On 21/10/2002 18:36 Michael Stares wrote: > > Hi, I'm a developer with an interest in SL, namely from a > manufacturing point of view, as SL is quite close to providing a > manufacturing ERP solution, due to its ability to record inventory, and > a= > lso > the assembly facility. However It would require some extensions, in my > opinion fairly easy to do. I would be interesting to know whether the > id= > eas > described below (1) would be supported in principle (2) would gather > som= > e > development support. > > I am currently porting a software package to Linux that performs MRP*, > wi= > th > the idea of establishing a C++ project. The software is well tested and > = > has=20 > Windows users, so this is not pie-in-the-sky. Tentative name is MRP > Serve= > r. =20 > Its core function is an algorithm to generate new purchase and works > orde= > rs=20 > at a parts level from plans and customer orders at the product level. > It= > =20 > depends on data already existing on an external database e.g. SL. By=20 > necessity it is quite a complicated algorithm that takes account of > the=20 > current supply snapshot (inventory, purchase and works orders) to > identif= > y=20 > what incremental new supply needs to be initiated. The DB interface will > = > be=20 > ODBC. =20
> [snip] I've adopted a slightly different approach for a couple of "bolt-on enhancements" I've developed for my own needs (initially). I wanted a VAT report which would give me figures laid out corresponding to our UK VAT Return form. Like yourself, I'm not a Perl programmer (Java, C, C++) so I wrote a web-based Java app to generate the report and also to provide a custom posting transaction for VAT payments and refunds. Works very well. IMHO, one of the best things about SL is that the data is stored in an SQL database. This makes it possible for other applications to access that data. I've been considering developing an SL-bolt-on application to track time and materials booked to a job. There are many businesses which work on a T%M basis or need to record time and materials for job costing/estimating purposes. Its this whole MRP/BOM/Job Costing area. But I see no crushing need for such additions to be part of the main Perl-based release. In many businesses, these tasks are performed by people who have no need to access the general accounting functions. Parallel applications can enhance security is such circumstances. -- Paul Thomas Thomas Micro Systems Limited
