Our business sells parts, purchases components for assembly and selling as a whole and also manufacturers parts for sale as is or with components purchased and combined with what we manufacture. Today, as our shop was once again asking me why we couldn't do what they considered a simple task brought me full circle to an issue that I keep submitting enhancements in on but I'm guessing since no change in years, that there must not be others experiencing what we are. Here are two examples of what we wish we could do and the system does not permit without using a workaround (which I'll include so if you have a better way - I'm all ears).
Example # 1
Rebuilding a unit be it a pump, motor, etc (a once new item that has had some component failure, requiring repair)
- Problem: We sell the rebuild unit under the new part # with an EX behind it to indicate it is an exchange/rebuilt unit. 12345-EX can take any combination of say 6-components. When the shop turns in their paperwork only 4 of the 6-components were needed to rebuild the particular unit and so we have to update the components list before being able to properly build the item OR we have to build in full and then adjust of the "ghost" items after the fact OR we have to have a variety of substitute parts that have the correct build components, where-in-which we build and then post a substitute transaction to the 12345-EX part. All are labor intensive and just a pain.
- Proposed solution: BWG permit in Subassemblies Preview/Build check boxes and ability to alter quantities used so you could include all possible components.
Example # 2
Building units that have one variable
- Problem #1: Same as Example # 1 above
- Problem #2: We sell hoses at various lengths with fittings installed. The length is rarely constant and if it is, we make a dedicated part # for it. I originally created a MISC HOSE part # and provided an example in the description for how to tell us what was built. Which takes care of the 'after the fact' but the shop was having problems on both cost and sell pricing. So I created kits, which makes it so they in essence "build" the hose and then use the MISC HOSE line item to complete a single line item. The kit looks like this:
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#12 HOSE ((KIT)) 1st line item - MISC HOSE #12 w/ an example on formatting and set with no pricing 2nd line item - BUILD LABOR set at 15-minutes with pricing at cost, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60% 3rd line item (the variable) - HOSE # 12, where we change quantity as needed with pricing set as above 4th line item - FITTING set at quantity of (2) with pricing set as above The guys will enter the length of those, note the cost and then change the pricing to the markup percentage they prefer, note that amount, enter it and the detailed description on the 1st line item, followed by deleting line items 2 thru 4. Yes the guys COULD have multiple lines on the customer's paperwork, which most would do BUT the owner wants a single line item, since he could be building anywhere from 1 to 20 hoses for a single customer. |
- Proposed Solution: I don't really have one and would love to know if anyone can see a more streamlined way.
I'm sure all of this is clear as mud. I am happy to clarify any point but I'm guessing if you have a business that builds things, you will understand and perhaps have some helpful thoughts on the matter. AND if luck would have it, are experiencing something similar and will submit an enhancement to help Sage see we need something better so as to save time and key strokes.
Thank you in advance!!!
Kim
