Oct
16
small business wisdom - ERP software and the art of survival
October 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Commercial organisations need efficient process, the focus of leadership and structure that can adapt to enable the company to grow safely as a massive 55% of businesses don’t make it to their fifth birthday. The commentators offer banal opinions as to why this occurs. I consistently see three key reasons why this tragedy occurs so often and to so many people with different backgrounds, qualifications and knowledge.
The primary reason is insufficient market understanding.
No foresight. For example People dream up the idea, create the product and then expect the market to come and purchase. In this connected age there is no excuse for lack of research before spending any time and cash on creating a product until you have robust evidence there is a market.
The number two reason is lack of comprehension of fundamental facts about business.
A significant proportion of people starting a business know their trade, how to offer a service or build a product, but not how to run a business. Having the ability to read and follow the numbers in the Income statement or the balance sheet is a vital. The basic knowledge of accounting is not very often imparted well by the business manuals, internet resources and experts in the know such as accountants and bookkeepers. The problem is made worse by greedy and short sighted vendors such as Sage software misleading the market by selling only a portion of the functionality actually needed by small companies.
Small business accounting software isnt a complete answer.
Large corporations years ago figured out that all of their systems should be joined together to give them a comprehensive picture of the business and then along came ERP software solutions and packages. One vendor NetSuite had the vision to see the opening in the market and began selling its small business ERP software. NetSuite pricing has since increased and put their technology out of the financial reach of small businesses.
The final reason companies don’t survive is because of a dirth of process and procedures that put in place the vital disciplines and consistency a business must have to work efficiently.
Sep
16
Intro to Architectural Drafting
September 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment
For high quality and top notch residential and corporate offices to be built, the professionals working on the project like the architects, building contractors and site engineers need to have at their command accurate sketches and plans. Our forte is conversion of any architectural sketch into the CAD version. Both 3D and 2D adaptations can be taken up by us for this purpose. For 2D renderings we offer color applications and detailed room specifications. We also present clear information about the fixtures and furniture. Further more we enhance the shading and texture of the visualization. Customization according to the needs of the customer can however be done without any problem by us.
It is possible to get a very comprehensive idea when the presentation is in 3D format. To enable our clients to get the true effect, we present both day and night perspectives. In addition the images are designed in such a way that they appear in real time basis. We follow various methods and use varied items to do our work. All our representations come across as very real and life like due to the varied enrichment techniques we use in presenting the pictures. We also give a detailed design of the floor plans and elevations.
When it comes to old sketches, we are capable of adapting both hand and the scanned ones into the CAD format. The blueprint is made by us recognizing the rules of each country. A comprehensive idea about the particulars of each space and area can be provided while maintaining normal data protocol.
We ensure that roofing specifications are given in two dimensional and three dimensional versions so that the client is fully satisfied. This is done in accordance with the clients’ preferences. The drawings elevations are designed from the client’s specifications or the plan. The elevations are created with strict adherence to the country’s rules and specification.
The finer aspects of the interiors are represented with drawings that include the lighting as well as furniture placements. The landscaping details will include arrangements for plantations and other components like benches and dustbins. Any changes in the basic ground situation will be shown in the form of a comprehensive document. Such detailing is sought to be achieved primarily to present the client with a picture that is as close to reality as possible while maintaining and respecting any specific requirement from the client’s side.
For more information visit us at: Singapore Mechanical and Electrical Services
Sep
12
Computerized Maintenance Management Software Trends
September 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Top computerized maintenance management system suppliers update their systems to meet the growing needs of clients.
1. Leading CMMS do more
Up-to-date computerised maintenance management systems deliver more control of:
- Work schedules produced systematically
- The ability to schedule maintenance by asset type
- Stock control enhanced over long time periods
- Equipment issues recorded and alerts issued
- Flexible asset register creation with the ability to trace components
- Project management capabilities
- Shutdown planning functionality
- Immediate access to key documents, photographs and AV training aids
- Real-time distribution of information by email, SMS and web
2. Joined up thinking: a system wide approach Maintenance Management is increasingly believed to hold the key to profitability and now features in most enterprise management tools. Maintenance management funtionality is included in EAM (enterprise asset management), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CMMS systems. A CMMS delivers specific information to meet the needs of the maintenance team and can provide information to increase profitabity. By integrating a larger computerized system with an ERP or EAM system, you gain the best of both worlds - enterprise wide information management and efficient, effective maintenance management.
3. PDA based systems enable mobile maintenance
Today Technicians are on the move more than ever. Over the last 5 years the meteoric rise of wireless communications has enabled CMMS suppliers to enable remote electronic access to the computerised maintenance management system. To support greater mobility and flexibility, new PDAs have been introduced. Mobile technology. The following areas are where CMMS benefits are most obvious:
- Monitoring of assets
- Work orders
- Parts inventory and stock movement
- Text/email alerts for critical breakdowns minimise downtime
4. Easy access for personel
As a vital tool in the battle for lean manufacturing processes, a CMMS should be used widely across the organization by appropriate staff. We inhabit a world with a multi-ethnic workforce where IT literacy amongst the workforce is not homogeneous.
Therefore the interface to even the most sophisticated system needs to be simple and intuitive, reducing the need for training and supporting the adoption of a CMMS across all levels of personnel. Where manual data entry is required, text editors and pop up calendar scheduling makes text entry straightforward. Modern maintenance systems save time, allowing bulk alterations to tasks.
A considerable advantage of computerised mainenance management systems is their ability to easily trap and circulate data. With an aging workforce, documenting and collaborating on procedures for the next generation of maintenance engineers is critical. The more capable CMMS packages enable staff to locate and attach several files to both work orders and tasks and link multiple standard texts with a task. User passwords allow personel access to information which may be pre-configured. This is only available on some CMMS.
5. Visible reporting
Maintnenance managers are able to spot progress of projects, current problems and the position of important assets. Easy to read Dashboards help demonstrate the value of the maintenance department and can also enhance the wider factory culture, with everyone working from a very visible report that helps to bolster teamwork. The economic climate has forced companies to review the performance of its maintenance operation. The success of cost control, asset maximisation and downtime minimisation is largely dependent on the maintenance team.
With the capability to predict the future of your assets that these trends produce, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems will remain a vital tool for increasing the efficiency of maintenance teams of all sizes, helping them to turn from reactive to proactive asset management.
Sep
5
New Cars That Can Learn
September 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment
If you are asked which country you thought were at the forefront of technology advancement and innovation, you would probably think of Japan first.Their presence in the car markets have also been very powerful and Japan is renowned for producing high quality, reliable automobiles. They have now upped their game even further however by creating an integrated car system that uses ‘intelligent technology’, and it has already caught the eye of many off the car industries big hitters.
Microchips have been used in automobiles for a long time now, controlling such things as airbags, ABS and traction control among lots of other things. A couple of years back cars started to made that could self- monitor a great deal more elements than simply fuel levels and engine temperature. They could now report on tire pressures, chassis forces, MIL spec cables and even road surface conditions. The company in Japan known as Copal Electronics have taken the micro chip to the next level however and using new electrical components developed a car that can not only look after itself but can learn. If the car is driven around a corner in the wet at 30mph for example, and the rear wheels slide out, the car will note the road surface condition, speed, tire pressures, corning angle, weight of the car and many other factors and then make very subtle changes to things such as the fan accessories engagement so that the same does not happen again.
Experts have said that as the technology develops and the cars have been learning for a good few years, they will eventually be able to preempt and avoid all sorts of driving problems and accidents.The big car producers will want to run their own tests on the technology before they start incorporating it into their cars, but most experts believe it will go mainstream within 5 years.