Exploring How NetSuite 2024.2 Enhances Manufacturing and Warehouse Operations
NetSuite continues to raise the bar with its bi-annual releases, offering businesses powerful tools to improve operational efficiency. The second release of 2024, which rolls out between August and October, introduces a host of new features and SuiteApps aimed at manufacturers, warehouse management teams, and supply chain planners. We are excited about these enhancements, as they offer practical solutions to the challenges our customers face every day.??
In this article, we’ll delve into NetSuite 2024.2’s new SuiteApps for Manufacturers, explore the latest enhancements to warehouse and shipping operations, and highlight other key features in the release.?
SuiteApps for Manufacturers?
Three new SuiteApps aim to give manufacturers greater control over their costs and the ability to respond to potential component shortages.??
1. Cost Variance Analysis?
The Cost Variance Analysis helps manufacturers analyse actual versus planned costs for work orders. What we particularly like is its ability to do this across multiple work orders by assembly, offering a detailed breakdown of costs by component, cost category, and conversion cost. This means you can easily identify areas where costs were either favourable or unfavourable compared to what was planned, helping you pinpoint inefficiencies and areas for improvement.?
2. Supply 360?
One of the key challenges manufacturers face is inventory management, especially when it comes to preventing component shortages that could halt production. Supply 360 offers a comprehensive view of component inventory levels for upcoming work orders, by location and date. It also alerts you to potential shortages at both the assembly work order and individual component level. We believe this feature will be a game changer, enabling manufacturers to proactively address inventory shortages before they impact production timelines, keeping operations running smoothly.?
3. Available to Build?
Available to Build provides instant visibility into what assemblies can be completed with your current inventory. What we really like is the flexibility it offers in terms of accessibility, being integrated with the sales order entry, and the item 360 dashboard. You can even assess component availability at both the assembly and sub-assembly levels, giving you fast answers about what can be built with inventory on hand. This level of visibility is essential for managing production timelines effectively.?
Warehouse and Shipping Operations??
Several new features in NetSuite's Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Ship Central are set to enhance warehouse operations and streamline shipping processes. These updates aim to help warehouse teams get orders out the door more quickly and cost-effectively, while also minimising inventory losses and order issues. Below, we highlight some of the most impactful enhancements that will transform your warehouse and shipping strategies.?
NetSuite's WMS introduces the WMS Bin Replenishment Schedule, allowing managers to filter inventory by item, item family, item group, or other criteria to efficiently schedule replenishments. This feature streamlines the process and helps maintain optimal stock levels. Employees can also capture serial numbers for entire pallets with a single scan, speeding up the receiving process.?
Another key feature is the new report on failed pick tasks. This report provides detailed insights into unfulfilled orders, enabling managers to quickly identify and address issues. With the WMS mobile app, warehouse teams can also perform more frequent cycle counts directly from their devices, minimising the need for desktop access.?
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The latest update to Ship Central includes automatic selection of the most cost-effective shipping option that meets the promised delivery date, reducing the need for manual searches and saving on shipping costs.?
In addition, Ship Central now supports expanded label printing capabilities. Businesses can include return shipping labels in outbound orders and choose different shipping methods for returns. Advanced customisation options are available for labels, including those for hazmat items, alcohol, and international shipments, ensuring all shipping needs are efficiently managed.?
Additional Features
These additional features bring greater flexibility, improved visibility, and streamlined operations to help businesses adapt to evolving needs and maintain high standards of efficiency and accuracy.?
NetSuite’s Supply Planning updates allow different settings for minimum order quantities and lot sizes. This adjustment helps align inventory with production needs more effectively. The extension of planning horizons from one to three years also enhances long-term forecasting.??
The SCM Mobile app now features color-coded data tables for quick status checks of work orders and sales orders, improving task prioritisation. Warehouse workers benefit from organised printer groups to streamline printing tasks and reduce errors.??
The Manufacturing Mobile app now automates lot and serial number tracking with GS1 barcodes, ensuring accuracy and saving time. Integration with the Lot Auto Numbering SuiteApp simplifies lot number generation and reduces errors. New employee badge tracking provides precise monitoring of manufacturing tasks and times, enhancing accountability.?
NetSuite Quality Management now includes stricter controls for inspections, ensuring that only assigned employees can complete them and preventing data alterations. Inspections can be triggered based on specific transaction types, streamlining the process. The new Quality subtab offers better monitoring of inspection status, and scheduling by quantity adds flexibility for managing quality control.?
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Why OSSM is the Ideal Partner for Manufacturers and Warehouse Managers????
With improvements that offer greater visibility, flexibility, and efficiency, these updates promise to transform business operations. At OSSM, we are excited about how these new features align with our mission to help businesses optimise their processes and achieve growth. To see these advancements in action and explore how they can be customised to fit your specific needs, book a NetSuite product tour with us today. We look forward to demonstrating how these solutions can benefit your organisation.?