions. 

“Globalization, new rules of competition, pervasive new technologies” present both “a threat and an opportunity,” he said.  The theme for this year’s summit was “Redefinition of the Business of Manufacturing.”   He stressed that the theme highlights the importance of our “need to redo or rediscover” the essential qualities that create real value for our organizations. The recession, he stated, should serve as a “reality check” on the notion that a “service-based economy” provides a sufficient base to build our future on.

Brousell entitled his speech “A Call to Action.”  And he doesn’t shy from articulating his terms for such action.  To read the full transcript, click here.  

Regards,
Mark Lilly

User Conference Update
October 25 - 28
Providence Marriott Downtown
Providence, Rhode Island
Register

We are pleased to announce that a very special guest speaker will be helping to kick-off this year’s VISUAL User Education Conference. 

Resli Costabell, an award-winning international speaker, trainer and coach, will lead an interactive keynote session especially designed to help people enhance their motivating and influencing skills.  Resli has worked with a diverse mix of clients, including: Disney, Ford Motor Company, Procter & Gamble, Caterpillar, IBM, and Barclays Bank.

She will show you simple, powerful creative techniques that top influencers use, and you will be able to apply these right away in your business and personal life.  Previous participants have reported such astonishingly positive results as getting a teenager to clean his bedroom. But at the same time, Resli delivers her insight in an entertaining style, and with a healthy dose of energy to get everyone primed for the days ahead.

So be sure to arrive with an open mind and an eagerness to learn not just new tips and techniques in and around the VISUAL system, but also tips on how to get the most out of your team and your organization.

If you haven’t registered already, be sure to take advantage of discounted pricing through September 4th and save $200.

• Early Bird Registration:  $1,300.00 (Register by September 4, 2009)
• General Registration:  $1,500.00 (Register by October 9, 2009)

Click to view more registration details

Dealing with an increase in customer order errors?

While receiving error-free documents from your customers is the ideal, the reality is that today’s economy has resulted in staff shortages and therefore shifted the burden of error correction to you, the supplier.  And since the passage of time means cost bleeding will continue, what can be done to address this costly issue?

DCS, (Data Communications Solutions – a Synergy Resources’ EDI Partner) recommends the deployment of a semi-automated method of processing these transactions.  This permits you more time to scrutinize Releases, DELJITS, PO’s and other customer orders.

How does this work:
Specifically, the Releases (Forecasts, 830 or DELFOR format) can be brought into the Material Planning Window, and then suspended pending manual intervention.

The new process has “buckets” where orders are created.  This occurs the first time a Release is received for that particular purchase order number, part number, and ship date.  Each time a new Release is received, the item information is updated.  When a revised date appears, a new order is created. 

The process creates orders by customer number, ship-to, part number, and ship date – you know by looking in Customer Order Entry.

If you wish to suspend an order, it remains in VISUAL with a Hold Status that can later be approved manually.

Additionally, for customers not sending Releases, EDI orders can be set to create Sales Orders.

The cost to deploy this solution depends upon the number of customers you have.  Typically, the first customer takes about a week and the subsequent 2 days.  As a plus, after a few are complete, you may be able to add others yourself. 

To learn how you can take the first step toward gaining control over your incoming customer orders, contact Donna LaMontagne for more information.

Get information about other VISUAL Product Extensions anytime on the Synergy Resources Customer Portal. Simply log-in to the customer portal and view the list of recorded product presentations on our Product Portal page. 
View a summary of all product extensions.

Recorded webinar sessions available now include:

• Report Launcher & Scheduler
• Customer & Vendor Portals
• Web Services/Business Objects
• Lean Scheduling
• VISUAL Time & Attendance
• Priority Manager
• Synoptix Business Intelligence
• VISUAL Quality Recorded Presentation
• EDI Solution for Visual
• SaaS Hosting Recorded Presentation

Ask about Infor's 0% Financing Program (Benefit Now - Pay Later)

The recent global economic down turn has forced everyone to consider scaling back their spending and defer previously justified IT initiatives. And the age old payment paradigm of "Pay Now - Benefit Later" (i.e. Net30 terms of payment) is driving many decisions, to do nothing now - and wait till later. Infor FINANCING is making buying easy by empowering customers with the ability to amortize the payment of Infor software and support over a 24 month period at 0% interest.
Please contact Donna LaMontagne with any additional questions.