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req:logistics_module_draft_requirements_simplified_-_mh [2009/02/16 14:50] michael Formatting |
req:logistics_module_draft_requirements_simplified_-_mh [2010/12/18 17:35] (current) |
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+ | ====== My Background ====== | ||
+ | I have spent the past 3 years developing Logistics and Supply Chain Databases for 2 different NGOs across Indonesia, Pakistan and Uganda. I believe that IRC is now using one of these databases as a global standard across all of their offices. The last 2 years has been spent with Save the Children USA in Banda Aceh, developing a supply chain management (SCM) system to assist their Tsunami recovery programs. | ||
+ | Here is the user manual which I wrote for the SCM database: | ||
+ | * http:// | ||
+ | * http:// | ||
+ | I have also included a couple of demo videos of this database (you' | ||
+ | * http:// | ||
+ | * http:// | ||
+ | I have now finished with these projects, although I know there is still a lot of room for improvement in this area. Unfortunately I see NGOs all pursuing their own systems independently. I hope with Sahana we may be able to develop a system which many different NGOs are able to use, which will be more efficient, and hopefully more effective, by improving collaboration between NGOs. | ||
+ | ====== Introduction ====== | ||
+ | This is an attempt to simplify the draft requirements, | ||
+ | |||
+ | I have deliberately kept this brief (and lazily a bit rough), I don’t want to write a huge amount before I have a complete understanding of what has already been done, although at the same time I hope that we can start to come together to requirements! Please let me know if I need to clarify anything, or if you think I’m wrong on any points. | ||
+ | |||
+ | My intention is to have software which will help the warehouse storekeepers manage their items in their inventory, this includes: | ||
+ | * Producing documentation on the receipt/ | ||
+ | * Producing Inventory Item Ledgers | ||
+ | * Producing Item Movement Reports | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Goal ====== | ||
+ | (At this stage) To produce Warehouse software aimed specifically at NGOs in developing countries, for use in disaster relief, recovery and development programs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | At this stage I'm only talking about warehouse software, but later I hope that we could include procurement, | ||
+ | |||
+ | One step at a time... | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Terminology ====== | ||
+ | Inventory – a location where items are stored, either permanently, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Processes ====== | ||
+ | ===== Admin ===== | ||
+ | ==== Add Inventory ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Warehouse Staff ===== | ||
+ | ==== Receive Items ==== | ||
+ | Add Item(s) to a specific inventory (This may include multiple items of different types). All the following details must be recorded: | ||
+ | - Ordered List Item | ||
+ | - Air Way Bill (AWB)/Bill of Lading (BOL)/other tracking number for the shipment | ||
+ | - Product Name/ | ||
+ | - Category/ | ||
+ | - Sender/ | ||
+ | - Recipient/ | ||
+ | - Designated for: (Specific project, population, village or other earmarking of the donation SUCH AS GRANT CODE). | ||
+ | - Quantity/ | ||
+ | - Shortage/ | ||
+ | - Net Quantity Received [Line 7 minus line 8 – this is used as quantity going forward. | ||
+ | - Unit of Measure (descriptor: | ||
+ | - Specifications (additional quanitity quanitifyer – i.e. “4mx5m” | ||
+ | - Unit Size [Default to 1 – allow users to change it] | ||
+ | - Weight (set unit of measure flag – KG or LBS) | ||
+ | - Date (POSSIBLE TO LINK TO AUTO-FIELD – but can override to change) | ||
+ | - Time (POSSIBLE TO LINK TO AUTO-FIELD – but can override to change) | ||
+ | - Comments | ||
+ | - Attachments | ||
+ | - PRICE | ||
+ | |||
+ | Produce Goods Received Note form. | ||
+ | This information could automatically be filled if the inventory is receiving a shipment dispatched from another inventory using sahana. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Dispatch Items ==== | ||
+ | Remove(s) from a specific inventory (This may include multiple items of different types). | ||
+ | Produce Waybill form. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Adjust Items ==== | ||
+ | Change the Item Balance due to loss/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Users ===== | ||
+ | ==== View Inventory Item Ledgers ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== View Item Movement Reports ==== | ||
+ | ==== Enter Incoming Items (not essential) ==== | ||
+ | This could be from procurement, | ||
+ | This would reduce the data entry when receiving these items | ||
+ | ==== Request Items from Inventory(not essential) ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | This would reduce the data entry when dispatching these items | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Designation and Aggregations ====== | ||
+ | My understanding of this is that an inventory may contain the same item, but designated to different Recipient/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Item Catalog ====== | ||
+ | I am not entirely sure what has already been done to this, but I know that this is difficult. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I believe that it is very important that all Warehouse Staff can enter new items, because you very know what things might end up being received into their inventory. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In the warehouse module which I developed I had big problems, because there was a lack of a standard catalog, and a lack of naming conventions, | ||
+ | |||
+ | I think that it is best if we can pre-populate a catalog (based on appropriate items). If an NGO were to start using this for warehouse management, I am sure that they will be able to provide us which item lists for catalogues, although this information will need to be standardized. I have an item list of ~10,000 items from the last NGO I worked for . | ||
+ | |||
+ | Item details include: | ||
+ | Name (in different languages) | ||
+ | Brand | ||
+ | Model | ||
+ | Size | ||
+ | Description | ||
+ | Category (how is this being implemented in Sahana? Also a tricky one to standardize) | ||
+ | I also included: | ||
+ | Height | ||
+ | Width | ||
+ | Depth | ||
+ | Weight | ||
+ | But the were never used! | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Current Inventory Module ====== | ||
+ | I think that the Inventory Module already has a great deal of the functionality, | ||
+ | * I think that the focus has been around data management, rather than warehouse management | ||
+ | * Items are “added” instead of received | ||
+ | * I can’t see the function to dispatch items | ||
+ | * I can’t see any functionality for producing support documentation such as Waybills or Goods Received Notes | ||
+ | * It seems that | ||
+ | Apologies if I’ve made any mistakes here. |