Re: Bill Of Material Exploder!

Mike,

American Viking has a product, "Indented Item Availability Analysis" (I2A2)
that can do what you want also.  I had forgotten about it.   It works with
PDM or EPDM.  They have an on-line demo available.   Their software works
on all DB or XA releases.   We have used them for years.   Pretty neat
stuff, and I think it's VERY reasonably priced.

You can get information (and the demo) at their web site:     www.avef.com

Click on Catalog and scroll down to the Advanced Manufacturing portion.
Works great!

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Greg wrote "Also using sales history to predict future demand is not always
accurate.  Perhaps query the open order files to get current demand in a
request date range."

Sounds like forecasting is raising it's head again!  Didn't we just do that
on the thread?   I went to a forecasting class back in the 80's, and the
instructor started with asking the class to definition the erm "forecast".
He got a lot of answers, of course, then turned and wrote the word "WRONG"
on the board.   That one really stuck with me!   He said as soon as someone
figures our how to forecast correctly 100% of the time, they will instantly
retire after winning every lottery.

It was an excellent class!  (If I could only recall who taught it!)

Dale Gindlesperger
IT Manager/Special Projects Leader
Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Inc.
258 Beacon Street
Somerset, PA  15501