whereby the quantitative amounts of the sales forecast are applied across your existing operational capacities. You then have a month-to-month detailed report showing how the increase affects all aspects of your company, in order to fulfil the forecast. Do you have outside processing? They will need to know if volumes are going up in 6 months just as much as your Operations people do. Your ERP system should be able to show your outside processing as well. Now, armed with this level of
detail, it is much easier to suggest to your Purchasing Manager that he/she renegotiate delivery and pricing for next year.
You will also be armed with accurate
information to justify the capital expense of adding more capacity. Reviewing the charts above, it is
clear that not only may it be time to consider adding another robot dipping line. This can be an expensive endeavor, but not fulfilling the orders may be even more expensive. All of this information is now based
on facts associated with your ERP system’s awareness of all the factors that go into tracking your actual costs to produce the products you make. Gone are the ego-based assertions that can sometimes affect the planning process. Now you are working with hard, visual information making the choice easier to explain and move forward with. Sales forecasting is important,
but it must contain operational and material details that all too often are not readily available in a hand crafted Excel spreadsheet.
About B&L Information Systems B&L Information Systems is the global leader in cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for foundries, die casters and investment casters. Since 1976, B&L has implemented their unique ERP solutions at over 500 metalcasting operations, making their cloud-based Odyssey ERP match how metalcasters operate. With Odyssey, metalcasters maximize their resources, minimize costs, and make better decisions faster. For more information, visit
www.blinfo.com.
®
About the Author
Patrick McCrevan has been with B&L Information Systems since 2006 - first providing technical customer support and then in business development helping potential customers understand the benefits of ERP. Prior to joining B&L Information Systems, McCrevan spent 20 years with a software firm whose MRP solutions included shop floor production and
process monitoring systems for scheduling, quality systems, production reporting, maintenance planning, and labor tracking. McCrevan is an Air Force veteran and received an Associates of Arts and Sciences in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Northeastern University. He also holds an Associate’s degree in Accounting from Southwestern Michigan College and has participated in manufacturing quality certification (ASQC) classes at Indiana University-South Bend.
Investment Casting Thermal Processing Crucibles & Ladles Kiln Furniture 24 West End Drive
Gilberts, IL 60136 USA 800-756-8794
www.seleeac.com
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