Vero’s latest dashboard functionality in Javelin covers a variety of business areas, including sales, purchasing, work in progress (WIP), scrap and reject, and scheduling. The graphs can be customised to show different time intervals, horizons, specific field values and groups.
Javelin consultant Jo Bradley says there are options on the type of graph, such as pie, bar and column charts, gauges and text outputs: “They give a full visual overview of how the business is running, on one screen. Dashboards can be set to automatically refresh with the latest data, reducing the need to go into the system and run reports. It’s all there as soon as Javelin is launched.”
The latest release features a chargeable bolt-on, enabling data to be imported from third-party software. Information such as WIP, clock in-out and stock transactions can all be accepted by Javelin, populating SQL tables. Consultant Chris O’Mara explains: “One of the key areas we’re anticipating is linking to software that controls hand scanners and key fobs for clocking in and out of buildings. The workforce simply log on to specific jobs and operations with Javelin’s shop-floor data capture capability, while management use the employee utilisation analysis reports for an update.”
In response to a number of enquiries about storing data using cloud-based applications, 2019 R1 has been successfully tested with Azure Cloud Services. The Javelin team is now looking to work in partnership with individual customers to develop it further.
Regarding WIP functions, O’Mara says the ability to create new works orders from existing ones will be particularly valuable to companies manufacturing tailored products that later need to be replicated. “It saves time, because you don’t need to manually retype specific works order details.” In addition, a newly created screen allows users to open or close existing operations easily without having to record or cancel WIP.
The amount of data held in Javelin is constantly growing, so the ‘obsolete’ function has been extended to cover a number of additional codes, such as op narratives, non-productive codes, product groups, responsibility code, salesperson, buyers and WIP booking codes. “Many manufacturers need to retain data for traceability, and obsolescence functions allow users to keep screens tidy by hiding redundant information,” says O’Mara. “Obsolete codes are not available for selection when creating new records.”
The costing function now has new SQL data views that store the latest cost records. As a result, external reporting is improved as historic costs do not need to be filtered. Additional filters have been added to the delivery note and cost of sales reports, to ensure users only print the records they need.
A newly developed default method of handling reorder level supply has been introduced. Says O’Mara: “Any supply that fulfils the reorder level demand will now be considered as advances only. This improves situations where demand is dynamic, by allowing multiple reorder supply dates for each part.”
Menu maintenance has been redesigned, providing newly devised grouping functionality and improved screen design, making it is easier to see which menu permissions have been assigned to each user. Bradley says: “Groups such as purchasing, sales and finance can be created, each with their own menu rights, so it’s quicker to maintain permissions across the user base. Newly recruited employees can simply be added to the relevant group.”
O’Mara says companies are increasingly wanting to put labels on goods, so a newly developed function in Javelin 2019 R1 allows definable pack sizes on the part supplier screen. “Users can now enter pack sizes, so when items are received, Javelin produces the correct number of labels for that supplier’s part. We’ve also added the ability to select a number of pre-defined supplier terms, rather than just having a free text field.”
A newly created search command within miscellaneous purchase order items makes it easier to find the required part, and the screen now includes extended description and nominal codes.
In 2019 R1, documents linked to parts can be set to automatically attach when emailing quotes, sales orders and purchase orders. In addition, documents can be attached by supplier. O’Mara says: “As terms and conditions can be specific to each supplier, this functionality means individual supplier documents can be automatically attached to emails.”
With regard to company branding, the latest release supports a logo or image on the Javelin desktop. In addition, icons can be assigned to work centres, as well as store location, for quicker identification.
Newly developed functionality allows the mass update of due and promise dates on sales orders. “Where users have multiple items all with the same date on a single sales order, it can now be changed with one click instead of having to do it line by line,” says O’Mara. “As scheduling is becoming increasingly important, users need to know when a works order is due to finish, so a new screen, called scheduled date feedback, shows the works order end date and sales order date. The sales due date and promise date can be updated to tie in with the scheduled works order end date.”
In 2019 R1, supplier approval now applies to subcontractor purchase orders. O’Mara says this gives control over subcontractor adherence to quality standards. Price book changes can now be rapidly applied to update existing routing costs.
Concluding, he says: “Overall, Javelin 2019 R1 is about focusing on supplying key information, faster, while taking steps to increase system integration and make growing databases easier to manage.”
