Equipment Preparation and Testing as a Critical Part of an ERP Conversion
Posted on: December 27, 2020 | By: Tim Lovely | Uncategorized, QAD Practice News
As Logan Consulting continues to work with clients to successfully implement ERP systems at client facilities, a detailed cutover plan needs to not only account for ERP related end user training and data conversion to prepare the ERP system for the go-live, it also needs to consider related equipment.
In addition to data related tasks, it is critical to test the use of all equipment prior to cutover to confirm the equipment is working to support the business processes required and the functionality needed within the ERP application.
Example of items which should be added to the cutover checklist include the following:
- Office, Shipping, and Receiving Laser Printers – Do all printers work as expected as defined in the ERP system and is the output for standard reports, forms, and customer facing documents as expected?
- Bar Code Printers – Do all bar code printers work as expected and are all internal and external labels printing as expected. If they contain bar codes, are the bar codes prefixed with the correct data identifiers and do they scan using the scanning equipment planned for the cutover?
- Wedge Scanners – Are all wedge scanners linked to PC’s and are they configured to scan and auto-return or not as expected?
- Remote Scanners (such as Intermec Bar Code Data Collection Scanners) – Are all Bar Code Scanners and Truck Mounts tested against the bar code labels being used and are they configured correctly to scan and return and auto-return as expected?
- Access Points and Connectivity – Even though all bar code data collection equipment may test as expected, a thorough connectivity test is recommended. A third party such as Intermec can provide a site survey and help verify adequate connectivity.
- Line Terminals used for Production Reporting – Any terminals being used on Production Lines should be tested for access as well as these often use different connections or setup than regular PC’s or laptops.
- Line Terminal Integration to MES Applications – Although integration to MES systems or other Production Line related applications may have been unit tested and then validated in one or more Conference Room Pilots, the physical setup of the integration may not be completed until cutover weekend, at which point final pre-cutover testing should be done.
If you make sure you consider the technical testing tasks and add them to the cutover checklist, they can be accounted for as part of cutover weekend and Go-Live equipment-related issues can be reduced or eliminated.
About Logan Consulting
Logan Consulting is a leading consulting firm with strengths in strategy, project management, business process design, ERP and CRM implementation, recruitment and training. Since 1992, our business process-based delivery techniques and tools have helped our clients build a solid business process and information technology foundation to support their business. Our clients count on us for objective, unbiased analysis, recommendations and project work. To learn more and hear what our customers are saying about us, please visit our website (www.logan-consulting.com).
Logan Consulting is headquartered in Chicago, IL with global services reach.