Infor XA Release 7

An Executive Perspective

Deborah VermillionDeborah Vermillion

VP Consulting Services VP Consulting Services

deborah.vermillion@cistech.netdeborah.vermillion@cistech.net

Deborah Vermillion

Professional Experience• MBA, CPIM, CIRM• IT Development Manager, ERP Project

Manager• 20 Years XA Experience

MAPICS Experience• 20 Years implementation and project

management experience• Certifications in EPDM, Production,

Procurement, Inventory, Cost Accounting

My background started in IT development of custom

accounting, inventory and sales system. I have been

doing MAPICS/XA for 20 years, in variety of industries;

Automotive-Nissan, Honda, Toyota suppliers, Batch-

Chemicals, Paper; Configure to Order, Make to Order &

Stock-Lighting, Electrical and Large Capital Equipment.

Agenda

1. What is XA Release 7?2. What are the improvements? 3. Is Release 7 ready for You?4. How do I get there?5. Summary

What is XA Release 7?

Java Architecture InfrastructureNETWORK

server iSeries

Application Server

Web Server

Custom Definition

Server

Database

DB2/400HTML Server

XML Server

iSeries

Application Server

Database

DB2/400

Legacy Architecture

What is XA Release 7?

Java Architecture Infrastructure

NETWORK

DataBase

Web

One platform for total enterprise integration

QualityJDBCJDBC

Custom Custom System System

(SQL Server)(SQL Server)

Infor XAInfor XAUserUser UserUser

CustomizeCustomizeXMLXMLHTMLHTMLWSWS

Other SystemOther SystemXMLXML

Thin Thin ClienClien

tt

Web Web SiteSite

WSOfficeOffice

ExcelExcel

What is XA Release 7?

What is XA Release 7?

Java Architecture User Interface

What is XA Release 7?

Powerful Functional Enhancements ..now and in the future

What is XA Release 7?

Powerful Functional Enhancements ..now and in the future

What is XA Release 7?

New Applications

• Lean Execution and Planning (LEAP)– Integrates Lean execution with MO’s or

REP schedules

Infor Supply Web– Electronic Supplier Communications

Infor Enterprise Asset Management Leverage Infor’s Solution Library

Agenda

1. What is XA Release 7?

2. What are the improvements? 3. Is Release 7 ready for You?4. How do I get there?5. Summary

Implement at your own pace

Release 6 Green Screen

MMMM PMPM EPDMEPDM OBPMOBPMCSMCSM

R 6 Browser ‘Smalltalk’

IntegratorIntegrator SystemLinkSystemLink NetLinkNetLink

Release 7 Green Screen

R 7 Browser Java

What are the improvements?

1. Easy Access to Information improves decision making

2. Improved Application Functionality

3. Tailor XA to meet your specific needs

4. Connectivity and collaboration beyond your walls

Quick change

Graph cards

Compound cards

Presentation schemes

Subset tip text

Cascading subsets

Power expand

URL & e-Mail buttons

Attachment count

Column statistics

User definition favorites

Express customization

Logical field tip text

Change templates

Code files delete

Auto logoff

Auto key generation

Open action

Workspaces

Easy Access to Information

Highlight Exception Items

Graph data on a card– Pie charts, bar charts, stacked bar…

Multiple fields, multiple records

Drill down to supporting data

Customize subsets, sorts, max number

Graph Cards

Compound Cards

Column Totals and Statistics

Quick Change

All Available over the Internet

PO P012345 for $11,283.19 needs approval

Proactive Notification with Alerts

2. Improved Application Functionality

R7 Essentials is the platform for enhancing core applications (EPDM, PM, IFM, etc)

R7 is the platform for integration to Infor Extensions

Cost Simulation Object

Results at total item level…

…and by cost element…

…and by summary.

Cost Simulation Object

Cost elements

Summary costs

Costed Indented Bill of Material

Purchase Requests

New object on main browser

Ties together requisitions– Like a header– Handle requisitions as a

group– Makes entering and

tracking requisitions easier

Purchase RequestBuyer: John DoeWhs: Atlanta

REQ1 123A 10 Apr 1

ITEM QTY DATE

2 2546 44 Apr 83 5938 48 Apr 84 2019 14 Apr 15 3876 87 Apr 6

Priority: 1Contract: 123

Purchase Requests

From the requisitions

Overall status

All/Some/None

All/Some/None

Purchase Requests

Requisitions

Purchase Request items are requisitions

PO Variance

Comparison cards

Define ‘Standard’…

PO Variance

R7.8 Expanded Process FunctionalityCustomer Service Management

– End order enhancement– Split commissions– Price books– Reports – Invoicing from orders or shipments– Holds – list view gives visibility– Comments maintenance– Customer/industry item maintenance– Contracts/promotions maintenance– IFM customer maintenance

New End Order

CSM Reports

Better Hold Management

Invoicing

• Invoices can now be generated from orders or shipments. • As a standard host job, the invoices can be e-mailed or stored as text, HTML, and/or PDF documents.

R7.8 Expanded Process FunctionalityEnterprise Product Data Management (non-EPDM environments still

the same)– Maintain kits and kit components

Procurement Management– Integration with SRM SupplyWEB for electronic communication with vendors.– Enhanced security for SOX requirements (federal tax ID/Social Security #

has it’s own security and pre-set security for separation of duties)

Cameleon– De-couples engineering data from line-item entry, speeding up data entry

process.– Configured item descriptions are saved in both CSM and EPDM.– MO’s can be generated automatically from configured customer orders.

R7.8 Expanded Process FunctionalityMaterials Management

– New inventory transactions (IS, RC, TW, SA)– Receiving now has receipt by shipping notice, shipment containers

and shipped items (SRM SupplyWEB)– Visibility and receipt functionality for “in-transit” stock being

transferred to another XA warehouse– Inventory Status and Non-netting Locations

• New field, Inventory Status, added to the Warehouse Location object to classify items to be withheld from certain activities.

– Customer order pick lists – regular & stock pick combined– Customer order shipments (complete only for now)– Invoicing

New Inventory Transactions

• Issue Item (IS) – formerly Miscellaneous issue. • Receive Item (RC) – formerly Miscellaneous receipt. • Issue Sales Item (SA) – formerly Sales Shipment.• Transfer Item (TW) – formerly Interwarehouse Transfer, and the related generated Interwarehouse Issue (IW) and Interwarehouse Receipt (RW).

(Renamed but same designator. Note Reverse action.)

SHIPPING FUNCTIONALITY

R7.8 Expanded Process FunctionalityIFM

– Maintenance of:• Entities• Customer• Vendors

– New summary levels and analytical functions– Credit information updated in real time– Increased length of bank account number to 60

characters to handle bank ID codes and international bank ID codes.

Add/maintain vendors with IFM

Add/maintain customers with IFM

New IFM Summaries

R7.8 Expanded Process FunctionalityOrder-Based Production Management

– Application setting controls how users are notified when changing MO quantities with discrete allocations.

Net-Link– Supports multiple internet browsers

Environment Management– Includes Product Update feature to analyze and apply

PTF’s, PCM’s and migrations from R6 to R7.

R7.8 Expanded Process FunctionalityIntegrator

– Imports and exports user code within user exits.– Publish and subscribe supports notification subsets, including all

fields on regular subsets.– The User Definition and User Preference Administration functions

have moved from Integrator to base Power-Link product.

Translation enhancements– Add language to user profile and eliminate need for multiple

MMLIST records and multiple database copies.– Install new applications and apply code fixes once without regard

to individual languages.

R7.8 Expanded Process FunctionalityLink Manager

– Provides enhancements for managing machines, processes and environments.

System-Link– Calls to host jobs and reports– Define transactions groups– Supports conditional blocks in System-Link requests

Performance– Extra caching of customization data– Use of System i SQL query engine

IFM – Functions in processPhase I – “Establishment”

– All table maintenance• Entities, divisions, ledgers, withholding tables…

– 45% of menu options

Phase II – “Transactions”– Journal entries– Cash receipts– AR Invoices– AP Invoices

Phase III – “The rest”

Lean Execution and Planning

Lean Execution and Planning includes:•Kanban setup and management •Electronic production/rate boards •Backflushing with or without an M.O.•Kanban integration with XA’s shop floor tools•“drag and drop” M.O. / Kanban scheduling•and much more….

Lean Execution and Planning

InforInforApp 2App 2

POPO Infor ERPInfor ERP

Infor Integration-Enterprise Software Bus

Enable functions Enable functions onceonce to interact with the bus to interact with the bus

May now interact with any other application May now interact with any other application enabled for the busenabled for the bus– Let App 1 = SupplyWEBLet App 1 = SupplyWEB– Let App 2 = EAMLet App 2 = EAM– Both can use PO’s in the ERP systemBoth can use PO’s in the ERP system

ESB

InforInforApp 1App 1

POPO

SW EAMInforInforApp 3App 3 XAXA POPO ASNASN

SupplyWEB: Electronic Comm w/Suppliers

Multiple Procurement Methodologies:

Scheduled ReleasesShip SchedulesDiscrete PurchasesOne Way eKanban Pull SignalsSupplier Managed Inventory (SMI)

Asset - EquipmentWork ManagementMaterials ManagementPurchasing ManagementAdministration ManagementReporting

World Class Enterprise Asset Management

Easy to use– Pre-set configurations– Simplified Installation– Pre-define KPI/Inbox’s– Low database and server

costs– Simplified User setup– User defined Hyperlinks

for fast data entry– Financial Integration to

XA included

World Class Enterprise Asset Management

3. Tailor XA to meet your specific needs

Purchased Manufactured

3. Tailor XA to meet your specific needs

Develop Applications

Release Transparency!

This is a big deal!You plan to be with your ERP system

for a long timeA long time = lots of custom project

Everything you customize is “transparent” to the release.

• Customized software but not modified

• No source code changes• At release time, changes are brought

forward and reapplied

4. Connectivity and Collaboration

Link business processes outside your 4 walls

Integrate multiple systemsIntegrate multiple platformsLeverage desktop applications

4. Connectivity and Collaboration

Secure web access to your objects

Infor XAInfor XAUserUser

CustomizeCustomizeHTMLHTML

Custom business processes

Create objects and deploy over the web

Create and deploy objects on the web Create and deploy objects on the web in in minutesminutes

Navigation, customization, attachments…all Navigation, customization, attachments…all automaticautomatic

Note: Enterprise Integrator is required for Net-Note: Enterprise Integrator is required for Net-Link to see new or changed objects.Link to see new or changed objects.

Secure web access to your objects

Integrate XA with your web page…

Infor XAInfor XAUserUser

CustomizeCustomizeXMLXMLHTMLHTML

Web pages talk XML natively

Create web pages that talk XML to your ERP system

Integrate XA with your web page…

Integrate with other systems

Infor XAInfor XA

UserUser

CustomizeCustomizeXMLXMLHTMLHTML

ERPERPBackboneBackbone

Other SystemOther SystemXMLXML

Other system– Financial, CRM,

shop floor, CAD…

Includes edits, calculated fields, business rules

Honors security

Download/upload bulk data

Integrate with Desktop applications

Infor XAInfor XA

UserUser

WSOfficeOffice

CustomizeCustomizeXMLXMLHTMLHTMLWSWS

CostsBudgetsForecastsPrices

Other SystemOther SystemXMLXML

Integrate with Desktop applications

QualityJDBCJDBC

Integrate other applications

Departmental Departmental System System

(SQL Server)(SQL Server)

Infor XAInfor XA

UserUser UserUser

WSOfficeOffice

CustomizeCustomizeXMLXMLHTMLHTMLWSWS

Other SystemOther SystemXMLXML

Single Single user user

interfaceinterface

Objects from QA’s system (SQL Server)

QualityJDBCJDBC

One platform for total integration

Departmental Departmental System System

(SQL Server)(SQL Server)

Infor XAInfor XAUserUser UserUser

WSOfficeOffice

CustomizeCustomizeXMLXMLHTMLHTMLWSWS

Other SystemOther SystemXMLXML

Single Single user user

interfaceinterface

Access QA data over the Access QA data over the InternetInternet

QualityJDBCJDBC

One platform for total integration

Departmental Departmental System System

(SQL Server)(SQL Server)

Infor XAInfor XA

UserUser UserUser

WSOfficeOffice

CustomizeCustomizeXMLXMLHTMLHTMLWSWS

Other SystemOther SystemXMLXML

Net-Link Customization

Single Single user user

interfaceinterface

Agenda

1. What is XA Release 7?2. What are the improvements?

3. Is Release 7 ready for You?4. How do I get there?5. Summary

Is Release 7 Ready for You?

R7 is implemented on a large scale in large companies– Polaris, hundreds of

users, multiple sites– Vestas, hundreds of

users, multiple sites, multiple countries

Is Release 7 Ready for You?

R7 is implemented on a large scale in mid-sized companies

“XA R7 is a tremendous tool for our business. Users are now able to access key information, without the need for specialized queries and reporting help from IT. The ability and ease of which our people can locate up-to-date data, and export to Excel is extremely valuable.” IT Manager, electronics manufacturer

“XA R7 has provided an integrated business solution for our company. Information flows seamlessly, and via PowerLink, users are able to quickly access real-time information to make business decisions and respond to issues quickly. It has enabled an improvement of our business processes, and is the backbone of running our business.” VP Finance, industrial equipment manufacturer

Is Release 7 Ready for You?

R7 is implemented on a large scale in mid-sized companies

“Finding vital production information, such as customer order and manufacturing order status, is five times faster with XA R7. Once you move to this toolset, you would never want to function without it.” Production Control Manager, Ind Equipment Manufacturer

“ The workbench capability in XA R7 allows us to analyze material and purchase requirements exactly how we want to see them. This type of analysis previously required sometimes hours of digging, but is now easily seen on one screen – without having to go to multiple places in the system!” Materials Manager, Ind Equip Mfr

“We were sold by the ease with which you can customize the PowerLink user interface. The ability to quickly and easily add custom data files with relationships to XA data, and have those files immediately available in the PowerLink interface is extremely powerful” IT manager, Wire manufacturer

Agenda

1. What is XA Release 7?2. What are the improvements? 3. Is Release 7 ready for You?

4. How do I get there?5. Summary

How do I get there?

1. Define your vision2. Infrastructure Planning3. Implement the R7 Platform 4. Deploy the enhancements

QualityJDBCJDBC

Define your Vision

Departmental Departmental System System

(SQL Server)(SQL Server)

Infor XAInfor XA

UserUser UserUser

WSOfficeOffice

CustomizeCustomizeXMLXMLHTMLHTMLWSWS

Other SystemOther SystemXMLXML

Single Single user user

interfaceinterface

Infrastructure Planning

MMMM PMPM EPDMEPDM OBPMOBPMCSMCSM

R 7 Java

IntegratorIntegrator SystemLinkSystemLink NetLinkNetLink

R 7 Green Screen

Infrastructure Planning

1. Performance Planning • Determine Server Requirements

• R7 performance has been tuned• Offload to PC servers• Network Considerations• Client Considerations

• Your affiliate and Infor can help

2. Technical Education• R7 Infrastructure operations

Implement the R7 Platform

1. If Green Screen only, similar to previous migrations

• Minimal application changes• Evaluate impact to custom programs

2. With Java applications• Link Manager Configuration• Client Deployment

Deploy the Enhancements

1. Existing ‘Browser’ User• Basic Training on enhancements

2. New Java User/s• Potential for significant process

improvement• Consulting assistance to develop

streamlined processes supported by new tools

3. Project for significant deployment

Summary-Why go to XA 7?

1. My Infrastructure is now ‘nimble’2. My ‘Enterprise’ is now connected 3. Information is now available4. My processes are more

streamlined5. My users are more productive6. Roadblocks (quality,

performance) have been removed

Questions or Questions or comments?comments?

Thank you!!Thank you!!