Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

Enterprise Resource Planning

Any medium to large organization or business that wants to be leader in its industry have superior decision support across its functions. Effective enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can ensure a competitive edge among a company’s competitor.  The purpose of ERP systems is to provide decision support for an organization/company. As an organization structure becomes complex ERP systems are essential in knowledge and decision management. Large organizations such as the Department of Defense (DoD) with very complex layers of management and multiple systems must rely on ERP to ensure vital decisions to ensure national security is intact.  In this article, ERP and its purpose will be defined. Second, a timeline and evolution of ERP systems will be provided to show how ERP systems and processes evolved within the last 50 years.

ERP Defined

 ERP is the integration of an organizations internal and external data. The purpose is to facilitate the data between the functions within or entities outside the organization. The functions within the organization are human recourses, accounting and finance, SCM, CRM, and logistics. Entities outside the organization can be suppliers or financial institutes.  ERP information is used by management, analyst or shareholders for decision support. Integrating data across the organization ERP allows the real-time control of information. 

           An ERP system in an organization is data derived from different systems or modules and stored in a repository database. Data in this database is queried and outputted to different reports and used for decision support from different functions of an organization. An example would be the accounting department conducting financial analysis on current level and value of inventory from data derived from the inventory management system and finance system. Figure one is an example of an ERP system, which displays modules of the Accounting, Inventory Management, Human Resources, and Sales and Marketing systems connected a repository database.  .

Purpose of ERP

The purpose of the ERP is for the facilitating data from different sources for the purpose of decision support. In addition to using information for decision support can also can be analyzed for process improvement. Information derived from ERP systems is essential for both decisions support and process improvement. As a decision support system, senior management can use information to expand its operations overseas, or introduce a new product line. As a process improvement system it provides management information to optimize production schedules, raises productivity, and increases customer satisfaction. Sources of information besides those illustrated in figure one can derive from Supply Chain Management (SCM) Systems, Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM), and other ERP via the Internet.

Timeline and Evolution of ERP

ERP concept originated in the 1960s for the effectively managing and controlling inventory. Within the past 50 years this concept has evolved by integrating information from various systems across an organization to include SCM and CRM systems. Figure two illustrates the evolution of ERP dating back from the 1960s.

1960s: Inventory Control Package was used for inventory management and control for ensuring appropriate levels of inventory. Some of the activities included identifying inventory requirements, setting targets, providing replenishment techniques and options, monitoring item usages, reconciling the inventory balances, and reporting inventory status.
1970s: Inventory Control Package evolved to Material Requirement Planning (MRP). MRP was primary used for scheduling production processes. MRP generates schedules for the operations and the purchase of raw material based on the production requirements of finished goods. MRP ensured operation efficiency and manageable operations costs for production of finished goods.

1980s: During this period MRP evolved to Manufacturing Resources Planning commonly known as MRP II. MRP II went one step farther by coordinating manufacturing processes, from product planning, parts purchasing, inventory control to product distribution. MRP II modernized the manufacturing process.
1990s: With the requirement of integrating business activities across functional departments such as marketing, accounting, inventory management, and human resources ERP systems were developed. The goal of ERP system is to improve the performance of business processes and enhance decision support.

2000s: With e-commerce through the Internet ERP capabilities was extended. Extended ERP or ERP II allows leveraging the information involving those resources in the enterprise’s efforts to collaborate with other enterprises. An example of ERP II is a company’s ERP system interfacing with its supplier’s ERP system.

Conclusion

The purpose of ERP systems is to gather information across the functions of an organization or company to enhance operational efficiency, provide decision support, and improve business processes. An ERP system comprises of a repository database with data derived from various modules. These modules are accounting, inventory management system, sales and marketing, and human resources.  ERP evolved from the 1960s for inventory management and control. A requirement for gathering data across an organization’s enterprise led to the development of ERP systems. Today with the e-commerce and globalization ERP evolved to Extended ERP or ERP II.  A medium to large size company greatly benefit greatly from ERP systems, especially when combined with its SCM and CRM systems. Information derived from ERP systems provides senior management the decision support to improve its processes, introduce or discontinue a product line, take the company public, or expand its operation. 

Favorite Bodybuilders

My workout tends to model the workouts of my favorite bodybuilders. I do modify these workouts to how I feel that day. Here is a list of my favorite bodybuilders.

• Bob Paris
• Lee Labrada
• Frank Zane
• Francis Benfatto
• Dorian Yates
• Mike Mentzer
• Tom Platz
• Arnold

Each of these bodybuilders have influenced the way I workout. In the early 90's I've used Bob Paris' workout systems with good results. Also I have learned how to keep a journal and at times post my meals. Now I have to say I have not been consistent. However I do have journals through my house of workouts I have done.

Yates and Mentzer are also my favorite due to their strong work ethics and the intensity of their workouts. Yates as build a herculean physique training 40 minutes per workout four times a week. Mike Mentzer was his role model and has also trained him a few times. Lee Labrada does incorporate a high intensity routine but with higher volume/ Tom Platz routine is a hybrid of Arnold's and Mike Mentzer, this guy is insane. Last year I used his back and delt routine for one of my training session and I was sore for a week. As for Arnold what can I say about him he is the king, as for his workouts it is a lot of sets and exercises with moderate weights.

Music during workouts

I do get my best workouts when I listen to music on my IPod. Type of music I listen to is heavy metal. At times I'll listen to some free style such as Stevie B. In addition, I'll listen to Pandora app which I would set to my favorite radio station. For those who are into heavy Christian rock/metal music I ran across the BlastFM app. This is a free app and I'm very impressed with the music.
When performing cardio I'll listen to a Stevie B mix I found on Youtube, Reggaton, or Jock Jams. Listening to my favorite jams I'm able to focus much better and enjoy my workouts.

28 Feb 2013 Workout

Today is the last workout for the month. Decided to train chest and triceps this evening. Went to the gym at 830 PM for a fast 45 minute workout. Was not as motivated to get to the gym due the medication I was taking for my tooth ache. Tomorrow I'm going to have one of my wisdom teeth extracted. Most likely I will not be working out the rest of the weekend. In addition I do have some school work as well as house work to get caught up with. First number signifies the amount of weight the second number is the number of reps.

Chest
Cable cross overs 30/15, 50/15, 65/15, 80,12
Machine press 90/12,150/8
One arm machine press 30/15
Cross overs 30/50 rested 15 seconds 30/50
Flye Machine 70/12, 110/12, 150/12
This was a pretty good workout as I was able to squeeze my chest muscles and focus on the muscle instead of the poundage.

Triceps

One arm dumbbell extensions 30/12,40/10,30/15
One arm cable pushdowns 50/10, 50/10, 50/10

The triceps workout was pretty short. Weighed in at 222 before going to the gym this evening. The day before I left for Puerto Rico I was 212.  This weekend I will develop a workout plan for the month of March as well as my goals for the month.

26 Feb 2013 Workout

Today I decided to train back, shoulders, and arms.

Front Pulldowns 4x10
Back Pulldowns 4x8-10
Cable rows 3x7-10
Stiff arm Pulldowns 6x10-15
Press behind neck 6x5-12
Front presses 3x8-10
Pushdowns 6x8-15
Bent over cable extensions 4x8-10
One arm rope extensions 3x12
Rope pushdowns 3x12
One arm reverse pushdowns 3x12
Db curls 4x6-10
Machine curls 4x8-12
Hammer curls 3x12
Cable curls 3x12

This was a intensive workout. I could
have done a lot less. Need to workout as much as I can prior to getting my wisdom tooth extracted Friday afternoon.

24 Feb 2013 Workout

This morning I did back and front shoulders
Stiff arm Pulldowns 7x12-15
V-bar Pulldowns 3x8-10
Machine rows 3x8-10
Machine rows pump set 1x20
Bent over cable rows 3x12-15
Back Pulldowns 3x8
Machine Pulldowns 3x10
Press behind neck 5x12
Machine shoulder press 3x8-12

Got a really good pump on my back from the volume. Nursed right shoulder with light weight due to pain. Will take a day of rest tomorrow.

23 Feb 2013 - Workout Session

Was up at 0530 this morning. After doing school work, finish a drawing, and practicing guitar I went to the gym. Did arms to shock them further performed plenty of exercises to hit every angle with moderate weight die to shoulder injury.

Triceps pushdowns straight bar 5x12
Rope pushdowns 4x12
Incline db triceps extensions 3x12
Flat one arm db triceps extensions 3x10
Machine curls 4x12
One arm cable curls 3x12-15
Concentration curls 3x10
One arm db triceps extensions 3x10
One arm machine curls 3x12
Db triceps kickback 3x11
One arm cable hammer curls 3x12
Machine shoulder press 4x8 last two sets did 8 reps and drop weight to half and pumped out 20 reps
Db behind back side raises 3x12
Cable crunches 3x15

22 February 2013 - Chest, Arms

Today I trained chest and arms. I was limited to the amount of weights due to right shoulder pain.

Hammer Strength incline press machine 4 x 8-15
Upright chest press machine 3 x 8-12
Flyes 3 x 10
Cable cross-overs 3 x 12-15
Ez-bar curls 2 x 6-8 (could not do additional sets due to shoulder pain)
Dumbell curls 3 x 10-12
Concentration dumbell curls 3 x 10
Pushdowns 4 x 12-15
Bent-over cable tricep extensions 3 x 12
One arm dumbbell tricep extensions 3 x 8-10
Reverse cable pushdowns 3 x 12

Besides the shoulder pain this was a pretty fast workout. I kept my rest to less than a minute between sets. Was done with workout in less than one hour.    

Becoming a Better Listener

How many times have we gotten ourselves into hot water for not listening to our better half? When interacting with others do you tend to cut in when they are talking to you? Better yet how many times you failed to listen to your boss? And what was the outcome of not listening? It could be anger from your better half, loss of credibility at work, or even loss. Though out my personal and professional career I have always heard listening is the greatest skill.  In this article I’m going to give you tips on how to become an effective listener. By following these tips, your listening skills will improve making you a much more effective communicator.

Tips for Becoming a Better Listener

• Make listening your number one goal
• Prepare to listen
• When listening, be empathetic, put yourself on the communicator place, don’t judge, and focus on the message
• Pay attention to the communicators body laungauge
• Finding personal value on what is being said
• Speak less, don’t interrupt
• Give the speaker direct eye contact
• In your work environment make sure you have a notepad and pencil handy to jot down important parts of the message
• When it is your turn to speak summarize what the communicator has stated for clarity and ask questions if you don’t understand

Conclusion

Using these tips you will have creditability in your occupation, will able to effectively communicate with your better half, friends, and also strangers.  I do admit becoming a great listener is a work at progress. As long as you are aware of your listening habits (positive and negative) you can improve this vital communication skill.

How to Make Your Dream a Reality

Do you have a dream or goal that seems overwhelming? Have you given up on your dream due to other factors in life such as your job, family, or other life circumstances? Are you unhappy where you are right now?

I’m here to tell you no matter how old you are and where what your current situation is you can still live your dreams. By using the “Dream Buster” plan as outline in this article you can take a complex or overwhelming dream and break ii down into manageable goals. The key is to have the right mindset and visualize your end result.

 Once you are in the right mindset write down you want to do, have, and be in your life. You want to go back to school to finish that degree? Write it down. You want to have a business? Write it down? Want to lose weight? Write it down. By writing it down visualizes in your mind how it will look like and feel like once you accomplish your dream. By the time you are done your list may be anywhere from 20-100 dreams.

 Once you created this list you need to review it and pick the dream that that you think that will make a great difference in your life. Once you select this dream it will become your major purpose.

On a new piece of paper write down the major purpose on top and create a list. This list may consist anywhere from 10-25 goals.  Once you are satisfied with this list take another clean piece of paper and put all the goals in order.  Once you are satisfied with the list this becomes a master goals list for your dream.  Now you can create an action plan for each goal and take action. 

Well deserved rest

Wanted to work out today but realize that muscles actually grow outside the gym with proper rest and recuperation.  I need to realize that at 50 I need to rest more in between workouts.  Biceps and forearms are still a bit sore from training forearms a few days ago. My legs are still not sore from yesterday’s workout- it may occur tomorrow. I’m hoping to train chest and arms tomorrow don’t know if I’m going to train during my lunch time or after work. Since I’m caught up with posting all my workouts in the future posts I will title of the post much different. In addition, I may include multiple posts to cover other topics besides my daily workout routine.

20 February 2013 Workout

Today I trained legs and walked/run on the track.

Seated leg press machine 4 x 10
Leg extensions 3 x 12
Hyperextensions 4 x 10
Leg curls 3 x 10
Calf press 4 x 15
Calf raises machine 3 x 12

This was a pretty quick workout as I kept rests between sets pretty short under one minute. Amount of weight was moderate. After the workout went out to the track and ran/walk one mile. This has been the first time I have been on a track in a year. Looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow.

19 February 2013 Workout

Today I trained shoulders, forearms, and abs

Since my right shoulder is still hurting from an injury two weeks ago I took it pretty light.
Press behind neck 4 x 8-12
Side raise machine 4 x 15
Machine shoulder press 3 x 12-15
Front cable raises (one arm) 3 x 12-15
Rear cable raises 3 x 15
Reverse curls 3 x 12
Crunch machine 3 x 15
Bench knee-ins 1 x 12 (end up with bad cramps)

Shoulders were pretty well pumped. Wanted to train biceps but they were sore from yesterday’s workout. This was a really good workout.

18 February 2013 Workout

This evening went to Planet Fitness to train back and triceps

Cable rows 4 x 10-12
Front pulldowns 4 x 8-12
Dumbbell rows 3 x 12
Stiff arm pulldowns 3 x 15
Hyperextensions 3 x 15
One arm Triceps extensions on machine 4 x 12-15
Pushdowns 3 x 12-15
Bent-over cable triceps extensions 3 x 10-12
One arm dumbbell triceps extensions 3 x 8-10

20 minutes on bike

This was first hard back workout since last week’s workout in Puerto Rico with my brother Tony. Energy level for this workout was pretty high.

16 February 2013 Workout

Today is my first workout since my return from Puerto Rico; decided to do a full body workout at Planet Fitness.

Leg extensions 3 x 12-15
Leg press machine 3 x 12
Leg curl machine 3 x 10
Machine shoulder press 3 x 10
Upright rows 3 x 11
Side raises 3 x 12
Cable crossovers 3 x 12-15
Incline press 3 x 10
Back pulldowns 3 x 10
Cable bent over rows 3 x 12
Machine curls 3 x 12
Triceps pushdowns 3 12
Bent over Triceps cable extensions 3 x 10-12
One arm triceps extensions 3 x 10

This was a very fast workout I rested between 30-60 seconds between sets. The weights were pretty moderate.

13 Feburary 2013 Workout in Puerto Rico

Last workout in Puerto Rico; we trained chest and biceps.

Machine chest press 4 x 10-15
Incline press (smith machine) 3 x 6-10
Decline press 3 x 7-10
Cable crossovers 3 x 12
Barbell curls 4 x 8-10
Dumbbell seated curls 3 x 8-10
Concentration curls 3 x 10-12

Could not lift as heavy due to a shoulder injury that occured the weak before due to failure to warmup properly. Went to the beach after the workout My brother Tony ended up running three miles on the beach.

12 Feb 2013 Workout in Puerto Rico

This is Tony and my first workout in Puerto Rico; we have not worked out in so many years. Today we trained back and triceps.

Chin Machine 4 x 10-12
Dumbbell rows 3 x 10-12
Cable rows 3 x 10-12
Pushdowns 3 x 10-12
Bent-over cable triceps extensions 3 x 10-12
One arm dumbbell triceps extensions 3 x 8-10

Cardio: Walked on treadmill for 20 minutes.