On June 12, 2020, Infor released Version 8.00B of Fourth Shift® ERP, the most recent update of Fourth Shift® available to the public. Within release 8.00, Fourth Shift provided the ability to control which accounts can be used for Inventory Adjust (INVA) and Expense (G-type) Purchase Order (POMT) transactions. However, this functionality is not enabled out-of-the-box, and instead must be turned on to be active.  Once this logic is turned on, only accounts that can be used for these two transactions will be allowed.  Selecting an account that is not permitted will generate an error message and not allow the transaction to be completed.
30 June, 2020
The Gateway Work Center (WC) field in Fourth Shift is maintained on the ‘Item Master Planning Detail’ screen. However, most companies don’t know what it is used for and often leave this field blank or use the default value of ‘GATEWC’. Let’s take a quick look at why this field exists and how your business could be leveraging this functionality. 
24 June, 2020
Within Fourth Shift, purchasing items to receive into inventory is a straightforward process.  To start, create a purchase order header that identifies the supplier. Then, add a line for the item to be purchased including the item, quantity, price, delivery date, and line-type ‘P’, the most-commonly used in this situation. However, there are other line-types that can be used on purchase orders. Most buyers are familiar with ‘G’ type lines for expense or general ledger purchases or ‘S’ type lines for sub-contract manufacturing purchases. But, have you ever used the ‘M’ type line for direct purchases to work-in-progress (WIP) for a manufacturing order (MO)? Let’s briefly explore how this works.
22 May, 2020
Is your business really capturing every cost associated with production? What happens if products need to be reworked or repaired due to errors in production, or engineering changes that didn’t get caught in time? Let’s take a look at rework manufacturing orders (MO) and how they can be used to capture incremental production costs you may be missing to complete your total financial picture of the shop floor.
12 May, 2020
Many companies work to ensure their business system is up-to-date with the most current software release to take advantage of new functionality in the software, protect themselves from application issues, and leverage the most currently supported platform technology. But, let’s face it, it’s easy to fall behind – Your company becomes too busy, there are projects with a higher priority, or there are not enough resources and budget available for upgrades.
08 May, 2020
In light of recent events regarding COVID-19, businesses are tasked with the challenge of continuing to conduct business while ensuring the safety of all employees. The good news: there are some options to help meet both objectives. As many begin to implement work-from-home policies, businesses plan and prepare their organization to implement this policy safely, and strategically. 
08 April, 2020
If you’re thinking of hiring a full-time professional service team, the most important question is obvious: What comprises of the right team for my company? Before embarking on the search for the perfect professional service team, chances are you're wondering whether your company should seek an in-house team, or instead outsource your IT and ERP Support. While in-house support provides accessibility and a team that is integrated and familiar with your staff, outsourcing your support provides access to back-office support and skills that complement your team.
18 March, 2020
For the past few decades, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has proven itself to be a critical component to manufacturers everywhere. By integrating a variety of processes— planning, development, sales, marketing, communications, and more—into a single database, ERP allows you to concisely and efficiently manage your company. Implementing ERP is a huge step forward for a manufacturer, and the process should be handled carefully.  
11 March, 2020
Is your company using outdated software in its daily operations? If so, you’re probably losing more money than you realize. Legacy systems are a major hidden cost—something you aren’t writing checks to cover but is nonetheless costing your company money. Hidden costs are typically identified as activities that cause waste or a delay in the business process. When it comes to running a smooth business, it is critical to ensure that your technology is up to date. Otherwise, you won’t be able to accomplish specific goals or acquire skills that will prove to be valuable assets in the future.
04 March, 2020