Can anyone recommend a good overall job costing package that they use? Especially in a fabrication/manufacturing environment.....
We use Sage job costing at the moment but it doesn't seem to provide the detailed reports that we need with regards to profitability and detailed costings....
Suggestions including replacing our accounting package with an overall new one will also be gratefully received....
Thanks
Replies (8)
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Exchequer?
You might like to have a look at Iris Exchequer - the overall package isn't particularly cheap, and the job-costing module costs extra, but it's very solid and easy to use.
The built-in reports are a bit limited, but the Excel links allow you to develop your own; once I had spent the time developing our reports, I had exactly the detail I required. We aren't in manufacturing, so I don't know how well it copes with BOM's etc, but for a service industry it works very well.
I'm nothing to do with Iris, but a (reasonably) satisfied user. Be warned, not everyone on Accountingweb is entirely happy with Iris' pricing levels.
Exchequer
You might like to have a look at Iris Exchequer - the overall package isn't particularly cheap, and the job-costing module costs extra, but it's very solid and easy to use.
The built-in reports are a bit limited, but the Excel links allow you to develop your own; once I had spent the time developing our reports, I had exactly the detail I required. We aren't in manufacturing, so I don't know how well it copes with BOM's etc, but for a service industry it works very well.
I'm nothing to do with Iris, but a (reasonably) satisfied user. Be warned, not everyone on Accountingweb is entirely happy with Iris' pricing levels.
Exchequer does have the capability to do BOM's and also has a works orders module that keeps a track of WIP for you amongst other things should you want that too. Not only can you use the Excel Links for reporting but there is also a Visual Report Writer which is easy to use.
Rich
My.N from Accounting Office Software Ltd
Another option worth looking at is My.N from Accounting Office Software Ltd.
It provides excellent Job Costing and Manufacturing capabilities with extensive reporting by department, cost centre, site and depot giving detailed profitability and costings right across the business.
Stock Control, BOM, Work Orders, QA, Serial and Batch Tracking along with Order Processing, Accounts and CRM all within a single integrated system.
For further details, or to arrange a demo, please give me a call on 01792 818177 or visit www.accountingoffice.co.uk.
Good luck in your search
Claire Gosby
Marketing Manager at Accounting Office Software Ltd
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
You could try Dynamics NAV. The Business Essentials license edition can have the Job Suite added to it just for capture of time and materials used on a project.
If you want a more manufacturing biased solution then the Advanced Management license includes Bills of Materials, Routings and Production Orders which will allow you to capture actual materials and time used and be able to calculate the actual unit cost.
The financials and stock control modules are strong and are fully integrated with both the Jobs and Manufacturing.
Reports come as standard but can be produced using Excel or an add-in for Excel called Jet Reports.
See more at: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/erp-nav-overview.aspx or www.cambridgeonline.net
Paul
If You are thinking of changing systems....
If you are thinking of changing systems, then you have many different ones to look at.
Think about whether you want simplicity of operation, whether you want to work with a big organisation who are not interested in individual client needs or a smaller one who can make changes to the system quite easily at little or no cost.
If you're in manufacturing, is it one-offs or is it mass-produced production line stuff? In which case do you need it to be linked to production planning and machine scheduling?
Fundamental questions to ask yourself are:
Which is the most important aspect of your production?Is it important to get the product manufactured smoothly and efficiently, keeping your customer happy, or is it more important that you can get fancy reports from your accounts system?
I realise that you need to know if you're making a profit and how much on which items but my advice is to take a step back and look at the production planning and materials scheduling first, find a system that suits your needs in the factory, then find an accounting system that links to it.
Most people start at the accounts end and work backwardsto the factory when it's actually more important to do it the other way round.
Get the production working properly, the accounts bit is simple.
Please feel free to give me a call if you need advice.
Roger Neale
Perkeo Computer Systems Ltd
www.perkeo.co.uk
07714 670789
Pegasus Opera 3
Take a look at Pegasus Opera 3. The product has all the Job Costing functionality you'd need. It's a fully integrated system that can gather costs from all areas of your business. Opera 3's ease of use and reporting is 'second to none'. Pegasus have local friendly resellers all across the country who would be happy to give you free consultancy before you buy.
If you're in the South West you could contact AMA Business Systems - www.ama-it.com or look-up your local reseller on the Pegasus web site - www.pegasus.co.uk
Feel free to give me a call if you'd like to discuss.
Regards
Alastair Moir
0117 923 1133
It sounds like Greentree would fit the bill for you. Have a look at www.prerogative.co.uk to see if they can help.
All the best,
Lloyd