|
|
|
Why
Change Anything Beyond
the pure entertainment value and a genuine desire to be using the
"latest and greatest" technology, read why the Woodmoulding MIS is a wise decision if not a management imperative.
Normal
Form Normalization
is the process of simplifying the design of a database so that it achieves
the optimum structure. The normal forms are a linear progression of
rules that you apply to your database, with each higher normal form
achieving a better, more efficient design. The goal in the design of
the Woodmoulding MIS is to achieve a solid Third Normal Form and approach
satisfying the constraints of Boyce Codd Normal Form. An in depth
discussion of normal form is available at North
Central College.
An example of the normalization of the
lumber grade is here
Lifecycle
Everything
wears out. Software included. In the same way that one can
continue to repair a piece of effectively worn-out equipment almost indefinitely
- one can maintain/repair a piece of software almost indefinitely. But,
as with the equipment, the more individual
components one replaces - the weaker the remaining components become -
relatively. Also, there comes a point at which replacement parts are no longer
available. The software industry has spent considerable time and
effort determining the life cycle of software. Yes, software
companies have a vested interest in wear-out - but software does
wear-out. The engineers have documented the following graph as a representation
of the life cycle of software.
Experience has proven the blue line. Anytime a change is made to a
system - the failure rate spikes. Such is the nature of information
flow - we cannot anticipate every effect of a change in the flow. As
patches/repairs are implemented in software, the inherent stability of the
software decreases - as described by the green line.
Integration Common
Platform The Woodmoulding MIS is designed on a solid Microsoft®
base. Among the advantages of this approach is the fact that
individual components of the system, designed in common, share data
seamlessly. This fact allows two design features, first since all
data can be accessed by all productivity programs, we can use the
functionality of these programs instead of developing it
stand-alone. Second, in the case where the data analysis of the
system proves inadequate, further manipulation of the data via the
productivity packages is at least a fail safe.
ODBC The
Microsoft® Open
Database Connectivity (ODBC) interface is an industry standard and a
component of the Microsoft Windows® Open Services Architecture (WOSA).
The ODBC interface makes
it possible for applications to access data from a variety of database
management systems (DBMSs). The ODBC interface permits maximum
interoperability - an application can access data in diverse DBMSs through
a single interface. Furthermore, that application will be independent of
any DBMS from which it accesses data. Users of the application can add
software components called drivers, which interface between an application
and a specific DBMS. An in depth
discussion of ODBC is available at Microsoft.
Among the advantages of the
Woodmoulding MIS is the fact that Sage®
MAS 90 with Visual
Integrator is ODBC compliant. Simply this means that the
Woodmoulding MIS can pass data directly to the accounting system avoiding
the workload and error opportunity of redundant data entry. The
balance of the third party software incorporated
into the Woodmoulding MIS is also ODBC compliant. The
World Wide Web Last among the integration features of the
Woodmoulding MIS is integration with the World Wide Web. All of the technologies
used in the Woodmoulding MIS, from development tools to personal
productivity suites to the
Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server®
are designed around Web access. The data developed
in the Woodmoulding MIS will be Web ready at all stages.
This Web integration
will allow Woodmoulding MIS users to actually use the Web - either as a
reporting medium for off-site management, a link to suppliers, an order
tracking system for customers or full blown e-commerce.
Technological
Advantage
All of the above discussion represents the technical
aspects of why. These aspects alone provide a
reasonable basis for an upgrade, but the real answer to "why change..?" is "what is
there to gain?"
(click the bullets to
expand)
- Enhanced Information
- More
than accounting support. Most systems
are designed primarily as accounting support systems. That is, the
overriding design goal is to create a system that provides a solid
basis for the preparation of an auditable monthly financial
statements in a timely manner.
The Woodmoulding MIS will satisfy the accounting system
constraints, but more interestingly, it will focus on the management
uses of data.
- An
MIS. Where the design
focus of a system is accounting support, there are many
MIS aspects – primarily in the data manipulation executed with
productivity applications.
The normalization of the data as described above, added to
the cumulative operational knowledge, added to the enhanced
technology available, and the Woodmoulding MIS will be able to
report and analyze data from the exact perspective of plant
management.
- Complete
and Normal. Key among design constraints will be to
identify all of the pertinent data elements possible at the design phase, to
normalize that data to the greatest extent feasible and thereby
insure that as needs, understandings, and expectations change, the
system will be able to adapt.
- Improved
Reporting
- Complete and
Normal. When successful in the design of
the system,
when all possible of the pertinent data have been identified and
the effective collection of data has been designed-in
- any report or
analysis of any data element in relation to any other data element
is possible. When the data
are in a Normal form on a
timely basis - and
the focus is
thereby removed from the mechanics -
reports and analysis not considered or not considered possible
will be identified. With the Woodmoulding MIS if
a data element is recorded -
a report can be generated versus that element.
- Integration.
The facts described above with respect to integration, both
between the Woodmoulding MIS modules and between the Woodmoulding
MIS and the 3rd party solutions, will allow a more complete view
of the data as well as a very flexible and dynamic view of the
data. Once the
system collects a data element, it is available
to a multitude of applications. At the end of the day, the
flexibility of the format of the data will be
among the characteristics
that make the
system most valuable.
- Utilization of
the Technology
- Functionality.
The functionality available in the modern technology -
integration, interface, supportability, and scalability - make it
such that if the only thing accomplished by the Woodmoulding MIS
were to utilize this technology
-
the
effort would be
well spent.
- Availability.
The nature of the technology today is such that it encourages and
rewards its users for keeping current. That is, while 20-year old moulders can and do make mouldings of an equivalent or
superior quality to new moulders, the software and hardware of
even 5 years ago cannot hold a candle to the efficacy of today's
software and hardware. Available modern software and
hardware do more work for less investment than their predecessors.
- Experience.
The Woodmoulding MIS is an opportunity to
put to work the cumulative knowledge of 10 years database
management in the moulding industry. Today we have the
tools, talent and technology to move to the next level in database
management.
- Specific Solutions
- One-Size-Fits-All.
The most common approach to a system is to design a generic solution
for a broad class of users. The expectation is that the
users, in order to overcome the development cost of a custom
solution, will adapt their business practices to fit the codified
business practices imbedded in the generic solution. SKUing
a manufacturers inventory is a good example of this approach.
- One-Size-Fits-One.
With the improvements in both the pricing and functionality of
today's technology, developing a system that fits the unique needs
and business practices of a narrow slice of an industry becomes economic.
With the tools, talent and
technology available today - a more effective and precise solution
is within reach.
Home | Start Page |
Modules | Why Change
Jobs | Methodology | 3rd Party Applications |
Hardware | Cost | FAQ
© 2000 Woodmoulding.Com. All rights reserved.
info@woodmoulding.com
|
|
|