Eagle Consulting and Development: Frequently Asked Questions

Product FAQs

What are the primary benefits of RF Express for MFG/PRO?
Real-time, streamlined input to the QAD MFG/PRO database
Input with QAD MFG/PRO edits and logic
Increased data visibility with reduced data entry input
Integrated label generation and bar code scanning

What are some of the typical uses for RF Express for MFG/PRO?
Paperless RF terminal receiving with integrated label printing
Paperless material requisitioning, RF terminal material movement and putaway
Paperless RF terminal cycle counting and physical inventory
Shop floor labor collection
Finished goods warehousing and shipping

How does RF Express for MFG/PRO interact with QAD MFG/PRO? What does the user see?
RF Express for MFG/PRO provides the user with a simplified input screen flow for the corresponding QAD MFG/PRO transaction. The user sees -- and responds to -- one question at a time, and each response is validated instantaneously within the QAD MFG/PRO database. Instant validation means that users cannot put invalid data into QAD MFG/PRO. For example, users who enter an incorrect part number or location will see the same QAD MFG/PRO edit on the RF terminal that they would see if they executed the same transaction within full screen QAD MFG/PRO.

As a user proceeds through a transaction, the actual lower level routines within QAD MFG/PRO are executed. The user is presented with a summary screen and an OK TO POST-YES/NO question. When the user indicates YES, the transaction is posted as if the QAD MFG/PRO transaction had been completed. The appropriate transaction history records are instantly available.

What differentiates RF Express for MFG/PRO from other data collection products?
True real-time
Progress-based
Real-time calls to QAD edit and update routines
Extensive, worldwide installation base
Open environment
Reliable, "off the shelf" RF network components

What language is RF Express for MFG/PRO written in?
Both RF Express for MFG/PRO and QAD MFG/PRO are written in PROGRESS, a fourth-generation programming language.

Does RF Express for MFG/PRO use a separate server?
No, RF Express for MFG/PRO does not require a separate server. The software is installed on the same UNIX or NT server as QAD MFG/PRO. The RF terminals are TCP/IP devices that communicate with radio access points (also TCP/IP). The access points provide telnet connectivity to the host.

What happens if the radio frequency network/terminals go down? Is RF Express down?
No, the design of RF Express for MFG/PRO is such that it will run on any terminal (dumb or PC) that is connected to the host. If the customer were to experience a loss of the RF components (for example loss of LAN connectivity to the access points), RF Express for MFG/PRO can be run on PCs or dumb terminals. The radio frequency portion of the network provides mobility and efficiency for RF Express for MFG/PRO, but it is not a failure point.

What is the functional and enterprise benefit of executing Eagle’s purchase order receipt transaction at the receiving dock?
The RF Express for MFG/PRO Purchase Order Receipt transaction allows the user to post the receipt in the same manner as 5.13.1. The user can perform multiple receipts (lines/items) on the same PO. RF Express for MFG/PRO will allow the user to look up open POs or lines for a particular item.
RF Express for MFG/PRO will allow the receipt by vendor part using the supplier part cross-reference feature.
RF Express for MFG/PRO will allow the user to print the receiver all in the same transaction flow.
RF Express for MFG/PRO has a built-in labeling routine that provides multiple options to label the incoming product. For all future transactions with the received the product, the part, lot, and quantity can be scanned into RF Express for MFG/PRO for increased accuracy and efficiency.
Real-time receiving provides increased inventory velocity to the consuming process or user.

What is the functional and enterprise benefit of executing Eagle’s inventory management transactions on the floor?
RF Express for MFG/PRO provides inventory transfer, lookup, cycle counting, status changing, palletization and other functions. These transactions lead to increased inventory velocity and accuracy. RF Express for MFG/PRO provides the capability to move and transact inventory simultaneously. Real-time inventory movement and posting leads to better MRP executions.

What is the functional and enterprise benefit of executing Eagle’s backflush transactions on the shop floor?
The RF Express for MFG/PRO Backflush transaction provides the capability to perform an 18.22.13 backflush transaction in real-time. RF Express also provides the capability to report production, containerize the inventory and label in one transaction. The finished good label has an eight-digit container id that can be scanned to ship the inventory. Again, real time production posting results in better MRP executions and leads to better customer service because finished goods are available for shipping sooner.

What is the functional and enterprise benefit of executing Eagle’s advanced shipping load truck transactions on the shipping dock?
The RF Express for MFG/PRO load truck transaction performs several functions contained within shipper maintenance. The user can simply scan the container to attach its contents to the shipper. The user can also create a shipper "on the fly" (The user can create a shipper header from the RF terminal—there is no need to open full screen QAD MFG/PRO.) The load truck provides the capability to update the containers selected by simply scanning the container id to attach the items to a shipper id.

What is the typical code installation of RF Express for MFG/PRO?
In either a UNIX or NT environment, RF Express for MFG/PRO has its own directory on the same server where the QAD MFG/PRO installation resides. Under the RF Express for MFG/PRO main directory, separate sub-directories exist for source, configuration files, label files and scripts.

Can you summarize the current inventory functionality of RF Express for MFG/PRO?
Purchase order receipt with labels
Receipts: unplanned
Transfer with lot change
Inventory by item
Inventory detail maintenance
Cycle count/recount
Tag and recount (physical inventory)
Pallet move / load / unload
Pallet cycle count
Pallet tag count

What capabilities do you offer in support of QAD MFG/PRO's Work Order module?
Work order issue
Work order receipt
Work order receipt with backflush
Labor feedback by W.O.
Issue unplanned
Return to stock

How about Sales Orders?
Sales order picking
Pallet picking
Receipts (sales order return)
Distribution order ship
Distribution order receipt

We've been QAD MFG/PRO users for awhile and are looking to continue enhancing our system and improving our efficiency. Do you have more advanced features that might help us?
Intelligent prompting
Table-driven option selection
Data identifiers
Customer/supplier cross reference
Label library
Integrated security and menu system
Data prefills
Multi-language support
Integrated material locator

What kind of operating environment is required for RF Express for MFG/PRO?
Operating environments include UNIX, NT, HP/MPEix

What devices does Eagle support?
RF handheld networks (TCP/IP and Serial):
IEEE 802.11B Direct Sequence | Spread spectrum (2.4 GHz)
Spread spectrum (900 MHz) | Narrow band
Fixed stations with wands and laser scanners
RF ID tags | Fixed RF printers | Portable RF printers
Scales
Industrial ink jet sprayers
Thermal transfer printers
Bumpy bar codes

Do you specialize in a particular vertical market or industry?
Eagle has in-depth expertise – supported by customer references around the world – for all vertical markets supported by QAD. That includes automotive, consumer products, electronics, food and beverage, industrial products and medical markets.

What about manufacturing modalities?
Eagle supports process, discrete, repetitive and mixed-mode manufacturing.

Our organization has narrowed the decision down to two automated data collection vendors. Eagle is one of them. If you could write the final questions for us to ask the two vendors, what would those questions be?
Is the application written in Progress?
Does the application have direct access to the QAD MFG/PRO database?
Can the application call upon QAD MFG/PRO edit and update routines for complete compatibility?
Will the application provide functionality above and beyond standard QAD MFG/PRO?

Business Process Analysis

Be sure to visit us at Explore in booth numbers 30 and 31.

August - September 2004 UPDATE:
800 customers, 3,000 sites, 20 countries
and QAD Product Alliance of the Year.

Last modified October 03, 2004

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