SPEED-UP

Customers' needs change: we listen. Feedback has resulted in a number of enhancements to make Order Entry faster, simpler and more accurate. Here's a summary of smart tricks. Some old but not publicized, and a very important brand new one - which we've put at the top of the list. Enjoy!

Excel List Entry	Got a list of items and quantities? SIM*plicity will read it in and enter the items automatically - including special size changes. Great for architectural millwork takeoff and kitchen cabinet file imports as well as for repetitive delivery orders. For other applications and full instructions please see: Order Lists
Default Quantity	Item quantity can be set to default to "1" eliminating the need to enter the quantity. A good application is kitchen cabinets where individual cabinets are entered in sequence. (Setup - Go to CAMS.INI and in the [Order Entry] section enter this line: Default Quantity=1
Turn Off Exact Search	All modules of SIMplicity software have "auto-fill" searching* where a partial product # is completed or, if an incorrect # is entered, the closest match is displayed. Many years ago clients with speed demon customer service clerks asked us to turn this feature off in order entry to prevent the possibility of errors. For those who'd rather have the search ability we've now made it optional. To turn auto-fill on : go to CAMS.INI and in the [Order Entry] section add this line: Exact Search Required=No
Prompting	Does order entry have a secret? A cheat sheet? Fabrics or laminates you should never use on an item? Possible options that never should be sold on a product or, better, options that a certain product really should have? Display this information during the order entry process so everyone knows what to do. It's real easy. To find out how read: Product Entry Instructions
Preset Options	Some customers order the same options and features. You may also have popular promotions in specific laminates, finishes or fabrics. Don't waste time manually entering them. You can assign a name to a specific selection of options and call them up by selecting that name. Here's how: Enter the option set that you want to recall . Then Right Click on the word "DESCRIPTION" in the option header. Click on "SAVE". Enter a descriptive name and click OK. Next time you want to use the option set just select it from the list that will pop-up when you Right Click "DESCRIPTION" (Note: Saved option sets are local; other users on your network can't access them.)
Cloning	Copy an existing order and then edit it for a new order in a few easy steps: Go to Add Orders and select the customer for whom the original order (to be cloned) was entered. Click the History tab and then Update to find the order to be cloned. Click the Copy Order button. A new order is created. Edit it as necessary (including, if required, to change the customer).
Size Calculations	Automatic pricing of products by size. Enter product sizes in the Width and Length boxes and lineal footage or area price is calculated automatically. To activate: Enter the product # in Product Definition and then select the the type of pricing to be used in the Special Pricing Pull Down Box.
Special Search	Don't know the product # or customer #? To search by product type, drawing #, sales rep, or by other related records: right click on the highlighted entry box to activate our advanced search dialogue. To narrow the search, enter a few letters before selecting the search criteria. Select the correct item from the dialogue box which displays all the matches.

Features that help your company	Examples from SIMplicity*	Discussion and Features
Customer Orders
	Order Entry Overview	<<< Please read this introductory overview first.
	Customer Details: shipping information, history, etc.	The utmost in options and feature controls. Automatic pricing with more than 400 variables (size, color, add-on's etc.) Simple to set-up and easy to use. More than an "Order Configurator": these variables interact with dynamic (parametric) bills of materials to create complete manufacturing documentation.
	Item Details	Options to enter and display product information.
	Order Entry Tools	Because we automatically transfer all pricing variables and "engineering limits" to Order Entry, SIM*plicity eliminates the typical delay for orders to first go to Engineering and Pricing prior to Order Entry.
	Batch Order Entry	Input Customer Order details directly from Excel.
	Order-Project Costing	Display actual costs during Order Entry or during "material takeoff" -Quotations.
	Order Progress (status)	Graphics display with real-time visibility of all in-process orders.
	Product Entry Instructions	Guidance to the operator in entering complex items .
	New Product Entry	Add new customers and products on the fly.
	Zip and Postal Code Tutorial	Factors in entering address data for uniformity and to ensure automatic freight calculation
	Sales Discounts and Commissions	Information on entering discounts and sales commissions.
	SPEED-UP	Tips to increase order entry productivity.
	Invoice Details - Setting Variables Order Entry Display Variables	Variables for printing (and exporting to accounting software) invoices Order Entry variables for display and printing
	Deposits and Payments	Record and display deposits and partial payments
MRP2/ERP Planning and Shop Floor Control	Advance Plan	Customer and factory (internal) orders create inventory and labor demand for specific days. SIM*plicity schedules individual machines within each work station/cell and generates material requisitions.
	Workstation Control	Planners can control and balance workload at every machine.
	Production Planner/Scheduler	Shifting production (date or workcenter) automatically updates all related processes. Graphics displays with drill-down" information effectively links Planning to Shop Floor Control.
	MRP2/ERP Tutorial	Workstation Control allows supervisors to fine tune schedules and report production.
Purchasing and Inventory Control	Requisition/Purchasing	New orders automatically updates long-term material plans. Shop floor control module interacts with purchasing to automatically flag needs that won't be met and adjusts schedules accordingly. Buy-out items are purchased as soon as customer order is processed - including automatic pricing of options and features.
	Inventory Details	Knowing the materials "on hand" and what they cost is not enough! SIM*plicity calculates the exact date needed, where it should be stored and details of its physical characteristics.
	Vendor Information	Access complete contact information on vendors and their employees.
	Purchasing Messages Inventory Adjustments	Adding Standard and Text Messages to an individual item Requisition or to an entire Purchase Order Tools to record and adjust physical invnetories.
Accounting and Cost Control	Product Cost Summary Options & Features Overview Order/Project Costing	Know the true cost of every item that you build! Automatically calculate the cost of "work -in-process" inventory. Instantly estimate the complete cost of every Order and Quotation. Change an option or feature and the cost is automatically updated! Please also read ABC Cost Control
Product Engineering	Bill of Material Flow Chart Dynamic Bills of Material Static Bill Display Glossary	Bills of Materials are the core of true manufacturing systems. They link together customer orders, manufacturing instructions with material and labor requirements. Dynamic (parametric) Bills of Material are used for entire families of products eliminating the need at most companies for 90% of individual Bills of Material. However, Static (Conventional) Bills of Material are still valuable and our system incorporates them with a full range of Options and Features
Plan and Perform	Project Takeoff Project and/or Product Estimate	Estimate and control complex projects.
Sales Management	Sales by Customer and Product Line Marketing Program Formats	Cost of Goods Sold report for every order. Volume and margin reports for each sales rep. For each customer select default discount programs, special product discounts and choose from multiple selling companies (OEM, etc.)
SUPPORT	Getting Started FAQ's - SIM*plicity Support Why Systems Fail Favorite Story	Training, customization and 24/7 real-time support by the developers of this software. A commitment to excellence - today, tomorrow and for the past 30 years.