Performing Cycle Counts - LawsonGuru.com

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Den

Advanced Member

Posts: 38

7/1/2014 12:16 PM

Cycle Counting.... I am developing the cycle counting procedure for the hospital. I would like to use Lawson as much as I can, as we use it for everything else. My thought process is: if Lawson can process cycle counts, let's use it. My problem is I am not familiar enough with Lawson. If we can't use Lawson effectively, then I have an Excel sheet to use as plan B.

We have our items setup as ABC classification. A is counted every month. B is counted every quarter. C is counted every 6 months.

1. Can we setup Lawson to tell us when to count the item? As an example, can Lawson tell me to count item XYZ today and then again next month? Can Lawson tell me item ABC should be counted tomorrow, and then not again until next quarter?

2. When performing a cycle count, must I freeze the items being counted? It seems as though, in Lawson's eyes, cycle counting is the same process as performing a physical inventory? Or am I missing something?

I know some folks don't freeze the inventory, but perform adjustments when cycle counting. I don't think our 'powers to be' will accept that practice. Which is why I am trying to figure out the appropriate way of doing this. Again... the difficult thing here, is our storerooms are open 24/7. So, if I can get around freezing inventory and still being able to perform a quality cycle count, I am all for it.

The ultimate goal is to put together a good process and hopefully get away from an annual physical inventory.

This is a really good group and I love hearing the different ideas of accomplishing something.

Many thanks in advance!
Den

JonA

Veteran Member

Posts: 1163

7/2/2014 8:09 PM

1. Yes, absolutely. In your Select ID setup (IC70) Lawson uses movement classes 1, 2 and 3 (similar to ABC) and you set the number of cycle count days for each movement class. For your case: class 1 = 30, class 2 = 120, class 3 = 180. We use IC151 to get the movement data. Instead of running it in update mode I bring it into Excel to make sure the items are in the classes I want them to be and use Addins to assign the class to the IC12 record.

2. Correct. Cycle counting is like a mini-PI in Lawson. Best practice is to freeze the inventory. You could just adjust as you go but your staff shouldn't be doing any inventory transactions during this time anyway if you want accurate counts. Plus your auditors won't be able to get a good picture of what was off and by how much. Depending on how many items you have in your inventory location(s) if you get a few staff to help it will go quickly. We have about 1200 items in our largest storeroom and we limit the total number of items per count to 70. Our Inventory manager does a couple cycle counts a week and it takes her about 20 minutes for each count.

Den

Advanced Member

Posts: 38

7/3/2014 11:46 AM

Thank you for your help Jon. Using IC70, can I: (1) Generate the Select ID for the day, (2) print the list for the day's count, but not need to freeze the items? I'd like to pull the list of items that need to be counted, but not freeze the inventory.

JonA

Veteran Member

Posts: 1163

7/8/2014 2:33 PM

Freezing the inventory (IC170) is how the list is generated. You could freeze then run IC270 to create the count sheets and then run IC179 to rmove the freeze. And make changes through adjustments. I'm not sure I understand the aversion to freezing the inventory. It doesn't prevent staff from issuing or processing shipments. If you want your counts to be accruate your staff shouldn't be touching the inventory but if they do you just need to be aware of what was taken.

Den

Advanced Member

Posts: 38

7/8/2014 3:36 PM

I have taken some time to understand the cycle counting process and understanding how the inventory freeze works. There was a misunderstanding here about how it works. With that misunderstanding, I was given wrong information about how the inventory freeze works. Now that I understand it better, I don't have any concerns about actually freezing inventory. Now, I understand we can perform our duties if I am trying to do cycle counts with a Select ID and inventory freeze on the items.

Sorry for my confusion. It took me some time to wrap my head around that idea. I need to stop listening to my co-coworkers!

Thanks for your help Jon!

Johnmac

Advanced Member

Posts: 35

8/19/2015 5:59 PM

Hello,

I am trying to use the handheld to cycle count but I receive “no forms are available for counting!” after clicking on CYCLE COUNTING in MPC.

I have followed the appropriate steps to create the cycle count in Lawson:
- IC70
- IC170

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
John

JonA

Veteran Member

Posts: 1163

8/19/2015 6:10 PM

Need to run IC270 as well. This creates the count sheets which is the "form" that MSCM/handheld is looking for.

Johnmac

Advanced Member

Posts: 35

8/19/2015 6:42 PM

I ran IC270. The job shows up in the "print mgr" screen.
Unfortunately, I still receive the same error message on the handheld.

JonA

Veteran Member

Posts: 1163

8/19/2015 7:21 PM

Depending on the frequency set to update MSCM with Lawson data it might not be there right away. Default is every 10 minutes if I remember right. If you still don't see it you might have to have your DBA run a command on the MSCM server -

DELETE FROM ICAUDIT_TRACKER; COMMIT;

Tim_T

New Member

Posts: 1

3/7/2016 4:18 PM

Is it possible to have a bin group that you count? Due to a lot of credits on our "surgery" items we don't want to include them in our cycle count. When I tried to set up IC70 it would not allow me to enter Bin Groups and By Logic. Any thoughts on how we can cycle count only 1/2 of our inventory on a daily basis using the ABC method?

JonA

Veteran Member

Posts: 1163

3/7/2016 5:27 PM

I re-read your question and I think I'm understanding it better today. If you don't want to include those surgical items in your cycle count I think your only choice is to create a select ID by bin group.

Bill

New Member

Posts: 2

6/22/2018 7:48 PM

07/02/2014 4:09

Can this be done a global level or does it need to be done for each select ID?

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1. Yes, absolutely. In your Select ID setup (IC70) Lawson uses movement classes 1, 2 and 3 (similar to ABC) and you set the number of cycle count days for each movement class. For your case: class 1 = 30, class 2 = 120, class 3 = 180.

JonA

Veteran Member

Posts: 1163

6/27/2018 5:17 PM

By "global" do you mean for the entire perpetual location? You wouldn't need to identify movement classes if you're doing a complete PI.

Bill

New Member

Posts: 2

6/27/2018 7:04 PM

Where do you setup or modify the movement classes for daily cycle counting? I am trying to change the amount of items the staff needs to count each day, but the only I seem to be able to effect this is by editing each select ID. I was hoping I could do this at the movement class level and have it update all of the select ID's.

JonA

Veteran Member

Posts: 1163

7/10/2018 1:16 PM

Movement class is set in IC12, Miscellaneous tab.