Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory

Yahoo Archive
1
Thanks mark!



Rob Bucek

Production Control Manager

PH: (715) 284-5376 ext 311

Mobile: (715)896-0590

FAX: (715)284-4084

<http://www.dsmfg.com/>

(Click the logo to view our site) <http://www.dsmfg.com/>





From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Sprowles, Mark
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 12:20 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory





We started cycle counting in 8.03 and it worked fine. We have since
moved to 9.04.506c and they have completely rewritten the cycle count
function. Many parts of the 9.04.506c cycle count function are bug
riddled to the point of uselessness, (mostly the report in ABC calc and
the blank tags. The report function within the calc doesn't work at all
and the system will not accept any count for a part that is assigned to
a blank tag, making the blank tags useless). Epicor says that these two
should be fixed in 507 which has been pushed out to 12/17... It is
useable, (with some custom band-aids), right now but if they get it
fixed it will be a very nice function.

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> ] On
Behalf Of Rob Bucek
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 12:53 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory

To further this discussion, I'm curious for anyone doing cycle counting,
are they doing it using the cycle counting available in Vantage? If so,
what do you think about it? Is it efficient, effective, or buggy and
cumbersome?

Rob Bucek

Production Control Manager

PH: (715) 284-5376 ext 311

Mobile: (715)896-0590

FAX: (715)284-4084

<http://www.dsmfg.com/>

(Click the logo to view our site) <http://www.dsmfg.com/>

From: vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>]
On Behalf
Of Sprowles, Mark
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:05 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory

We use a mix of value and usage to determine which parts are counted. We
much prefer cycle counting over a physical inventory. This way we have
small group of people that are very knowledgeable about our parts
counting regularly instead of a massive group of people that may or may
not know what each part even looks like doing a blitzkrieg count once a
year. We believe our accuracy rating is much higher for this reason. The
only problem we have is with Sarbanes Oxley audits. We are a publicly
traded company and thus under the ridiculous burden of Sarbanes Oxley.
The auditors have little to no experience with cycle counting and thus
it is a real fight to have them audit our inventory. If you too have to
worry about SOX then be very, very clear in your cycle count procedures;
especially where part categorization and count selection is concerned.

Hope that helps!

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On
Behalf Of schmangy20000
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:25 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory

This year we went from shutting down production for our yearly inventory
to regular cycle counts. There are several pros and cons to both
methods.

Doing a yearly inventory has an advantage in that, material handlers,
supervisors and other support staff are involved and can help locate and
move parts to count. In addition, production is halted, parts are no
longer moving through production and all staff are focussed on counting
as their priority.

Regular Cycle Counting allows greater flexibility for scheduling and
provides more time and care for tracking variances.

I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding these 2 methods of counting
inventory. I would also like to know if you count all your parts at
least once a year or just items that are over a certain cost etc.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2
This year we went from shutting down production for our yearly inventory to regular cycle counts. There are several pros and cons to both methods.

Doing a yearly inventory has an advantage in that, material handlers, supervisors and other support staff are involved and can help locate and move parts to count. In addition, production is halted, parts are no longer moving through production and all staff are focussed on counting as their priority.

Regular Cycle Counting allows greater flexibility for scheduling and provides more time and care for tracking variances.

I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding these 2 methods of counting inventory. I would also like to know if you count all your parts at least once a year or just items that are over a certain cost etc.
3
We use a mix of value and usage to determine which parts are counted. We much prefer cycle counting over a physical inventory. This way we have small group of people that are very knowledgeable about our parts counting regularly instead of a massive group of people that may or may not know what each part even looks like doing a blitzkrieg count once a year. We believe our accuracy rating is much higher for this reason. The only problem we have is with Sarbanes Oxley audits. We are a publicly traded company and thus under the ridiculous burden of Sarbanes Oxley. The auditors have little to no experience with cycle counting and thus it is a real fight to have them audit our inventory. If you too have to worry about SOX then be very, very clear in your cycle count procedures; especially where part categorization and count selection is concerned.

Hope that helps!

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of schmangy20000
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:25 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory



This year we went from shutting down production for our yearly inventory to regular cycle counts. There are several pros and cons to both methods.

Doing a yearly inventory has an advantage in that, material handlers, supervisors and other support staff are involved and can help locate and move parts to count. In addition, production is halted, parts are no longer moving through production and all staff are focussed on counting as their priority.

Regular Cycle Counting allows greater flexibility for scheduling and provides more time and care for tracking variances.

I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding these 2 methods of counting inventory. I would also like to know if you count all your parts at least once a year or just items that are over a certain cost etc.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
4
To further this discussion, I'm curious for anyone doing cycle counting,
are they doing it using the cycle counting available in Vantage? If so,
what do you think about it? Is it efficient, effective, or buggy and
cumbersome?







Rob Bucek

Production Control Manager

PH: (715) 284-5376 ext 311

Mobile: (715)896-0590

FAX: (715)284-4084

<http://www.dsmfg.com/>

(Click the logo to view our site) <http://www.dsmfg.com/>





From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Sprowles, Mark
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:05 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory





We use a mix of value and usage to determine which parts are counted. We
much prefer cycle counting over a physical inventory. This way we have
small group of people that are very knowledgeable about our parts
counting regularly instead of a massive group of people that may or may
not know what each part even looks like doing a blitzkrieg count once a
year. We believe our accuracy rating is much higher for this reason. The
only problem we have is with Sarbanes Oxley audits. We are a publicly
traded company and thus under the ridiculous burden of Sarbanes Oxley.
The auditors have little to no experience with cycle counting and thus
it is a real fight to have them audit our inventory. If you too have to
worry about SOX then be very, very clear in your cycle count procedures;
especially where part categorization and count selection is concerned.

Hope that helps!

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> ] On
Behalf Of schmangy20000
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:25 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory

This year we went from shutting down production for our yearly inventory
to regular cycle counts. There are several pros and cons to both
methods.

Doing a yearly inventory has an advantage in that, material handlers,
supervisors and other support staff are involved and can help locate and
move parts to count. In addition, production is halted, parts are no
longer moving through production and all staff are focussed on counting
as their priority.

Regular Cycle Counting allows greater flexibility for scheduling and
provides more time and care for tracking variances.

I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding these 2 methods of counting
inventory. I would also like to know if you count all your parts at
least once a year or just items that are over a certain cost etc.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
5
We started cycle counting in 8.03 and it worked fine. We have since moved to 9.04.506c and they have completely rewritten the cycle count function. Many parts of the 9.04.506c cycle count function are bug riddled to the point of uselessness, (mostly the report in ABC calc and the blank tags. The report function within the calc doesn't work at all and the system will not accept any count for a part that is assigned to a blank tag, making the blank tags useless). Epicor says that these two should be fixed in 507 which has been pushed out to 12/17... It is useable, (with some custom band-aids), right now but if they get it fixed it will be a very nice function.

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob Bucek
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 12:53 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory



To further this discussion, I'm curious for anyone doing cycle counting,
are they doing it using the cycle counting available in Vantage? If so,
what do you think about it? Is it efficient, effective, or buggy and
cumbersome?

Rob Bucek

Production Control Manager

PH: (715) 284-5376 ext 311

Mobile: (715)896-0590

FAX: (715)284-4084

<http://www.dsmfg.com/>

(Click the logo to view our site) <http://www.dsmfg.com/>

From: vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>] On Behalf
Of Sprowles, Mark
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:05 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory

We use a mix of value and usage to determine which parts are counted. We
much prefer cycle counting over a physical inventory. This way we have
small group of people that are very knowledgeable about our parts
counting regularly instead of a massive group of people that may or may
not know what each part even looks like doing a blitzkrieg count once a
year. We believe our accuracy rating is much higher for this reason. The
only problem we have is with Sarbanes Oxley audits. We are a publicly
traded company and thus under the ridiculous burden of Sarbanes Oxley.
The auditors have little to no experience with cycle counting and thus
it is a real fight to have them audit our inventory. If you too have to
worry about SOX then be very, very clear in your cycle count procedures;
especially where part categorization and count selection is concerned.

Hope that helps!

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> ] On
Behalf Of schmangy20000
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:25 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory

This year we went from shutting down production for our yearly inventory
to regular cycle counts. There are several pros and cons to both
methods.

Doing a yearly inventory has an advantage in that, material handlers,
supervisors and other support staff are involved and can help locate and
move parts to count. In addition, production is halted, parts are no
longer moving through production and all staff are focussed on counting
as their priority.

Regular Cycle Counting allows greater flexibility for scheduling and
provides more time and care for tracking variances.

I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding these 2 methods of counting
inventory. I would also like to know if you count all your parts at
least once a year or just items that are over a certain cost etc.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
6
We would also like to use cycle counting, but in the version of Vantage we're on, 8.03.409A, the auto selection of parts includes items with a zero balance. We have > 180,000 part records, but only 17,000 or so with inventory. How do we get the auto select program to only select parts with a balance on hand? We do not have the resources to count zero balance parts.

Thanks
--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "Sprowles, Mark" <msprowles@...> wrote:
>
> We use a mix of value and usage to determine which parts are counted. We much prefer cycle counting over a physical inventory. This way we have small group of people that are very knowledgeable about our parts counting regularly instead of a massive group of people that may or may not know what each part even looks like doing a blitzkrieg count once a year. We believe our accuracy rating is much higher for this reason. The only problem we have is with Sarbanes Oxley audits. We are a publicly traded company and thus under the ridiculous burden of Sarbanes Oxley. The auditors have little to no experience with cycle counting and thus it is a real fight to have them audit our inventory. If you too have to worry about SOX then be very, very clear in your cycle count procedures; especially where part categorization and count selection is concerned.
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> ________________________________
> From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of schmangy20000
> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:25 AM
> To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory
>
>
>
> This year we went from shutting down production for our yearly inventory to regular cycle counts. There are several pros and cons to both methods.
>
> Doing a yearly inventory has an advantage in that, material handlers, supervisors and other support staff are involved and can help locate and move parts to count. In addition, production is halted, parts are no longer moving through production and all staff are focussed on counting as their priority.
>
> Regular Cycle Counting allows greater flexibility for scheduling and provides more time and care for tracking variances.
>
> I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding these 2 methods of counting inventory. I would also like to know if you count all your parts at least once a year or just items that are over a certain cost etc.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
7
We had one gentleman dedicated to cycle counting and in 8.03... he entered zero counts for parts w/zero balance. Work intensive but necessary on two points; 1) that is the way 8.03 works and 2) our SOX auditors wanted 0 quantity parts accounted for as well, (to make sure that they we checked I guess). It is a bother but it works...

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of rick.stannard
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 2:08 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Re: Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory



We would also like to use cycle counting, but in the version of Vantage we're on, 8.03.409A, the auto selection of parts includes items with a zero balance. We have > 180,000 part records, but only 17,000 or so with inventory. How do we get the auto select program to only select parts with a balance on hand? We do not have the resources to count zero balance parts.

Thanks
--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>, "Sprowles, Mark" <msprowles@...> wrote:
>
> We use a mix of value and usage to determine which parts are counted. We much prefer cycle counting over a physical inventory. This way we have small group of people that are very knowledgeable about our parts counting regularly instead of a massive group of people that may or may not know what each part even looks like doing a blitzkrieg count once a year. We believe our accuracy rating is much higher for this reason. The only problem we have is with Sarbanes Oxley audits. We are a publicly traded company and thus under the ridiculous burden of Sarbanes Oxley. The auditors have little to no experience with cycle counting and thus it is a real fight to have them audit our inventory. If you too have to worry about SOX then be very, very clear in your cycle count procedures; especially where part categorization and count selection is concerned.
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> ________________________________
> From: vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>] On Behalf Of schmangy20000
> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:25 AM
> To: vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory
>
>
>
> This year we went from shutting down production for our yearly inventory to regular cycle counts. There are several pros and cons to both methods.
>
> Doing a yearly inventory has an advantage in that, material handlers, supervisors and other support staff are involved and can help locate and move parts to count. In addition, production is halted, parts are no longer moving through production and all staff are focussed on counting as their priority.
>
> Regular Cycle Counting allows greater flexibility for scheduling and provides more time and care for tracking variances.
>
> I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding these 2 methods of counting inventory. I would also like to know if you count all your parts at least once a year or just items that are over a certain cost etc.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
8
We are on 8.03.409A. When we press the Start Count button under the Select Parts tab, Vantage asks if we want to include Zero Counts. If you answer yes, it won't generate tags for parts that have a zero QOH in Vantage. The include zero counts question comes up AFTER the auto selection of parts. A word of caution, if a part is listed in two locations and one location has a zero quantity it may cause problems with your automatic selection. We found we need to check for locations with zero counts for parts we enter tag counts for. If you don't, the location with the zero count will continue to cause the part to come up in auto select because that location doesn't have a count date. Confusing isn't it! We spent quite a bit of time testing. I wrote a dashboard that shows the next expected count date calculated from the last count date and the ABC code for each department. That helped our count people understand what may happen during auto selection. We're just starting live cycle counting and I'm sure they'll be lots of things to learn as we go along! Good luck...
Sue

--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "rick.stannard" <rick.stannard@...> wrote:
>
>
> We would also like to use cycle counting, but in the version of Vantage we're on, 8.03.409A, the auto selection of parts includes items with a zero balance. We have > 180,000 part records, but only 17,000 or so with inventory. How do we get the auto select program to only select parts with a balance on hand? We do not have the resources to count zero balance parts.
>
> Thanks
> --- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "Sprowles, Mark" <msprowles@> wrote:
> >
> > We use a mix of value and usage to determine which parts are counted. We much prefer cycle counting over a physical inventory. This way we have small group of people that are very knowledgeable about our parts counting regularly instead of a massive group of people that may or may not know what each part even looks like doing a blitzkrieg count once a year. We believe our accuracy rating is much higher for this reason. The only problem we have is with Sarbanes Oxley audits. We are a publicly traded company and thus under the ridiculous burden of Sarbanes Oxley. The auditors have little to no experience with cycle counting and thus it is a real fight to have them audit our inventory. If you too have to worry about SOX then be very, very clear in your cycle count procedures; especially where part categorization and count selection is concerned.
> >
> > Hope that helps!
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of schmangy20000
> > Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 11:25 AM
> > To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Vantage] Regular Cycle Counts vs. Yearly Inventory
> >
> >
> >
> > This year we went from shutting down production for our yearly inventory to regular cycle counts. There are several pros and cons to both methods.
> >
> > Doing a yearly inventory has an advantage in that, material handlers, supervisors and other support staff are involved and can help locate and move parts to count. In addition, production is halted, parts are no longer moving through production and all staff are focussed on counting as their priority.
> >
> > Regular Cycle Counting allows greater flexibility for scheduling and provides more time and care for tracking variances.
> >
> > I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding these 2 methods of counting inventory. I would also like to know if you count all your parts at least once a year or just items that are over a certain cost etc.
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>