PO20

Is this just to communicate to the vendor to remind them to do this on the packages? If so you can create a comment code (PO12) to associate with the po's. If you use PO100 it can be added there at the point of PO creation from the req's and/or IC140 inventory replenishment orders.

Can I ask why it's important to have the PO number on the outside of the package? In our delivery process, the staff delivers off the delivery ticket. The PO is only needed to receive in Lawson and if it's on the packing slip that's good enough.

This is something my director is asking to have done, so I posed the same question back to him.

 

I'd assume this is something very beneficial in situations where the vendor ships multiple orders shrink wrapped within a pallet...probably most significant with shipments from distributors.  Having the PO# on the box is very helpful to receiving staff in these situations.  

What would be the appropriate Print Option in PO12?

I can understand that, for receiving purposes. Our distributor does this and also, for stock items, labels each case with our bin location for ease of putaway. But the process Bev is describing is that the PO should be on the box for delivery to the departments. I'm still a little foggy on the benefit there. Plus it's likely you could have multiple orders in one box to be delivered to multiple locations.

If you want the vendor to see it your print option will have to be P or T. They would probably be more likely to see the comment in the header rather than the trailer.

What do you use for issuing/printing POs (paper, EDI, pre-printed forms)?
Do you use MSCM receiving ?

I didn't originally read it that way! :-) I guess from the department standpoint it might be helpful if it is a cross-dock / centralized receiving situation? Perhaps it's a extra validation upon delivery to expedite the process?

Bev - If the communication is to the vendor you are placing the order with I would say comments to print on purchase order! If it's for the receivers or delivery staff I would pick those applicable print options.

MSCM lables may also satisfy this need if your own staff is responsible for labeling the boxes for delivery?

Here is the reasoning behind why we want to do this that my director sent to me:

The problem comes when we send the product to the Department or individual staff member whose name is on the delivery ticket, have them sign for the goods then ask them to get back to Receiving staff with the PO # so we can close out that PO. They typically do not do this step and the open item shows up on the INR Report. We can't receive the item if we don't have the authorization to receive that item on behalf of the product requisitioner. So, it sits open & unpaid when it has already been physically received, but not in Lawson. The loop is not closed and Receiving is to blame because "They didn't receive it".

Ah....if the process is one that you are wedded to, you could maybe see if IT could design a report or alert that the requester would need to click on to authorize the receipt?

I've heard of people who do similar processes as you are - only instead of receiving it after the requester signs off on it, they receive it without opening/checking the box and it is up to the requester to tell them if there is anything wrong. So, the requester only has to contact if there is a problem and not every time.

We don't do it either way. We physically open and check every package, receive it right then in Lawson and then use Mobile Supply Chain/Lawson delivery documents to deliver the package to its final destination. That way, we control what is received (physical box check) and where it goes without waiting for the end user to have to tell us anything.

Michelle

We do the same as Michelle although we don't use MSCM R&D. Your director might want to institute a policy where if the requester doesn't contact purchasing/receiving within a number of days after delivery that it's assumed there was no problem with the shipment and the item(s) will be received in Lawson.

John - We use EDI. We do not use MSCM RAD.

I was referring to what Michelle said that Carle Foundation Hospital uses MSCM RAD but we don't. I'm guessing sometime in the past there were some orders that were delivered incomplete so your department instituted this policy of delaying receipt in Lawson until the department says everything was delivered fine. Not really best practice because, as you've discovered, it results in bigger problems than what you started with.