SHIPPING PIMS generates, in advance, a truck schedule, with date and time of arrival, carrier name and comments/instructions, as well as a pick list of rolls to be loaded into each truck along with a bar coded Load Identification Tag. As the vehicles are loaded, the Roll TAPPI numbers and the Load Codes are scanned and cross verified by PIMS to ensure accurate loading. The operator identifies the trailer or rail car number, driver and carrier and scanning the Load Tag to complete the process. When the trailer or rail car is loaded, a bill of lading is immediately prepared to accompany the shipment and it is signed and used as acknowledgment of receipt of the shipment. For export orders, a pro-forma invoice and packing slip are also generated. When required, PIMS faxes the bill of lading to the customer and carrier as well as a pro-forma to the border crossing. Traffic, Roll Tracking and Inventory modules are normally associated with Shipping. Traffic PIMS assists in carrier selection by presenting the lowest rates quoted by trucking companies servicing the customer destination. The associate selects the carrier and enters the date and time each truck is expected. Confirmation of rate and anticipated pick-up is automatically faxed or e-mailed. A list of vehicles and the dates they are expected to arrive can be printed or viewed on demand. For rail shipments, rates are maintained in PIMS by circular and route, according to customer rail city. Roll Tracking PIMS provides and maintains an extensive database that places important reel and roll statistics at your finger tips. This information includes: Roll: Grade, Width, Weight, Length, Diameter, Customer Order Number, and trade or transfer information. Production: Date, Time, Crew, Shift, Splices, Trim Number, Machine Speed, Deckle, Roll Marks and Trim Notes. Shipping: Date, Time, Bill of Lading Number, Carrier, Tractor, Trailer, Trucking Company and Driver, Invoice Number and Date. Quality Control Data: Moisture, Basis Weight, Caliper Tensile, Porosity and other relevant QC information. Inventory PIMS provides the means for Perpetual Inventory Control and greatly facilitates the Physical Inventory/Reconciliation Process. PIMS Perpetual Inventory tracks house and customer inventory located at the mill and in remote warehouse sites. For remote sites, PIMS provides the facility for on-line shipping entry and bill of lading generation directly from remote sites via VPN, dial-up, frame relay, or other means. In the instance where there is no electronic connection to a warehouse, the shipping document may be faxed and posted into PIMS at the mill or central operations. PIMS has the ability to track inventory at multiple locations from a central office with immediate production and shipping data updated between servers. (The data communication between mills is available for order processing, trimming and scheduling as well). Several inventory queries and reports are built into PIMS, including the following: ▪ Inventory Inquiry by Grade and Width - Overall mill or by customer, indicating rolls and tons for each size. Specific grade and width ranges may be requested. The individual rolls may be viewed by size, for lineal footage, weight and other details.
Graphical Inventory Analysis by Grade and Width - provides a quick review of inventory summarized by grade in bar graph form. Rolls and tons by individual width and diameter may be viewed, as well as selected inventory by customer or at remote warehouse locations. Inventory Detail Report - details the individual rolls in inventory, grouped by grade and size, according to warehouse, indicating TAPPI number, weight, lineal footage and production data. Roll Stock at Remote Warehouses - reports tonnage for each grade inventoried at remote warehouses, for quick review of stock position. In-Transit Inventory Report - indicates rolls shipped to off-site warehouses and not yet received. Stock Aging Report - indicates tons at each warehouse by customer according to age range in days (current, 15-30, 31-60, etc.) Totals by customer bill-to and ship-to are given, as well as house inventory. As part of the Physical Inventory process, PIMS allows the stock count to be taken using bar code scanners. Prior to the physical count, , the perpetual inventory count is copied and "frozen" in PIMS after which the physical count may begin. PIMS allows for normal production and shipment activity during the physical count and analysis. When the count has been completed and verified, comparisons of the "frozen" perpetual inventory are then made to the newly developed physical count and stock differences are developed. Once everything is reconciled, the ongoing perpetual inventory is automatically adjusted using the difference figures of the frozen perpetual and the final physical counts. Features include: Physical Inventory Count by Warehouse - Lists rolls in the scanned / counted physical inventory. Rolls Counted in Physical and Missing in Perpetual - helps tracing missing rolls. Missing Rolls Report Indicates those rolls listed in perpetual inventory but not in the physical inventory. Physical Inventory Summary This management report indicates beginning inventory, adjustments, shipments and ending inventory. Physical Inventory Adjustments Audit - PIMS maintains a record of adjustments including date, time and by whom. |
