Out With the Old and In With the New: Moving From Sage Work Order to Production Management

July 28th 2020 15:00:00 PM

In 2019, Sage announced it was launching Sage Production Management. This software option is made up of features that are intended to replace the Work Order and the Material Requirements Planning modules currently available in Sage 100. If you are currently using Sage 100 or Sage 100, you will want to find out about this new option.

Sage Production Management gives you several manufacturing capabilities that you are likely already familiar with in other modules. These include batch data entry, grid export to Excel, resizable windows, and more. Sage Production Management also provides a list of exciting manufacturing and production features that go beyond what you have already.

Are you interested in moving from Sage Work Order to Production Management without delay? Just contact us online or call (330) 645-9959 to set up an appointment with a Scanco Solutions Expert today. 

Top Reasons Customers are Moving to Sage Production Management

Customers are providing feedback about Sage Production Management. Here are their top five reasons why they are upgrading their ERP software:

1. Dynamic Inventory and Labor Cost Management

   If you are a business owner or manager working in the manufacturing sector, you know that having accurate data is key to being able to run your business effectively. Sage Production Management gives you real-time updates of inventory transactions and the number of materials you have on hand at any given time.

   You can track labor and other costs, such as your accounts payable, overhead and status. This feature allows you to stay on top of costs versus budget for every job. You can order more materials or inventory if needed or adjust scheduling for workers, if required, to get jobs completed on time.

2. Production Management is Customizable and Expandable
   
   Sage Production Management can be modified to fit the specific needs of your business today. As your company grows, you can expect that these needs will change over time. At that point, you may want to consider one or more of Production Management’s extensions to give you more functionality.
    
   It may be helpful to think about the Production Management software like different building blocks. You can choose the ones that will benefit your business most. If a particular block is not a good “fit” for your manufacturing business, you don’t have to use it. It is always available to you later on if you change your mind or circumstances change. 

   Available extensions for Production Management include ones to support functions around materials planning, enhanced scheduling, and make to order. An extension is also available for advanced product configuration. 
   

3. Production Management Offers Many New Features

   One of the reasons customers are choosing to upgrade to Production Management from Sage Work Order is that Production Management offers several new features that are not available with the older software. All told, there are 130 new features available to Production Management customers. We are not even going to attempt all of these new features here. However, the following are a few examples:
    
   • When materials are issued to a Work Order, inventory and quantity on-hand is updated in real-time.
    
   • Users can Create New Work Orders from several sources, such as the Open Work Order command, by using a template, using a historical work order, or manually. The system gives the user the flexibility to use the method they prefer. Production Management also offers complete visibility of how each work order was created.
    
   • Work Ticket Steps/Materials remain open and editable until the Work Ticket is closed.
    
   • The process to move materials from one step to another one is quite easy.
    
   • Employees can each be assigned a regular earnings code and an overtime earnings code to make tracking labor costs easier.
   

4. Sage Production Management Gives Users Access to a Microsoft SQL Server

   Work Order does not offer any of its users access to a Microsoft SQL Server . This type of server offers several advantages, including the following:

   • Large Storage Capacity

   The  was developed to work in conjunction with a database that can store a large amount of data. Its storage limit is one terabyte. One terabyte can hold the following:

    – 130,000 digital photos;
    – 2,000 hours of CD-quality recording;
    – 472 hours of broadcast video; and
    – 150 hours of high definition recordings.
   
   As your business grows, the SQL Server efficiently adjusts to meet the higher data management capacity demand. When there are more demands on the database, the stored data continues to be readily available to you and those you designate as authorized users.

   • Permissions and Security
   The Microsoft SQL Server allows administrators to add several users (as well as set up multiple accounts). It also has multiple layers of security, which allows administrators to decide which users will be granted access. Once a user is given access, the administrator can then set an appropriate level of authorization for the user. The administrator can also determine whether certain areas should be restricted from a particular user. These permissions can be changed and updated as necessary, depending on your needs.
   
   • Dependability
   This type of server is well known for its reliability. Even if a system outage occurs, the SQL Server’s automatic recovery features are immediately launched. This feature immediately goes into effect without the need for an administrator to issue a command. The SQL Server launches database restoration and completes this function to restore your data to the same level before the interruption.
    

5. Production Management Offers a Fully Mobile Scanning Solution

   Sage Production Management is available as an iOS or an Android app so that you can access its features from the warehouse floor in the palm of your hand. (You also have the option of accessing its powerful capabilities as a Windows OS app as well.) 

   The mobile app has recently undergone several enhancements that you will find helpful, such as:

   • Adding a “Status Update” Tab to the dashboard

   • Allowing Chargeable Parts to be added through the app

   • Allowing Purchased Items to be added through the app

   • Adding an “Auto Send” Function to the Status Update application

Scanco Sage Production Management Software Round-up

It never has been easy being in business. If you have the drive and the ambition to run a business, you may as well have the best tools at your disposal. These days, that means putting something in place that will give you and your managers a complete view of your inventory in real-time. Without this valuable information, you won’t be able to give your customers accurate delivery dates for orders or even fully commit to new jobs.

Sage Production Management takes your data about production and places it in a central, virtual, location. You (and those you give permissions to) can access data about the status of jobs, the costs, and the number of materials needed to meet current and upcoming demand.

This software also allows you to track labor costs, including overtime. You can ensure you will have enough workers to complete orders before the work starts. Production Management also allows you to track the costs of each job while in progress so you can make adjustments to materials, inventory, or production processes if necessary.

Manufacturers must be able to keep close track of all aspects of their business as they are fulfilling orders. Sage Production Management is the new version of Sage Work Order and it brings a lot to the table. If you were thinking about getting Work Order but had thought you had missed out, Production Management has a lot to offer.

Would you like to learn more about Sage Production Management’s features and how it can help your manufacturing business? Contact us online or call (330) 645-9959 to set up an appointment with a Scanco Solutions Expert today.