Distribution, Manufacturing, and Internet Modules

[TomTarget]

I understand not actually processing the change while everyone is in,  but I don't think that entering the list of items to be processed at a later time when everyone is out is an integrity issue unless I'm missing something.

[SPyle]

Tom, your not missing anything. The same thing happened to inventory number changes, AR Customer code changes and, I think, AP Vendor code changes.

Even in 4.05, you could BUILD the files while people were in the different activities.  You couldn't enter PN change if there were unposted invoice or receipt transactions, but you could if those files were empty.  You could keep the window open and add records, even if others started to post transactions.  If you closed the window, you couldn't reopen it.  Even with all of this, you could not execute the delete/renumber process until the files were cleared and everyone was out of the system.

Now, if you are in early enough to get the window open, others cannot even enter a sales order or perform Inventory Inquiry (a read only process - no data corruption there) until you close the window.

I think it was just an easier proposition to FILE-LOCK everything rather than document where you could use record lock versus file lock, and where you would have to test for file availability to change from rec-lock back to file-lock.

After all, who could consider using a robust system like MAS if they didn't have full-time, second-shift, IT and Data Maintenance departments?

[CLL49087]

As far as I can tell, Sage hasn't corrected this issue.  Labor and overhead are correct, but the material cost is still some random number.  Having the cost roll up feature would be great as it'd save hours worth of work.

[jcl]

"Yes it is, just because Sage wants to maintain the integraty of the database they make us all suffer."  Big Louie

I love that one, Big Louie!!  I'm with you...suffering because of silly things like providing data integrity. 

This is one of the best features they've added to the software in ages!!  Do any of you actually use the Standard Cost valuation method?  People using Standard Cost as the valuation method have been plagued for years with the fact that anyone with access to create an item can also change standard cost whenever they want to.  This can have an enormous domino effect in the organization.  It will cause an out of balance condition between the GL and the Inventory Detail, it will cause reports to inexplicably show you a different cost this afternoon than they did this morning. An order created this morning with a 45% GP now has a 14% GP and everyone's looking at the sales guy like he's an idiot when he had nothing to do with it.  It will cause manufacturing variance and purchase variance postings that no one can explain.  The list goes on and on. 

This is just Sage fixing a problem that should never have been allowed to exist in the first place.  Show me any other piece of software playing at this level where there isn't a secured, audited process for changing an item's standard cost.  This is one of the features most manufacturers have been dying to get out of Sage. 

The process we have now at least restricts changes through security and creates an audit report.  But they should have actually gone further by properly writing records to the Item Master Audit Tracking File so we could report on it historically.  I'm forever being asked who changed cost on this item or that item.  I have an audit report that will tell me who, from what, to what, and when, but it all falls down if the cost was changed through the new utility.  Suddenly there's a change that is not logged so no one knows what happened.  Sage...simply add it to the audit log and you'll have finished the job!  Right now, your job is still not done on this!!!

And as for locking out PO, SO and other modules, it's a record locking issue, which is also a good thing.  If you are in the middle of a standard cost change and other staff are trying to receive that item, sell that item, or adjust that item in another module, which cost do they get?  How/when do the on hand quantities get changed?  The Standard Cost change utility has to know how many are on hand at the old Standard Cost so that adjustments to the GL can be posted when you change the item's cost.  You can only get that quantity and price, and know that it's correct, if you have exclusive access to the records/files until your process is complete.   

If you are in a situation where you need to change standards frequently, I'd ask the question "Are you sure Standard Cost is the best valuation method for your situation?"  Review IRS regs on standard cost and industry "best practices".  Changing them frequently is not a good idea. Standards should generally be locked in and kept that way.  Many businesses lock them in for a year, others by the quarter, but they are locked in at some point.  If they are changing regularly, then that's not really "standard costing" and that's probably not the right valuation method for your company's needs. 

[wuffingas]

Please return Standard Cost. We need a system that is robust and flexible. FIFO is an accounting convention not an actual accounting method. Standard is the only True Cost. We are a smail, family run business that has invested tens of thousands in to this software and were not told that this feature was not available on the upgrade. Without it, our ability to conduct our business has been seriously compromised. PLEASE, bring back the feature, that  in our opinion, made this software the best software out there.

[jcl]

FIFO actually IS a very widely-used valuation (costing) method for inventory, as is LIFO, Average and Standard.  I'm not sure I understand the relevance of FIFO to your standard cost changing issue anyway, but if Standard Cost is properly used as a costing method, there should be very few changes needed to your Standards, and it should be few enough that the changes can be implemented in a controlled fashion.  Having users changing standards "at will" wreaks absolute havoc on anyone trying to balance inventory, track and explain variances, etc. 

Proper use of Standard Cost as a costing method entails setting a proper standard based on historical usage and costs, as well as projected/known future changes.  You "lock in" the standards for a year and manage the variances, changing the standard only if/when a major mistake is discovered or a large, unforeseen change in cost occurs. 

If your standards are changing so frequently that not being able to change them "on demand" in MAS is harming your business, I would highly recommend you speak to your MAS reseller and your CPA about changing your costing method to something that makes sense for your company.  If you are frequently changing standards to adjust them to current costs, then you are not actually using Standard Cost as a costing method.  You are using actual cost and just changing your standards to get there (i.e. you are approximating FIFO, LIFO, Lot/Serial). 

Manufacturers in particular have been plagued by the inability to control changes to the standard cost for years in MAS.  This is a critical function that has been missing from the software for way too long.  Now, the GL actually stays in balance with the inventory detail and variance postings represent actual cost variances and not just changes some user made! It's a wonderful thing.

[DLB]

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Kerry wrote:

I am glad we are on 4.3 until MAS200 SQL is allowing existing users to covert over because not being able to change STANDARD COST until everyone is out of the system would be a big problem where I am as well.  Why would they do this if the costing used is FIFO ?   Oh well .. maybe it will be changed or made an option by the time we convert.

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If the valuation method for an item is not "Standard Cost" you still have access to the standard cost field in Item Maintenance and can change it at any time.