Re: considering LedgerSmb

[Chris Travers <..hidden..>]

Hi Erik;

Thank you for considering LedgerSMB.

On Sat, Oct 1, 2011 at 3:39 PM, Erik Colson <..hidden..> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'm very new to LedgerSmb and considering if this software can be used for a particular product. I hope I'm posting this question to the correct list. Please tell me if not and maybe point me to the correct one.
>
> So here is the particular question (in the form of a case study)
>
> Industry : aluminium window manufacturing
>
> I'm aware I can create products with attributes in ERP's, but in this case some products have the (in my eyes) special attribute:
> - length (in mm)
>
> So i.e. you can have an article called 005.0136 which you can buy in lengths of 5000mm and 7000mm. You must be able to put other lengths back in stock. i.e. if you cut 800mm from a length of 5000mm (needed for a project) then you have 4200mm going back to stock.
>
> This is somewhat related to the color of a t-shirt example you get with most ERP's. But I don't want length to be considered as the same. i.e. I don't want to have a combobox showing me the currently existing lengths when I put a length back in stock (as this would have no sense). Also, when I wan't an inventory list I want to have a count of total mm in stock etc.
>
> Would you guys use an ERP like LedgerSmb for this kind of industry ?

If it were me, I would look at customizing LedgerSMB to handle this.
I would look minimally at something that would track lengths in stock,
by lot.... and deductions from it.... Then this could be used in sales
order generation.

However as I understand it, you see only a few invoices a month and
you have an existing application written with wxPerl and MySQL to do
this.  In this area, I would suggest not moving immediately, but
considering moving functionality in at some point down the road   This
could be done gradually, and if you stick to the new framework there
is no problem with a wxperl interface being written on top of it.
This could be a long-term goal, ideally written in consultation with
others who could also use similar features and thus reduce the cost to
you and to others.

Again, that would be more of a long-term matter of keeping your eye
out for opportunities than something you sound like you need right
away.

Oh, and you can't approve invoices with inventory yet.  Use orders for
that.  With orders, you can convert part of one to an invoice, leaving
the rest uninvoiced (to be cancelled or invoiced later).

Best Wishes,
Chris Travers