As 2025 rapidly approaches, manufacturers are faced with the crucial task of preparing for year-end processes and optimizing their operations for the year ahead. Embracing best practices now can set the stage for a smoother transition and a more successful year. This is the perfect time to delve into the capabilities of VISUAL ERP and ensure that your systems and practices are aligned for a productive and prosperous new year.

Note: A full system backup should be completed and verified before starting any process. Follow proper change management processes to ensure all departments agree with any changes or resets.

Lot Trace:

• Review retest and expiration dates for lot numbers and move them to the corresponding location(s)

System Admin Tasks for ERP Systems:

• Review Windows, IIS, SQL Security, and all directories supporting VISUAL. Clean up as needed and adjust documentation

Purchasing:

• Review and update vendor contracts, quotes (prices), and Effective dates
• Review vendor activity and update status to Phased out or Inactive if needed
• Close-out and re-issue blanket purchase orders are required
• Review and close out old purchase orders
• Delete empty order headers
• Reset vendor performance score-carding statistics

Update Number Sequence:

• Review sequence numbers for AP checks and update if needed
• Typically, AR invoices, AR credit memos, journal entries, cash sets, and manual shipment sequence numbers don’t need to be updated, but a review can be suggested
• Review recurring invoices and update them if needed

SQL Backups:

• Archive year-end backups (after closing) of all databases for retention and audit purposes
• Archive year-end reports

Shipping:

• Review and close out old completed shipments still in Release status

Costs:

• If using Standard Cost, review and update the fixed and variable overhead rates being applied for labor and materials
• Review, simulate, and update costs, and schedule year-end cost roll as per your processes. (VISUAL Backup to be performed before exchanging to standard cost)

Financial:

• Specify the financial calendar for the next year
• Run costing utilities and prepare manufacturing journals for year-end processing
• Printing of the vendor 1099s
• Year-end payroll processing for VISUAL Payroll
• Make backups after closing of all VISUAL Databases and auditing purposes

Manufacturing:

• Update shop calendar for 2024
• Prepare and load next year’s Master Production Schedule; update planning parameters according to it
• Perform ABC analysis to update item class codes for cycle counting
• Prepare/apply cycle counting
• Review and close out old manufacturing orders
• Delete empty order headers
• Clear and reconcile the Backflush report