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About Feeding America and eSoftware Professionals

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive.  As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, they supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors.

eSoftware Professionals is proud to proud to partner with Feeding America and its 202 local member food banks to deliver our food bank specific Supply Chain Management Solution, Ceres.

What Does the Egg Recall Entail?

The FDA, in collaboration with the Federal and State partners, is currently investigating a nationwide increase in Salmonella Enteritidis infections.

Investigations revealed several restaurants or events where more than one person has fallen ill with salmonella after eating there; information suggests that shell eggs are the likely cause of infection.

What the Egg Recall Means for the Food Industry:

Food establishments should replace pooled eggs (raw unpasteurized eggs combined together),  or raw or undercooked shell eggs with pasteurized egg products and pasteurized in-shell eggs.

Everyone in the food industry should make sure the eggs they carry aren’t included in the recall.

Egg Brands Involved in the Recall:

An Iowa company produced and distributed the eggs to these 13 brands and retailers:

Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps.

Recall dates and plant numbers:

Eggs were packed between May 16 and August 13. Look for the dates and codes stamped on the egg carton – the plant number begins with P followed by a number. The date follows the plant number.

Plant numbers and Julian dates involved in the egg recall: Julian dates from 136-225; plant numbers 1026, 1413, 1946.

Symptoms of Salmonella:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle pains
• Blood in the stool

According to About Salmonella, only about a dozen (out of over 2,000) strains of salmonella cause illnesses – gastroenteritis, typhoid fever (less common in developed nations), and bacteremia. If you have these symptoms after consuming a recalled egg product, we encourage you to see a doctor.

How an ERP System Can Help:

A recall of this magnitude reminds us not only to be especially cautious with food products, but also how important it is to have a good ERP system in place, should an outbreak or product defect occur. Among many other great benefits, eFood, a Microsoft Dynamics NAV powered ERP software system developed specifically for the food and beverage industry can:

• Run an end product or ingredient-based recall in minutes (sometimes seconds!)
• Provide quality testing based on current regulations and compliance guidelines from the FDA and other regulating bodies
• House entire production processes under one system, improving efficiency and information visibility

Want to learn more about eSoftware’s ERP consulting services? Fill out our contact form and one of our ERP experts will contact you within one business day.

In the automotive industry, the GM recall on seatbelts is getting a lot of press. However, there is far more activity in the food industry right now, due to recent changes in the Reportable Food Registry (RFR). To help you understand the scrutiny the food processing industry is getting, we composed this helpful guide.

The stress of a recall can send even the most well-established company into a tailspin. The rules change often.  Compliance and tracking can be difficult.  Factor in the bad press and legal issues and it’s a company’s worst nightmare.

In order to report a food-related recall, a company first has  to navigate through the Reportable Food Registry.

The Reportable Food Registry went into effect in late 2009 and is the FDA’s portal for recall reporting.  We simplified the information,  so that if a recall should happen to you,  you’ll know what the Reportable Food Registry is, who uses it, and where you can read more.

What is the Reportable Food Registry?

The Reportable Food Registry (RFR) is a portal through which food processors and related companies must report to when it’s suspected that some animal or human food may cause illness or death to either humans or animals. This includes all foods regulated by the FDA, except infant formulas or dietary supplements.

Who uses it?

Registered Food Facilities that produce or hold human or animal food for consumption, although federal, state and local government officials may use it to report additional information about foods that have already been reported.

Why is it used?

In September of 2007, President George W. Bush signed the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007, which mandated that the FDA create the portal to help stop the spread of infected food.

Where do you report if the portal is down?

The FDA will post an announcement on their site (www.fda.gov) when the portal is down to explain what to do.

If you wish to know more about the RFR, visit the FDA’s website here.

GM may be getting a lot of negative press on their seatbelt recall, but food companies are being hit far more frequently than automotive it seems. To help you understand the focus the food industry is getting, we composed this helpful guide...

The New York Times is reporting that Honda is recalling an additional 384,000 models of 2003-04 Accords, Civics and Elements. This current recall comes on the heels of two previous recalls for the same problem, except the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now investigating whether the previous recalls covered all defected vehicles.

The problem revolves around the shift interlock system malfunctioning, allowing someone to turn the car off and take out the key without the vehicle being in Park, giving it the ability to roll away. There have been 17 crashes reported due to the defect, although no injuries have been reported.

Previous recalls occurred in 2003 and 2005, and involved various Honda models dating all the way back to 1997. With the three recalls combined, around 1.4 million vehicles have been affected. However this is also the second recall in little over a year, as in July of 2009, 440,000 vehicles were recalled for an air bag defect that was originally reported in 2008, but at the time led to a recall of only 3,900 vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating whether Honda is issuing their recalls in a timely manner as well as covering all defected vehicles. The investigation could lead to penalties for Honda if it is determined that they are not doing so.

Not only is this recent string of recalls for the automaker rearing its head into one of the 10 Worst Product Recalls of All Time, the company’s suppliers would benefit from having Dynamics NAV to help them efficiently track their inventory at all stages of the product life cycle.

When it comes to ERP, Dynamics NAV is a household name. But the Dynamics NAV we know today is much different than when it came to be 25 years ago. From starting as a small accounting solution software product from a company in Denmark, to becoming a leading comprehensive business software solution, Microsoft Dynamics NAV has seen its share of changes along the way.

Here’s how it got there.

The 80s: PC Plus is Born

Dynamics NAV began as PC Plus, an accounting software package released by PC&C in Denmark, which is the only country that saw its release. Several years later, the company released the first version of Navision, although it went under the name IBM-Navigator. Rather than operating only on single-user systems, Navision was able to work across LAN Networks and servers, allowing businesses to share information within the network.

Fun Fact: “Beauty of Simplicity” was the first company slogan

The 90s: The Expansion of Navision

1990 saw the release of the earliest iteration of what is Dynamics NAV today. One of the major changes to the software was its ability to allow users to make major modifications to the software due to the introduction of an application language, or AL.

Navision arrived in North America in 1994 as a DOS-based system called A/Vista. Navision immediately gained support for Windows 95. Throughout the rest of the decade, newer versions of Navision software are released, continuing to improve upon its simplicity and performance.

Iterations went from 1.X through 3.X by the late 1990’s. Version 2.X brought the ability to utilize SQL Servers as the RDBMS. Version 3.X was a critical release for North America as it initiated the process of combining the Navision Financial Management, Distribution, and Manufacturing Databases into one single Database. Other notable advances in Version 3.X were the combination of Canadian and U.S. databases into one, as well as the addition of unlimited dimensions building on a truly relational chart of accounts.

Fun Fact: In 1990, the name Navision was used for the first time

The 2000s: The Times They Are a Changin’

The new millennium brought about several more changes to Navision, beginning with the approval of Windows 2000 Professional Certification as well as the merging of Navision and its competitor Damgaard A/S to become NavisionDamgaard A/S. A year later they will become simply Navision A/S while receiving certification for Windows XP.

But 2002 was the year that Navision really became integrated with Microsoft, as the software giant purchased Navision as part of its goal of to create a major business solutions software package named Microsoft Business Solutions, changed to Microsoft Dynamics in 2005. That same year Microsoft would begin announcing a vastly improved version of the software with a new user interface.

Although the release of Dynamics NAV 5.0 did not see the new user interface, it did bring several big changes, including an updated cost accounting feature that allows for more accurate inventory valuation. It would be Dynamics NAV 2009, the latest version of the software that would introduce the new user interface, known as RoleTailored client or RoleTailored interface, as well as other significant changes.

Fun Fact: Microsoft’s initiative to merge Navision, Axapta, Great Plains and Solomon into one system was called Project Green.  Despite the cool name, it was later decided that the products are best served individually, and are now known as Dynamics NAV, Dynamics AX, Dynamics GP, and Dynamics SL respectively.

Source: Wal-Mart

CNN is reporting that over 90,000 lbs. of chicken nuggets are being recalled by Perdue Farms after it was discovered that the nuggets may contain pieces of plastic. The nuggets in question are sold by Wal-Mart under the Great Value brand.

No injuries have been reported; however, the company received complaints from consumers which led to the recall. You can check the Perdue Farms website for more information about the recall, including the case and package codes for the recalled items.

Although this probably won’t be considered one of the ten most disastrous product recalls of all time, it will nonetheless, be a blow to Perdue Farms as well as Wal-Mart. The companies must repair their damaged reputations after failing to deliver quality products and losing their customers’ trust.

For more on how to stay ahead in the food & beverage industry, check out eFood, our  custom Microsoft Dynamics NAV ERP solution for food processors.

Steve Jobs at Friday's Press Conference

During a press conference this morning, CEO Steve Jobs announced that until they could find a permanent fix, they would do their best to satisfy their customers while also taking into account the upcoming launch of the phone in other countries around the world.

This comes on the heels of speculation that there would be a mass recall of the smart phone, which to date has sold over 3 million units. However, the speculation lost ground after the Wall Street Journal reported that the recall wasn’t going to happen.

The article also discussed whether engineers and other higher ups in the company knew about the problem before the phone was launched in late June. During the conference, Jobs was quick to point out that the problem was reported to them only 22 days ago.

The problem involves holding the iPhone in a certain way that causes it to lose signal strength and in some cases drop calls. Customers and tech industry personnel have voiced their complaints, and just recently even government officials have expressed their concerns.  Charles E. Schumer, a senator from New York, recently sent Steve Jobs a letter asking him to seek out a solution.

Although a recall is no longer imminent, they happen often and can do major damage to a brand.  Rest assured that should a recall occur, Dynamics NAV will help reduce recall time from hours to minutes, so that you and your customers can get back to business as usual.

Join eSoftware Professionals for a free webinar covering topics impacting food industry Executives today.

This session will cover:

• How to increase visibility of inventory throughout the supply chain.
• How to reduce time to respond effectively to audits and product recalls.
• How to forecast and decide what to purchase.
• How technology can assist you in streamlining processes, and running an more effective business.

Title: Top 5 Concerns faced by Food Industry Executives

Date: Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT

To register, visit this link:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/840775048

System Requirements

PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Dynamics Nav or Dynamics GP?

Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Let’s cut through the software jargon and compare Dynamics NAV and GP to something everyone understands: Toys. You want to make your own castle – you want a moat, you want a drawbridge, and you want a tower for the Princess. You want the King to have his own special entrance and you want to  expand your castle as your kingdom grows.

Instead of going up and down the aisle trying to find a castle that fits all of your special criteria, it’s easier to customize it yourself. Legos it is! All the different pieces fit together to make one unique castle – the one you need – the one that meets the needs of your kingdom. With all of your Lego pieces, you’ll be able to expand your fortress when the time is right. Presto, just add a few more pieces.

Microsoft Dynamics GP

While Microsoft Dynamics NAV has more pieces, Microsoft Dynamics GP is the right-out-of-the-box castle. It’s not customizable to your specific niche from the get-go, but you can use add-ons to extend your functionality.  Implementations are quick and streamlined, making it easier to get up and running.

How do you know which one is for you?

Microsoft Dynamics NAV works on a broader scale and provides customization for all your specific niches. Microsoft GP is fast to implement and includes a strong suite of business analysis tools –it’s the thing to get if your company has grown beyond QuickBooks and you’re having trouble managing all your financial data.

Contact our ERP consultants and we’ll be happy to tell you more about our custom solutions.

Fun Facts About Microsoft Dynamics and ERP Systems

1. What does ERP Stand For?

ERP stands for enterprise resource planning.  Ok, it also stands for Effective Radiated Power, European Radio Project, and a whole list of things, but enterprise resource planning is what we’re after.

2. What decade brought ERP systems into the limelight?

The 1990s!  ERP systems sales had a dramatic boost as companies prepared for Y2K and replaced old systems with new ones.

3.  When was Microsoft Dynamics founded?

It was originally founded in 1984 in Denmark as PC&C ApS (Personal Computing and Consulting).

4. What is the name of the coding language used to create Great Plains?

Dexterity

5. How many companies use Microsoft Dynamics worldwide?

Over 300,000 companies and 20,000 business partners worldwide!