Connectivity, Mobility And High Speed Performance With WorkPLAN 2018 R1

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2017-12-26 11:01:00

The latest version of WorkPLAN ERP, from Vero Software, has been developed for the specific requirements of production management, in terms of mobility and rapidity from the design phase of a project, right through to delivery of the end product.

WorkPLAN has also developed a new interface specifically for the woodworking/ joinery/interior design sector.

In its new 2018 R1 release, the WorkPLAN CRM module enhances performance and accessibility with the introduction of a Mobile License solution, resulting from a collaborative partnership with Swing Mobility, a leader in mobile applications. WorkPLAN Product Manager Christophe Mas says: “Mobility has become an essential tool for everyday company management. Building on experience, the WorkPLAN CRM module offers a highly efficient service for smartphones, tablets and laptops."

The mobile license is available for Apple, Android and Windows platforms. It offers quick access to customer data, tracking and organizing CRM actions such as appointments and tasks. Users can quickly display a summary of opportunities, quotes, orders, invoices and consolidated turnover.

Because Production Management is not confined to the workshop, WorkPLAN 2018 R1 introduces a Packing Management module, offering tight control over shipments and rapid data exchange between different departments while minimizing the need for paperwork. Christophe Mas explains: "The touch tablet allows barcode scanning, real-time data entry, and recording of packing data. It will now be possible to make up the packages, edit packing lists and/or labels showing weight, dimensions, and departure date, and to track the progression of each shipment, from package preparation to loading."

To optimize production equipment, WorkPLAN now offers fully integrated CMMS functionality. The new CMMS module defines spare part lists and document management for each machine, as well as allocating time and purchase records for unproductive tasks covered by CMMS operations, and allows real-time tracking of preventive and corrective maintenance schedules.

“The intervention requests can come directly from the workshop, based on a predefined default which is a comfort for the users. The new CMMS module uses existing functionalities of the WorkPLAN license, such as purchasing, quality control, planning, and cost analysis. The accuracy of this new functionality will depend on the functionalities implemented by the users.”

WorkPLAN Solutions 2018 R1 can now be used effectively in the woodworking sector, by integrating with Vero Software’s Cabinet Vision application. Combining a specialized interior layout CAD/CAM system with a high-performance Project Management solution, WorkPLAN allows users to organize workshop operations from the design phase of a project right through to its completion.

Both Cabinet Vision and WorkPLAN users will be able to recover the project from its design phase, synchronize component libraries, recover estimated time and material requirement via the Bid Center, input optimization and nesting programs via S2M, and manage production schedules with automatic distribution. “The seamless integration of the two software applications will allow users to improve their productivity by optimizing project job tracking, supply management and stock control, and production monitoring," says Christophe Mas.

To help improve efficiency and performance by maintaining a permanent connection with customers, suppliers and partners, WorkPLAN employs technologies such as EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) and non-standardized APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), and database synchronization with files such as XML, CSV, and Excel, using ODBC SQL or Web Service queries.

“Amongst other things, this allows the creation of multi-line quotations and bulk order importing, creation and updating files with an interface to shipping software, and outsourcing management communication between WorkPLAN databases.”

In this major release, several new features and enhancements aimed at improving overall workflow when managing projects in WorkPLAN Solutions.

After the integration of leave and purchase requests in the 2017 version, Manual Time Management has been renamed Quick Access License, and further enhanced with new functionality, including the integration of intervention requests related to the new CMMS module.

Christophe Mas, concludes: "Across the board, from quotations to quality control through design, manufacturing, technical data management, purchasing, scheduling and time management, the different modules of the software contain a wide range of new features such as:

• Favorites management
• Email template management (automatic signature)
• Automatic planning update each time it is consulted
• Dual entry management for greater accuracy during inventories
• Document management directly linked to productive tasks"

• Follow @CNCTimes