WO2015019315A1

WO2015019315A1 - Smart enterprise resource planning

Info

Publication number: WO2015019315A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/063771
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kishore TARACHAND
Original assignee: Tarachand Kishore
Priority date: 2013-08-07
Filing date: 2014-08-07
Publication date: 2015-02-12

Abstract

The present invention provides to a system for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). In particular, invention relates to a smart system designed specifically for small and medium business enterprises. The ERP real time single integrated system comprises nine basic modules and sixteen optional modules and is available as self-hosted, cloud or software as a service (SAAS) computing infrastructure, which reduces maintenance time, license fees and further provides real-time dashboard for management. The system is used to track the status of the enterprise operations such as ordering of a material, receipt of an invoice, and payment of that invoice. The system automates different processes and offers many returns on the initial investment. The system improves customer relations and service, business processes, and ensures better control over budgets and production schedules. Furthermore, the system is also customizable to meet the specific needs of any organization.

Description

Title of the Invention SMART ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). In particular, the invention relates to a smart ERP designed specifically for small and medium business enterprises.

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] ERP is a tool that helps to stay integrated in an organization with competitiveness and customer orientation. ERP is considered as one of the most significant developments that happened in the last decade of the 20^th century. ERP systems are integrated information systems that have been developed to serve a variety of departments within an enterprise, e.g., corporation, to make effective use of its information. Generally, ERP systems use packaged software rather than proprietary software written by or for one customer.

[0003] ERP connects the corporation's operations to assist with the management of internal and external resources. For instance, an ERP is used to track the status of the enterprise operations involved such as ordering of a material, receipt of an invoice, and payment of that invoice. Hence, ERP modules may be able to interface with an organization's own software with varying degrees of effort, and depending on the vendor ERP software may be altered via programming.

[0004] The fundamental advantage of ERP is integration of business process thereby saving time and expense. Furthermore, the ERP aids the management to make decisions faster with fewer errors. Although ERP comprises various advantages, it is also associated with numerous drawbacks such as customization, harmonization of the systems could be mammoth task and requires ample time, planning and money.

[0005] In the view of the foregoing reasons, there is an ongoing need for an improved ERP system to transform the business activities in resourceful manner.

[0003] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to an embodiment, the invention discloses a system for ERP. The invention relates to the smart ERP, which is designed specifically for small and medium business enterprises. The ERP real time single integrated system comprises nine basic modules and sixteen optional modules and is available as self-hosted, cloud or software as a service (SAAS) computing infrastructure, which reduces maintenance time, license fees and further provides real-time dashboard for management.

[0007] The management graphical dashboard of the ERP displays the important key details or Key Performance Index (KPI) in the product to an authorized person of the company in an easy manner. The dashboard is customizable to the department level. The manufacturing control center displays the work orders generated in summary form and the status. The electronic in basket displays a latest basket activity using a color change in the graphical icon. The alerts from all parts of the system are displayed in the basket. The employees are allowed to create the alerts for oneself or for any other person in the organization. The sales force automation of the ERP helps people in sales to manage their contacts or opportunities that are associated with the company (customer), from contacts and opportunity details. [0008] The sales activity is a graphical representation of different stages and enables the sales person to schedule the day efficiently and manage appointments with prospects, contact prospects on time and try to move them to the next stage of the sale or closer to a sale. The accounting transactions helps the user to post the accounting transactions recorded in any screen and allows to preview before submitting the transaction into the correct accounts. The manufacturing traceability tree allows assigning the serial number for the inputs and outputs for each track. The number of tracks will be based on the work order quantity. The product tree displays the tracks with the inputs keen on to the process to produce the desired output. A significant color change appears for each track's inputs and outputs based on the serial/batch number assigned. The project management resource allocation graphically displays the task, phase and the project in a certain period.

[0009] The lean manufacturing dashboard allows the user to create a sales order (SO) based on the requirement that comes in. The work order dashboard displays the process involved for each work order (WO) followed by quantity produced in a particular day against the overall quantity to be produced for the work order. The operator utilization dashboard provides a graphical representation of the operators allocated for each process and the percentage of work done by the operators for each process for a particular month.

[0010] The optimized production dashboard displays multiple sales orders to a single work order and also shows a list of process work order (PWO) and materials requirement planning (MRP) requirements based on the combined sales orders. The task manager dashboard displays the task details of all the departments in an organization. [0011] The benefits of well-integrated ERP systems include better customer relations and service, more reliable business processes, and better control over budgets and production schedules. The use of ERP helps to transform the business activities in resourceful manner. The system is accessible anywhere, anytime by software companies, wholesalers/distributors, a variety of manufacturers, engineered products, ecommerce companies and service companies using web.

[0004] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The foregoing and other features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Figure 1 is the screen shot that illustrates management graphical dashboard for an enterprise resource planning system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0014] Figure 2a and 2b are the screen shots that illustrate manufacturing control center for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0015] Figure 3 is the screen shot that illustrates electronic in basket for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0016] Figure 4 is the screen shot that illustrates the sales force automation for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0017] Figure 5 is the screen shot that illustrates the sales activity for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. [0018] Figure 6 is the screen shot that illustrates concept of accounting transactions for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0019] Figure 7 is the screen shot that illustrates the manufacturing traceability tree for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0020] Figure 8 is the screen shot that illustrates the product tree for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0021] Figure 9a is the screen shot that illustrates the system manager for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0022] Figure 9b is the screen shot that illustrates the buying history for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0023] Figure 10 is the screen shot that illustrates the project management tree for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0024] Figure 11 is the screen shot that illustrates the project management resource allocation graph for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0025] Figure 12a, 12b and 12c are the screen shots that illustrate the dashboard for product lifecycle management (PLM) for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0026] Figure 13 is the screen shot that illustrates the lean manufacturing dashboard for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. [0027] Figure 14 is the screen shot that illustrates the work order dashboard for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0028] Figure 15 is the screen shot that illustrates the operator utilization dashboard for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention.

[0029] Figure 16 is the screen shot that illustrates the machine utilization dashboard for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention.

[0030] Figure 17 is the screen shot that illustrates the optimized production dashboard for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention.

[0031] Figure 18 is the screen shot that illustrates the task manager dashboard for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention.

[0032] Figure 19 is the screen shot that illustrates the time lime for small projects for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention.

[0033] Figure 20 is the screen shot that illustrates the document folder management of the ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention.

[0034] Figure 21 is the screen shot that illustrates the cost estimate dashboard of the ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention.

[0005] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The present invention provides a system for an Enterprise Resource Planning. In particular, the invention provides a smart ERP real time single integrated system comprising of nine basic modules and sixteen optional modules, wherein the nine basic modules comprises sales, purchase, inventory, Human Resource (HR), system manager, payables, receivables, general ledger, help and sixteen optional modules comprises Customer Relationship Management (CRM), e-commerce, service, Sales Force Automation (SFA), e-auction, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), task manager, quality, manufacturing, capacity planning, asset manager, alert central, payroll, business intelligence, expressions and mobility apps. The system of the present invention is available as self-hosted, cloud or software as a service (SAAS) computing infrastructure, which dramatically lowers maintenance, license fees and further provides real-time dashboard for management. The system of the present invention is accessible anywhere, anytime by software companies, wholesalers/distributors, manufacturers, engineered products or ecommerce companies and service companies using web.

[0036] Figure 1 is the screen shot that illustrates a management graphical dashboard for an enterprise resource planning system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The screen shot illustrates the management graphical dashboard (100) in one screen wherein the important key details or Key Performance Index (KPI) in the product would be displayed to an authorized person of the company in an easy manner. The graphical dashboard (100) is web based and could be accessed from any part of the world. Furthermore, the graphical dashboard (100) is customizable to the department level. For instance with reference to the Fig 1, the dashboard displays the information of sales (101), market study (102), scheduler (103), tasks (105), preferred uniform resource locator (URL) (107), communication (108), shortcuts to some of the financial Reports (109), graph (110), google search (106), Top 5 sales items (104) and company's stock news may also be displayed.

[0037] Figure 2a and 2b are the screen shots that illustrate manufacturing control center for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The screen shots illustrate manufacturing control center (200), which displays the work orders generated in summary form and the status of the work order (Red font indicates that there is a problem in the work order) along with the detailed graphical process mapping, status and control with color alerts, with one or more closed-circuit television (CC TV) camera's output is placed to check the status. The graphical representation of a manufacturing process (300), shows inputs or raw materials, which enter the box from the left, the top is either machine or operator or power or resources input into the process or cell, the bottom is one or more waste components that are discarded and the right is the output of the process. There are two graphics so as to indicate parameters like daily output or process downtime.

[0038] Figure 3 is the screen shot that illustrates electronic in basket for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The screen shots illustrate electronic in basket (400), a latest basket activity will be displayed using a change in the graphical icon. There will be alerts from all parts of the system, which will be displayed in the basket. All the employees are allowed to create the alert to any person in the organization and one can create an alert for oneself. The alert is deleted once it is timed out. The alert central is also used to create the alerts to any person or any department. For instance, with reference to the Fig 3, consider an image like basket, the handle displays a different color if there is a new alert in the basket.

[0039] Figure 4 is the screen shot that illustrates the sales force automation for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The screen shot illustrates sales force automation (500), which helps people in sales, to manage their contacts or opportunities that are associated with the company (customer), from contacts and opportunity details; forecast the sales for a particular period.

The sales plan helps to plan and implement sales strategies. Comprehensive reports are also provided to evaluate the sales performance at the end of a specified period and see if it has met the targeted goals. A map is provided to show the overall view of the customers in different stages.

[0040] Figure 5 is the screen shot that illustrates the sales activity for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The screen shot illustrates a sales activity (600), which is a graphical representation of different stages, throughout which the customer moves forward on the acceptance of the product. The sales activity has a to-do-list that enables the sales person to schedule the day efficiently and manage appointments with prospects, contact prospects on time and try to move them to the next stage of the sale or closer to a sale.

[0041] Figure 6 is the screen shot that illustrates concept of accounting transactions for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The screen shot illustrates concept of accounting transactions (700), has different windows which helps the user by posting the accounting transactions recorded in any screen and allows to preview the same before submitting the transaction into the correct accounts i.e. debit and credit and is a user friendly approach without requiring much awareness on accounts.

[0042] Figure 7 is the screen shot that illustrates the manufacturing traceability tree for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The screen shot illustrates a manufacturing traceability tree (800) where the serial number for the inputs and outputs will be given for each track. The number of tracks is based on the work order quantity. For instance with reference to the Fig 7, if the work order quantity is 5, then there will be 5 tracks for that particular product to be manufactured. On behalf of every track, the serial number must be entered for the inputs and outputs in that track to enable end-to-end traceability of parts used in the product. [0043] Figure 8 is the screen shot that illustrates the product tree for an ERP in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. The screen shot illustrates a product tree (900), which displays the tracks with the inputs keen on to the process to produce the desired output. A significant color change appears for each track's inputs and outputs based on the serial/batch number assigned. For instance with reference to the Fig 8, the product "A" needs to be manufactured, which is set with a list of processes. This is useful to see whether it meets all the inputs (raw materials and the intermediate goods) to produce the final product.

[0044] Figure 9a is the screen shot that illustrate the system manager for an ERP in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. The screen shot illustrates a system manager (1000); by means of which the user changes the field name using the expressions as per their requirement. For instance with reference to the Fig 9a, a field name is given by Granada be "Project Description", the user can change the name to "Description" using expressions. This is also useful to change the language of the field.

[0045] For instance with reference to the Fig 9b, (1100) this option is used to view the buying history of a particular customer. Allows creating quote from the list of sales orders made to a customer.

[0046] Figure 10 is the screen shot that illustrates the project management tree for an ERP in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. The screen shot illustrates a project management tree (1200), a tree structure is used to manage all the projects, phases and levels of tasks. This tree structure helps to edit and update the project. This also enables nesting of tasks within other tasks. [0047] Figure 11 is the screen shot that illustrates the project management resource allocation graph for an ERP in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. The screen shot illustrates a project management resource allocation (1300) which graphically displays the task, phase, and project in a certain period indicating the involvement percentage (differentiated using colors) of the resource.

[0048] Figure 12a, 12b and 12c are the screen shots that illustrate the dashboard for product lifecycle management (PLM) for an ERP in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. The dashboard for product lifecycle management (PLM) (1400, 1500 and 1600) shows all the project status graphically. The task status is represented graphically based on the project status defined. The progress of the selected task is shown in graphically designed chart. In the 2^nd and 3^rd screen, the green and red colors are used to alert the user regarding the state of the process or activity.

[0049] Figure 13 is the screen shot that illustrates the lean manufacturing dashboard for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Lean manufacturing is used when extra inventory is not needed in stock and items are purchased from vendor only when there is requirement. The lean manufacturing dashboard (1700) allows the user to create a sales order (SO) based on the requirement that comes in. Also, work order (WO) should be carried out for the SO. The lean manufacturing dashboard (1700) also allows the quantity of SO to be edited at any time and resets the work order (WO) and pick list to the current SO quantity edited.

[0050] Figure 14 is the screen shot that illustrates the work order dashboard for an ERP in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The work order dashboard (1800) displays the process involved for each WO followed by quantity produced in a particular day against the overall quantity to be produced for the work order. The work order dashboard (1800) also displays the start date and end date for each process of the WO, percentage of completion and quality inspected for each process.

[0051] Figure 15 is the screen shot that illustrates the operator utilization dashboard for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention. The operator utilization dashboard (1900) provides a graphical representation of the operators allocated for each process and the percentage of work done by the operators for each process for a particular month.

[0052] Figure 16 is the screen shot that illustrates the machine utilization dashboard for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention. The machine utilization dashboard (2000) provides a graphical representation of machines for each process and the percentage of usage of machines for a particular period say for a particular month.

[0053] Figure 17 is the screen shot that illustrates the optimized production dashboard for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention. The optimized production dashboard (2100) displays multiple sales orders (GSO) to a single work order and also shows a list of process work order (PWO) and materials requirement planning (MRP) requirements based on the combined sales orders. The optimized production dashboard (2100) also shows the delivery channel (DC) for delivering the manufactured products. The reservation report present in the optimized production dashboard shows the details of the multiple sales orders and work in progress status for each SO. [0054] Figure 18 is the screen shot that illustrates the task manager dashboard for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention. The task manager dashboard (2200) displays the task details of all the departments in an organization. The task manager also displays the tasks that are completed on or before estimated completion date in green color and tasks that exceed estimated completion date (deadline) in red color.

[0055] Figure 19 is the screen shot that illustrates the time lime for small projects for an ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention. The timeline dashboard (2300) is a simple utility for small projects. This is also a way to quickly access the reports. The timeline dashboard (2300) exhibits a milestone master, which is useful to pre-define all the events. Creating a SO is the starting point in the timeline dashboard (2300). Tooltip is available at every milestone to view the details of the milestone. The status of each milestone in the timeline dashboard (2300) is indicated by different colors. The green color indicates that the process is complete; the red color indicates that the process is not on time and also indicates to send the alert and the orange color indicates that the process is completed but exceeded the time limit.

[0056] Figure 20 is the screen shot that illustrates the document folder management of the ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention. The document folder management (2400) is a dashboard in a document management to easily view the stored documents based on projects for each customer. The projects associated with each customer will be displayed as folders. Same customer can have multiple projects. In this case, the folders display customer name and project name. The folders are maintained to see all documents related to only the selected customer. [0057] Figure 21 is the screen shot that illustrates the cost estimate sheet of the ERP in accordance to one embodiment of the invention. The cost estimate sheet (2500) enables flexible cost estimation option to get a cost estimate of new or existing product, modify and save as new or modified part. All components shown in the screen can be edited prior to saving.

[0058] Therefore, the Smart Enterprise Resource Planning system of the present invention automates many processes and over the time offers many returns on the initial investment. The benefits of well-integrated ERP applications include better customer relations and service, more reliable business processes, and better control over budgets and production schedules. Furthermore, ERP systems are large and complex comprising many organization use systems that is customizable to meet their specific needs.

Claims

[0059] Claims I Claim:

1. A system for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for small and medium business enterprises, the system comprises: a. a manufacturing control center (200) for displaying one or more work orders generated in summary form and status of the work order, wherein the manufacturing control center (200) has two graphics to indicate a daily output or a process downtime; b. a sales force automation (500) for helping a sales person to manage one or more contacts and opportunities wherein, the sales force automation (500) has a map to show the overall view of a customer in different stages; c. a sales activity (600) for graphical representation of different stages through which, the customer moves forward on the acceptance of the product, wherein the sales activity (600) has a to-do-list that enables the sales person to schedule a day efficiently and manage appointments; d. an accounting transaction (700) for helping a user to post one or more recorded accounting transactions and for previewing the accounting transactions before submitting into a correct account, wherein the accounting transaction (700) has plurality of windows to check the debit and credit details; e. a manufacturing traceability tree (800) for checking a work order quantity based on a serial number assigned for plurality of inputs and outputs, wherein the manufacturing traceability tree (800) has plurality of tracks to enable end- to-end trace one or more parts used in a product; f. a product tree (900) for determining the product to be manufactured, wherein the product tree (900) has plurality of tracks to display color change with one or more inputs keen on to the process to produce a desired output; g. a project management tree (1200) for managing one or more tasks, wherein the project management tree (1200) has a tree structure to edit and update the plurality of projects, phases and levels of tasks, wherein the project management tree (1200) further has a project management resource allocation (1300) to graphically display the task, phase, project in a particular period; h. a lean manufacturing dashboard (1700) for allowing an user to create a sales order (SO) based on the requirement, wherein the lean manufacturing dashboard (1700) has one or more windows to edit the quantity of SO at any time and to reset work order (WO); i. a work order dashboard (1800) for displaying a process involved for each WO, wherein the work order dashboard (1800) has a interface to display the start date and end date for each process of the WO, percentage of completion and quality inspected for each process; j. a optimized production dashboard (2100) for displaying multiple sales orders to a single work order, wherein the optimized production dashboard (2100) has a delivery channel (DC) to deliver one or more manufactured products, wherein the optimized production dashboard (2100) has a reservation report to show the details of the multiple sales orders; and k. a timeline dashboard (2300) for quickly accessing a report wherein the timeline dashboard (2300) has a milestone master to pre-define plurality of events, wherein the timeline dashboard (2300) has a tooltip to view the details of the milestone; wherein a management graphical dashboard (100) has an interface to display plurality of important key details and Key Performance Index (KPI) from one or more modules, wherein the management graphical dashboard (100) is web based and is accessed from any part of the world.

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the management graphical dashboard (100) displays an information of sales (101), a market study (102), a scheduler (103), plurality of tasks (105), a preferred uniform resource locator (URL) (107), a communication (108), one or more shortcuts to a financial Report (109), a graph (110), a google search interface (106) and prioritized sales items (104).

The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electronic in basket (400) allows to create an alert to any person in an organization and to create an alert for oneself wherein the electronic in basket (400) has a handle to display different color for a latest basket activity and for the new alert created.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a machine utilization dashboard (2000) provides a graphical representation of plurality of machines for each process and the percentage of use of machines in a particular period.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the timeline dashboard (2300) displays different color for each status of the process in the prescribed time.