RE: x-ing negative inventory balances -- MAPICS-L

This has been a problem with us as well because the "true" value of inventory is schewed and is very difficult to reconcile transactions with stock status at month end without fixing the negatives. What I have our recieving person do is run a query on the negative balances as part of her daily process and fix those items which went negative (after counting of course).

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mapics-l@midrange.com [mailto:owner-mapics-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Walker, Dale
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 6:00 AM
To: 'MAPICS-L@midrange.com'
Subject: RE: x-ing negative inventory balances

Come on George...don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel. ;-)   LOL

I couldn't have said it better myself. The system is a tool to "help" manage the business. It isn't a big bat that is used to force change.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gcschramm@aol.com [mailto:Gcschramm@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2001 7:12 PM
To: MAPICS-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: x-ing negative inventory balances

Joan,
      In my opinion, just saying no to negative balances is like telling
someone with diarrhea to just practice a little self control. Not allowing
negatives will prevent the processing of the transaction until the negative
situation is resolved. If we do not have respect for the value of inventory,
we can resolve the negative situation by doing an RC or some other nonsense
to create the illusion of inventory and permit the issue/shipment
transaction. So nothing is gained - book inventory remains a fiction. So
what if you don't have negatives? You cannot run your business based on what
the system tells you. The bottom line is that MAPICS does not and cannot
manage a business, if it did, we would not need high priced Controllers and
such. Managers must manage the business; unless and until they decide to do
so, changing a tailoring question is a useless exercise - it may prevent
negatives at the end of the month, but your book inventory will be useless.
Managers must appreciate the value to the business of having accurate
inventory.
      Anyone who thinks that it is "too much efforrt" to have accurate
inventory should look to the example of banks. Their inventory is always
100% accurate. They inventory pictures of dead presidents! Isn't your
inventory more valuable than that?
      As Dennis Miller says, "please forgive the rant."
Best regards,
George

P.S. as far as the specifics of your question, it depends on several issues
and the surest way to jusdge the effect is to set up a scenario in your test
environement and see what happens under the conditions specific to your
environemnt.

P.P.S. If your boss's idea of "tying up loose ends" is masking inventory
problems, your company is much better of without him. It is a good thing he
will be gone Friday.

George C. Schramm, CPIM
Custom Systems Corporation
973.383.7808