VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net

Materials Management Module

Forecasting/MPS/MRP/CRP/APS-ETO/MTO/Repetitive

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Master Production Schedule (MPS) is used to specify demand, independent from sales orders and forecasts, to drive the MRP process. Multiple named forecasts can be maintained for consumption by MRP. Forecasts may be specified for high level family items. The MPS process can be run as a simulation or as an actual run, and allows for optional direct entry of planned orders.

Inventory Control

VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net offers enterprise wide Inventory Control that integrates planning and management of inventory at all warehouse locations. It provides the flexibility to manage the different types of inventory, provide traceability and control, ensure suitable safety stock for bulk or re-order point items.

Lot/Serial Number Control

The Lot/Serial Number Control option enables tracking the activity of inventory items that are sold, purchased or manufactured. Lot and Serial Number traceability meet the requirements for CFR 21 Subpart 15 traceability and management.

Material and Production Planning (MPP)

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Material & Production Planning suite provides the ability to match supply with demand at each stage of the product lifecycle. In addition, the suite provides the ability to manage production and material and resource requirements using input from forecasting, Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Capacity Requirements Planning (CRP) to generate and manage supply in relation to demand requirements. This suite provides organizations with a solution that improves the efficiency of the procurement and planning process.

Purchasing

VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Purchasing permits preparation of requisitions and purchase orders, including blanket order parts against a warehouse or any work order, sales order, project or valid general ledger account. It is fully integrated with VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Accounts Payable, Cost Accounting, General Inquiries, Inventory Control, and Work In Process to track materials, costs and activity.

Supplier Portal

To meet this objective, the VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net suite provides partner self-service access to key collaboration data. The Supplier Portal process is designed to help optimize the business procurement process, significantly reducing the overhead involved and achieving the best value for purchasing.

The Supplier Portal gives companies and vendors the tools to collaboratively manage the procurement process from requisitions, to quotation, and finally through to goods receipt. Internal users are able to create purchase requisitions for Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) items or production parts via a simple web based form. The purchasing team is able to quickly take purchase requisitions and either convert them to purchase orders, or publish them online to selected vendors as a Request for Quote (RFQ). The Supplier Portal lets vendors access selected data in order to provide online quotes, updated price schedules, part lead time information and delivery promises. The Supplier Portal provides buyers with tools to analyze vendor responses for the best balance of price and delivery performance. It supports the use of reverse auctions where the company determines the method of purchase cost management that is appropriate.

Financial Management Module

Accounts Payable

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Accounts Payable module allows the ability to maintain the supplier data and provides for the entry, maintenance and payment of supplier invoices, debit memos and adjustments.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable provides for the entry and maintenance of customers, currencies, credit terms, tax codes, installment billing plans, contact management groups, invoices, credit memos, finance charges, adjustments and cash receipts.

Financial Management

Lengthy business development and engineering cycles require effective cost tracking, optimized supervisory controls, and procedures that insure compliance and accuracy. The strong integration of the VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Financial Management suite and its reporting and analysis capabilities allows companies to manage and monitor financial performance in real-time. Most engineering projects involve progress payments and retentions or holdback. In this environment, being able to ensure that billing is done in a timely manner and being able to accurately predict cash flow is critical. VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Financial Management functionality provides customers with a solution that addresses all financial management needs. 

General Ledger & Financial Consolidation

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net General Ledger provides the tools to measure performance against budget at individual levels including project, department and account levels based on either actual or standard cost. Complete support for multi-entity businesses is built in assuring every organization the ability to conduct and manage business within any combination of single or multiple business hierarchies.

Product Costing

Product costing provides for the robust calculation of standard costs. Standard cost versions can be maintained by entity, warehouse and operating budget. Labor variations are supported by warehouse and part revision dependent routings. Revenue Recognition and Installment BillingAutomate the generation of accounts receivable invoices based on user defined installment billing templates. These templates allow for timed generation of invoices in relation to order progress based on predefined business specific event triggers. 

Project Accounting and Management

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Project Accounting module together with fully integrated project management capabilities, provides the tools needed to manage all projects on time and within budget. The Project Accounting module extends into every module of the system, providing the means to manage on a project basis. Additionally, it also enables each department to operate optimally with a mix of project and non-project work. Project Accounting is a cost collection and planning tool. 

Cost Accounting

Work order and sales order transactions accumulate costs to Work In Process and Cost of Goods Sold ledger accounts. Cost Accounting delivers real-time standard to actual analysis. Cost Accounting provides a number of estimates to complete/ estimate and complete cost analysis reports.

Human Resources and Payroll

All aspects of employee definition, time tracking and expense posting are managed via VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Human Resources and Payroll module and the Time and Attendance module.

Production Management Module

CAD Interface

The CAD Interface provides for export and import of parts and BOMs. VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net provides online links from ERP product data to part drawings and electronic files.

Engineering & Product Life Cycle Management (EPLM)

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net ERP Engineering & Product Lifecycle Management suite provides an integrated product backbone in support of multi-department enterprise requirements. Complex product manufacturers require robust product data management, continuous engineering and support for cradle to grave and cross-domain elements all of which are facilitated using the VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net application. Common data access and efficient transaction handling allows complex manufacturing companies to develop, describe, manage and communicate information about their products.

Operations Management

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Operations Management suite simplifies the day-to-day and longer range operational tasks of complex product manufacturers. VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net delivers cost effective Operations Management capabilities throughout the manufacturing system. This integrated suite of modules and subsystems ensure superior business process in the areas of Quality Systems Management, Labor Management, Shop Floor Control, Work In Process (WIP), Maintenance Operations and Data Collection. Functionality in these areas is critical to realizing the benefits of an optimized manufacturing business operation.

Quality Systems Management

VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Quality Systems Management module is integrated throughout the application and business process. It delivers integrated quality assurance management by extending standard shop floor control and provides for the creation and use of revision controlled, ​“process oriented” routings. Quality Systems Management also offers a number of tools to assist in quality control data collection and analysis. This module can help businesses achieve ISO compliance with a well defined process throughout the business from the shop floor and in all aspects of the production cycle.

Labor Management

VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Labor Management provides all companies with the ability to generate timely management information, in addition to facilitating the company’s ability to ensure the smooth running of Human Resource (HR) administration. VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net provides comprehensive tools for capturing both production related and overhead time bookings, ranging from hourly timesheets to web based time collection for remote employees.

Shop Floor Control

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Shop Floor Control module provides maximum flexibility to deploy plant wide resources using finite, infinite, backward or forward scheduling. Users may split work orders, track material and change routing operations content and scheduling to meet the critical needs in the time required. VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net also provides comprehensive shop floor control capabilities to enable full definition of routings along with primary and alternate work centers, alternate work centers, man/machine resource costing capabilities and the ability to manage sub-contracted operations.

Work in Process

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net WIP module allows each business to effectively manage the production functions of the business. It identifies assemblies to be built, channels material for work orders into the production floor and returns finished assemblies to the warehouse for shipment to all cus​tomers​.VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net delivers real value for WIP management and provides complete support for mixed mode (hybrid) and To Order manufacturing.

Maintenance Operations

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Maintenance Operations module assists with the tracking and resolution of customer service calls through its integration with the controls, labor and order entry features of other VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net modules. This allows you to track and report equipment failures and service calls and repairs.

Data Collection

Support for barcode identified inventory data collection is available for a variety of inventory related transactions. In addition, using web services and its open architecture, VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net supports linkage to data collection systems such as wireless data capture or barcode systems. Approaches such as these offer the opportunity to further reduce the cost of collecting and improving the timeliness and accuracy of all inventory, work in process and related operations data.

Parts & BOMS

VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net focuses on ergonomics as well as rich functionality in creating and maintaining product data. Elimination of duplicate entry and access to both ​“quick entry” and ​“full maintenance” forms allows engineers to focus on engineering not data entry.

Product Configurator

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Product Configurator provides powerful, rule-based generation of product structures, costs, and pricing, in a flexible guided user interface.The product configurator is fully integrated with quoting, order entry, and engineering, delivering efficient data entry and reliable generation of simple to complex Configure-To-Order items.

Routings

VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Routings define the steps within the process required to build a ​“make” part. Routing files contain instructions on how and where to build products. Each routing contains the sequence of operations that need to be performed and identifies the work centers where the operations are to be performed together with the resources, machine and labor used to perform each operation. Times listed in the routing determine the labor costs, scheduling, and the capacity required to manufacture the product.

Customer Relationship Management Module

Available to Promise

Available to Promise (ATP) is an important element in providing superior customer service. Setting proper expectations at the time of order enables subsequent on time delivery and solidifies the customer/partner relationship.

Customer Portal

Customer accessibility is made easy and securely with the Customer Portal. It provides self-service capabilities with a multi-lingual ²⁴⁄₇ e‑commerce storefront to facilitate the customer’s investigation and ordering activities. Product catalogs are groomed for both anonymous and trusted partner access, with appropriate access to pricing and part availability.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net CRM suite maximizes the value of every customer interaction through its integrated approach that manages, synchronizes and coordinates every customer and potential customer interaction. In complex manufacturing, companies and their customers interact through every step of the process, from engaging the customer as a prospect all the way through to servicing the customer. Efficient sharing and management of these processes provides faster communication, improved customer support and enhanced customer loyalty.

Field Service

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Field Service module provides call center logging, tracking of site and module equipment, along with ​“as-manufactured” properties. Service orders provide for administration of billable and warranty returns and repairs.

VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Field Service lets all companies maintain online service history and product configuration information. With highly accurate and easily accessible service records, each user can flag problem parts and processes whenever they may occur in the life cycle of a product.

Order Management

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Order Management system generates sales orders through direct input from quotes, EDI, configurator or Customer Portal. Orders can be tracked in real-time through the manufacturing, shipping and invoicing processes, while capturing accounting information such as project costs, pricing, profit margins and Accounts Receivable.

Many customer relationships involve complex contract and credit arrangements. Using VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net, simple orders, as well as complex order types, are easily executed. Additionally, CRM functionality supports customers with master billing and credit structures, pooled credit within subgroups, and pre-defined contracts for deposits, percent complete, and retention terms. 

Prospect & Sales Force Automation

VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net facilitates timely and coordinated management of leads, contacts and opportunities. Having the ability to configure and price complex quotations and sales orders, gather and review historical sales data, access information associated with customer related jobs and projects allows appropriate individuals to quote more quickly and accurately.

Quoting & Estimating

The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net Quoting and Estimating ERP Software module allows organizations to rapidly develop comprehensive and accurate cost and profitability estimates for all complex projects. This integrated system supports the concurrent engineering aspect of the To-Order business by fully utilizing its data with all other business processes. Quoting and Estimating allows companies to quote standard products where price and availability are the key variables, as well as products that require extensive design engineering or multiple configurations.

Additional Capabilities Module

Business Intelligence

Visibility’s Business Intelligence Analyzers transform unrelated, detailed information from one or more disparate business applications into meaningful, business focused intelligence. Business Intelligence is the delivery of accurate and valuable information, to key decision makers, ​“on demand.” The purpose of which is not to answer the common questions, but instead to uncover new questions and find answers to questions you never thought you would ask. Visibility’s Business Intelligence Analyzers transform unrelated, detailed information from one or more disparate business applications into meaningful, business focused intelligence. These tools provide a pre-defined set of metrics which enable end users to analyze standardized business data, from any number of perspectives, using Microsoft Excel and Reporting Services. Visibility’s Business Intelligence provides you with the tool-set for tailored reporting and analytics, thereby allowing you to control the information you see and need precisely at that moment. The Visibility Business Intelligence Analyzers are designed with a best practice architecture that facilitates speed to deploy and flexibility to accommodate unique measurements for your organization.

Solutions exist for:

• Finance (AP, AR, GL)
• Sales
• Purchasing
• Projects
• Inventory
• Labor
• Work-In-Process/Capacity Planning 

Visibility uses Microsoft SQL Server to develop Business Intelligence solutions, as this is the only end-to-end business intelligence tool in the market which has its own database analysis tools and reporting services. Included in the Microsoft SQL Server package are a Database Repository, Data Transformation and Analysis Services; as well as Reporting Services. Furthermore it is possible to publish and share your reports over the internet through reporting services packages. It is easy for decision-makers to access the analyzed real-time information and reports at any global location through a shared, security protected, network facility.

Business Performance Management (BPM)

Business Performance Management (BPM) is a focused approach to analyze critical business data. It involves consolidation of data from various sources, querying, analyzing and presenting the results in an organized view. VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net BPM is supported by a suite of pre-linked data marts using Microsoft® SQL Server analytic tools. Use of Microsoft® Excel as the analysis tool delivers familiarity, comfort and ease of deployment. Best practice analysis of business information results in improved business operations. 

Business Intelligence

Visibility’s Reporting & Analytic Solutions unlock critical business information and transform data into knowledge. All pre-built departmental solutions are designed with a best practice architecture that facilitates speed to deploy and flexibility to accommodate unique Key Performance Indicators for your organization. 

Multi-Entity Consolidation

Visibility’s Financial Analyzer contains data from multiple business units; in both base and consolidation currencies. Powerful analytic displays deliver interactive comparative and consolidated results. The data loading phase of the consolidation data mart, processes currency conversion, ledger account mapping, and elimination entries. 

Corporate Governance

Governance and audit controls exist both in the VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net ERP application and in the Financial Analyzer. Every record in the ETO ERP software application is user and date stamped. Changes to user and role permissions are tracked thus meeting control standards such as Sarbanes-Oxley. In financial consolidation, business unit controllers electronically authorize unit financials prior to clearing them for use in the consolidation. Where revisions are made, change history records are recorded. Additional information on Change Management and Logical Access can be found in the Secure Portal section of this document.

Managed Reports

Business reporting may be sourced from the core ERP database, or from the Visibility Analyzers. VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net supports security controlled access to reports and data sets, and content may be delivered on request, or using scheduled publication/intranet folder or email delivery methods. In financial consolidation, business unit controllers electronically authorize unit financials prior to clearing them for use in the consolidation. Where revisions are made, change history records are recorded. Additional information on Change Management and Logical Access can be found in the Secure Portal section of this document.

Collaboration

Improved communication with suppliers, partners, customers and employees, through easy to use electronic interaction, dramatically optimizes business processes, increases responsiveness and enables new levels of achievement throughout the enterprise. The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net collaborative and secure foundation provides improved controls through the use of workflow, document management and threaded discussions. In addition, the system allows for personalization at both the system and user levels. These added controls increase compliance as well as help tailor and extend the application increasing usability and adaptability to best fit the business requirements. 

Workflow

Many difficulties in business process management relate to ​“off-system” manual tasks, such as notification, investigation, authorization, and follow up. VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net has the ability to automate business processes through the use of workflow templates; making it easier to control and administer standard processes through the necessary steps. This allows companies to improve and standardize functions across the company without burdensome manual administration and provides employees visibility into the status of ​“in-process” tasks, making it easier for them to execute their tasks effectively. The VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net workflow engine automatically monitors the execution of each activated workflow to assure its timely processing and allows users to quickly determine the exact state of an in-process workflow. 

Personalization

When assessing how a comprehensive ERP application fits each individual business requirement, Visibility recognizes that seldom does ​“one size fit all”. VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net offers a number of built-in options that allow a business to set up, adjust and extend the core application to best fit the business requirements within the standard framework. 

Document Management

Files and documents can be attached to any transaction or to master data. Attached documents are efficiently uploaded for storage in the backend relational database and linked to the originating transaction for absolute audit control. Attached documents can be retrieved for review via reference to the original transaction at any time.

Secure Portals

VIS​I​BIL​I​TY​.net implements the use of role based security to assign each role the most appropriate access to transactions, application forms and reports. Based on the role to which each user is assigned, the application will display only those forms, reports, transactions and field level information to which the individual has access.

Threaded Discussions

Transactions and master data forms may be configured to allow for entry and maintenance of threaded comments. Threaded comments store notes in a conversational thread for multi-user collaboration. This is particularly useful for maintaining notes against items that need approvals, or for expediters’ notes on projects or orders. All comments are automatically stamped with user identification and the date and time.

Visibility Business Intelligence

AnalyzersVisibility’s Reporting and Analytic analyzers unlock critical business information and transform data into knowledge. These solutions are easily deployed to work with your current business systems and existing IT infrastructure. All pre-built departmental analyzers are designed with a best practice architecture that facilitates speed to deploy, and flexibility to accommodate unique KPI’s for your organization. Some of the measurements you can expect to analyze in the business intelligence package are: General Ledger, Cash Management, Projects, Budgets, Actual Costs, Employees, Departments, Trends, Contributions, Returns, Suppliers, Number of Orders, Value of Orders and much more.

Business Intelligence Benefits

• Increase speed to access and analyze key business data to make informed fact-based decisions faster
• Empower business users with tools to spot and explore trends
• Improve quality information and facilitate data consolidations
• Provide consistent data across the organization so users can spend less time reconciling differences
• Replace Home-Grown or ineffective standard report writer products
• Provide powerful analysis for intuitive assessment of business information
• Utilize existing IT infrastructure
• Reduce workload and impact on transactional systems
• Users can perform ad-hoc analysis through a drag & drop functionality
• Give your staff the power to access, analyze and collaborate
• Utilize software tools you already own, but are not employing fully