Accounting / Inventory software for Linux - Teh Forum

<body> <div id="header"> <span class="left"> <span class="back"><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT"><span class="image mobile_back" title="Back"></span></a></span> <span class="image mobile_logo" title="Beehive Forum Logo"></span> </span> <ul> <li> <a class="reply_all" href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.0&return_msg=41719.10"> <span class="image mobile_reply_all"></span><span class="text">Reply to All</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="navigation" href="#"> <span class="image mobile_navigation"></span><span class="text">Show messages</span> </a> </li> <li> <a class="main" href="#"><span class="image mobile_menu" title="Menu"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu main"> <ul> <li><a href="lthread_list.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Messages</a></li> <li><a href="lpm.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Inbox</a></li> <li><a href="lsearch.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Search</a></li> <li><a href="llogon.php?webtag=DEFAULT">Login</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu navigation"><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.1">1–10</a><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.11">11–20</a><a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.21">21</a></div> <div id="page_content"> <h3 class="thread_title"><a href="index.php?webtag=DEFAULT&amp;msg=41719.10">Accounting / Inventory software for Linux</a> </h3> <div id="messages" data-navigation="41719_10_21_10"> <a name="a41719_10"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_10"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: koswix<span class="message_time">13 Apr 2016 19:33</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Harry (HARRYN) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 15 Apr 2016 14:28"></span></span> <span class="message_count">10 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.10">41719.10</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.9">41719.9</a></div> <div class="message_body"> I'd certainly be interested - I have an exam on this stuff (well, related to it anyway) in a little over a week! </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.10&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.10"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41719_11"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_11"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Harry (HARRYN)<span class="message_time">15 Apr 2016 14:41</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: koswix <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 15 Apr 2016 18:37"></span></span> <span class="message_count">11 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.11">41719.11</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.10#a41719_10" target="_self">41719.10</a></div> <div class="message_body"> It gets tricky as you go up in feature sets.<br /><br /> When I look at these things from a "sales man" perspective, it is really handy to have the information in one place, but also there are conversations and "explorations" that you have with customers that would drive most accountants and production managers crazy. While the ultimate goal is to try to lead the customers toward standard products, it isn't always possible, and sometimes non standard payment terms are important.<br /><br /> From a "production control" and "service department" perspective, it is really useful to know part numbers, drawings, sub assemblies, assemblies and how it fits together. Of course one of the challenges is that there are multiple valuations for any item:<br /> - What was paid for the parts when purchased in low quantity (1- 10)<br /> - What was paid for the parts when purchased in volume (100 - 1000 at a time)<br /> - Cost to store in inventory<br /> - Labor to assemble to its current state<br /> - Tax value<br /> - value due to aging and obscelescence<br /> - price that is being used to transfer it from one internal department to another<br /> - retail or wholesale price to the end customer as a complete "product"<br /> - retail or wholesale price to the end customer as a spare part<br /> - FIFO<br /> - LIFO<br /> - Other stuff I have not thought of<br /> - cash accounting approaches to life<br /> - accrual accounting approaches to life<br /> - sales tax value (which in the US varies wildly, even town to town within the same state)<br /><br /> I am trying to move my mind from the engineering and sales side into the accounting / production side to really start grasping this stuff, and it isn't all that straightforward.<br /><br /> Good luck on the test.<br /><br /> Harry<br /><br /><br /> </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.11&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.11"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41719_12"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_12"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Harry (HARRYN)<span class="message_time">15 Apr 2016 14:48</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Harry (HARRYN) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 15 Apr 2016 14:48"></span></span> <span class="message_count">12 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.12">41719.12</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.10#a41719_11" target="_self">41719.11</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Another area that gets tricky is customer support vs production commitments.<br /><br /> There is a lot of push to absolutely minimize inventory, and just stock the absolute minimum of parts to build something. At the same time, customers that have purchased products, especially for production machinery, want very fast repairs. A down system could stop their entire production line, so there is pressure to complete a repair in 2 - 4 hours, with big penalties for each hour after.<br /><br /> This makes it very interesting for the "existing down customer" need vs "production commitment to delivery new equipment" when a part is sitting in inventory, now double committed, or might even be on an existing, built machine, nearly ready to ship out the door.<br /><br /> What is the value of a part that can be purchased for $20 each, minimum purchase quantity 100 each only, you have only 1 in stock, but need 3 ?<br /><br /> I have no idea, but it feels like $ 2000 / 3 = nearly $800 each.<br /><br /> Harry<div class="edit_text">EDITED: 15 Apr 2016 14:49 by HARRYN</div> </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.12&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.12"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41719_13"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_13"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: koswix<span class="message_time">15 Apr 2016 20:06</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Harry (HARRYN) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 19 Apr 2016 22:30"></span></span> <span class="message_count">13 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.13">41719.13</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.10#a41719_12" target="_self">41719.12</a></div> <div class="message_body"> My understanding (admittedly limited and likely flawed) of the ERP approach is that it expects you to adapt to the ideal process, rather than trying to fit the ERP solution to your existing processes. I can certainly see the benefits from doing that (essential working towards a best-practice setup), but the upheaval in an established company must be staggering (indeed: see the Fox Meyer example of how not to do it!).<br /><br /> The course I'm taking is called Supply Chain Management and it's been a real eye-opener, to me at least, of the various ways of approaching an entire supply chain (from raw materials, production, stock levels, customer delivery etc.) and the various methods of accounting.<br /> <div class="quotetext"><strong>Quote:</strong> </div> <div class="quote"><span style="font-size:12.8px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);">What is the value of a part that can be purchased for $20 each, minimum purchase quantity 100 each only, you have only 1 in stock, but need 3 ?</span><br style="font-size:12.8px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);" /><br style="font-size:12.8px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);" /><span style="font-size:12.8px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);">I have no idea, but it feels like $ 2000 / 3 = nearly $800 each.</span></div> Yes that is a difficult one. There's all sorts of things to take into account - storage costs for the unused items, opportunity costs because your cash is tied up in 'useless' stock, depreciation of the assets, reliability of a part that's stored for long periods etc. etc. etc. But then as you say you may have a requirement to be able to supply that part very quickly, so you'd need some fairly indepth failure analysis to work out how many you need to keep in stock. As for the extra you had to order, perhaps it's better to store them (which incurs costs as mentioned) or maybe it's better to dump them cheap on another market, cutting your losses and hopefully recouping some of the capital and reducing the unit cost of the ones you sold?<br /><br /> My exam is largely a thinking-out-loud exercise, so your thoughts are genuinely useful to me! Referring to real world examples is essential, and being able to refer to an example my lecturer hasn't come across before (even if it is 'some guy on the internet said...') is definitely worth something!</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.13&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.13"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41719_14"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_14"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Harry (HARRYN)<span class="message_time">19 Apr 2016 22:40</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: koswix <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 20 Apr 2016 08:16"></span></span> <span class="message_count">14 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.14">41719.14</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.10#a41719_13" target="_self">41719.13</a></div> <div class="message_body"> <div class="quotetext"><b>quote:</b> <a href="messages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.13">koswix</a></div> <div class="quote">My understanding (admittedly limited and likely flawed) of the ERP approach is that it expects you to adapt to the ideal process, rather than trying to fit the ERP solution to your existing processes. I can certainly see the benefits from doing that (essential working towards a best-practice setup), but the upheaval in an established company must be staggering (indeed: see the Fox Meyer example of how not to do it!).<br /><br /><br /> My exam is largely a thinking-out-loud exercise, so your thoughts are genuinely useful to me! Referring to real world examples is essential, and being able to refer to an example my lecturer hasn't come across before (even if it is 'some guy on the internet said...') is definitely worth something!</div> <p>You are exactly right about the upheaval in companies. Intel is a good example, they tried to adapt either SAP or the other major brand (oracle ?) to the company's method of doing business, failed, and had to change how Intel does business to match how the software works. <br /><br /> I am glad that my limited understanding of ERP and accounting is potentially useful to you. I would not mind hearing the ideas of how ERP and GAAP deal with those questions, if it is ever convenient to post the info.<br /><br /> In general, I agree that accounting and ERP are not such different concepts, company to company, that massive customization should be needed. That is a little bit of what irks me at the same time, it isn't that expensive to roll out a standard software product, why are accounting / erp packages so expensive with ongoing monthly fees? <br /><br /> A lot of the older ERP products would auto order a part based on a High / Low quantity trigger, regardless of if it was being used a lot, or not. Production purchasing was triggered by increasing the part count by adding a project name to each part. I don't think that is used much anymore.<br /> </p> </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.14&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.14"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41719_15"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_15"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Harry (HARRYN)<span class="message_time">26 Apr 2016 14:03</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Harry (HARRYN) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 26 Apr 2016 14:03"></span></span> <span class="message_count">15 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.15">41719.15</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.10#a41719_14" target="_self">41719.14</a></div> <div class="message_body"> How did your accounting test go?</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.15&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.15"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41719_16"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_16"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: koswix<span class="message_time">26 Apr 2016 14:30</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: Harry (HARRYN) <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 28 Apr 2016 06:34"></span></span> <span class="message_count">16 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.16">41719.16</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.10#a41719_15" target="_self">41719.15</a></div> <div class="message_body"> I think it went well - I was able to use our 'conversation' to add a bit of depth to one part, so if I don't get an A+ I'm blaming you!</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.16&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.16"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41719_17"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_17"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Harry (HARRYN)<span class="message_time">28 Apr 2016 06:37</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: koswix <span><span class="image post_read" title="Read: 28 Apr 2016 06:40"></span></span> <span class="message_count">17 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.17">41719.17</a> In reply to <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.10#a41719_16" target="_self">41719.16</a></div> <div class="message_body"> <div class="quotetext"><b>quote:</b> <a href="messages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.16">koswix</a></div> <div class="quote">I think it went well - I was able to use our 'conversation' to add a bit of depth to one part, so if I don't get an A+ I'm blaming you!</div> <p> <span class="emoticon e_smile" title=":-)"><span class="e__">:-)</span></span> Great to hear. As far as blame - sure why not, I get blamed for lots of things. I have pretty thick skin at this point.</p> </div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.17&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.17"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41719_18"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_18"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Harry (HARRYN)<span class="message_time">11 Nov 2017 01:21</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: ALL<span class="message_count">18 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.18">41719.18</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Well, back to looking at accounting software again.<br /><br /> Didn't make a decision before - so back at it.<br /><br /> More or less the same goals as before:<br /> - Even though the data is not really "super secret" or anything, I prefer to host it in - house to avoid loosing it in case the hosting company goes out of business.<br /> - Needs to support bill of materials and sub assemblies<br /> - Trying to avoid quicken variations<br /> - Mostly use linux mint, but have not yet gotten my wife off of her mac<br /> - The company is pretty small - like real small. Still, would be nice to be able to support growth and not have to dump it if / when we reach 100 people.<br /><br /> Open to ideas.</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.18&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.18"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div><a name="a41719_19"></a><div class="message" id="message_41719_19"> <div class="message_header"> <div class="message_from"> From: Harry (HARRYN)<span class="message_time">13 Nov 2017 06:14</span> <div class="clearer"></div> </div><div class="message_to">To: ALL<span class="message_count">19 of 21</span><div class="clearer"></div> </div> </div> <div class="message_links"> <a href="lmessages.php?webtag=DEFAULT&msg=41719.19">41719.19</a></div> <div class="message_body"> Starting to look at the accounting software Ledger SMB.<br /><br /> Anyone have any experience with it, especially related to inventory of parts and assemblies?<br /><br /> Thanks<br /><br /> Harry</div> <div class="message_footer"> <div class="message_footer_links"><a href="lpost.php?webtag=DEFAULT&reply_to=41719.19&return_msg=41719.10" class="reply"><span class="image post"></span>Reply</a></div> <div class="message_vote_form" data-msg="41719.19"> <span class="rating">0/0</span> <span class="image vote vote_down vote_down_off" title="Vote Down"></span> <span class="image vote vote_up vote_up_off" title="Vote Up"></span> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="message_page_footer"> <ul> <li class="right_col"><form accept-charset="utf-8" method="get" action="lmessages.php" target="_self"><input type="hidden" name="webtag" id="webtag" class="bhinputtext" value="DEFAULT" dir="ltr" /><input type="hidden" name="msg" id="msg" class="bhinputtext" value="41719.20" dir="ltr" /><input type="submit" name="submit" id="keep_reading" value="Keep reading…" class="button" /></form></li> </ul> </div> </div> </body>