Peachtree Product Team

[#1]

First Article- first hand

Every year at launch we perform First Article for our new product.  For those not familiar with the term, first article is the inspection and authorization of bill-of-material (BOM) components for each shippable product SKU.  Each BOM must be reviewed and authorized so that the distribution center knows exactly how each product should be built.  So picture sitting in front of 60+ BOMs and going through each one reviewing each piece, checking it off the list, and signing the dotted line.  Exciting? NO! Necessary? Absolutely!

I just completed the first article for our 2011 product and wanted to share the experience.

I visited our distributor in Louisville Kentucky.  The warehouse site was very secure with guards at the front, X-ray machines, and a wand; everyone (no exception) was screened going in, and coming out (lift your pant legs for me please! – I kid you, not!).  I imagine it becomes second nature after going through the screening day after day. 

After security had searched my belongings, and placed a piece of special blue tape over the lens of my phone camera; I was taken to a conference room that had many tables filled with small boxes.  Each box contained a Sage Peachtree product BOM, and it was my job to assemble the product in the order that I wanted the distributor to follow; no deviations.  A visual BOM (V-BOM) and BOM list was made for every product SKU; I examined each piece, and I checked it off both the V-BOM and BOM list.  Two prototypes were created during this process, one for the distributor, and one for our own internal production department.  I discovered a couple of issues that were immediately resolved; so the time spent pouring over each item was well worth it.  I tried to keep the customer in the front of my mind when reviewing the product, and thought “what will the customer experience be like if we do it this way?”  The finished product that arrives on the doorstep is another phase in the relationship that we have with our customer; we want the experience to be a pleasant one – even if it means lifting our pant legs!

I have submitted my ideas on how next year’s first article can be improved.  Do you have a similar process that you can share? 

[#2]

We are a prototyping company so all of the "products" we ship to our customers are first articles and in most cases the final article as well (unless of course the customer wants multiple copies.)  In most cases first articles are shipped to the customer for their inspection but on occasion we do have customers stop by for a review as well.  We are dealing with our customer's intellectual property so security here is also very stringent.  Absolutely no cameras are allowed in the production and shipping areas.  All visitors must sign non-disclosure agreements and be excorted by an employee at all times. 

We have been using Peachtree for the entire 5 years we have been in business and look forward to the new release every year.  The reason we look forward to the new release is we are hoping that in all the updates, upgrades and new features; that Peachtree will finally allow us to print a packing slip before we invoice.  In the cases where a customer wants multiple copies on multiple shipments or they want to approve the first article before the final run we could generate packing slips for those shipments and then create the invoice once the order ships "complete."  Right now we generate packing slips and track back orders in Excel spreadsheets. 

All of the development that is going into Job Management is awsome we just wish you could tie packing slips to that or a sales order.  For us this change would elevate Peachtree from a good product to a great one!

[#3]

Hello 9manchu,

Thank you for taking the time to respond, and also for your great Idea on enhancing our product.  I will enter this idea on your behalf through our Make a Product Suggestion webpage.  If you have additional suggestions, please do not hesitate to enter them, all submissions are reviewed by our Product Management Team.

Regards,

Debbie Mason

[#4]

Thank you Debbie for entering the idea on our behalf.  I use the Make a Product Suggestion site annually right after I read through the "what's new" section in Peachtree's marketing materials for the latest release.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Alan