Issue method
An issue method is the way in which you issue a purchase order. You specify the issue method on each purchase order: paper, fax, e-mail, EDI, or none. If you do not specify an issue method, it defaults from the PO Vendor or PO Vendor Purchase From Location. If there is no default issue method for either the PO Vendor or the PO Vendor Purchase From Location, the application uses the paper method, printing a purchase order for delivery to the vendor.
You can specify different issue methods for original and revised purchase orders. For example, you may want to use EDI for original purchase orders and paper for all purchase order revisions. Also, if you are using EDI, you can specify different EDI numbers for the original purchase order and the revised purchase order.
Using EDI to Issue Purchase Orders
EDI is the paperless exchange of documents between trading partners. Companies that use Lawson's EDI capability can communicate instantly with suppliers and vendors.
Data is transmitted from one company's computer to another electronically. The basic transaction for all EDI purchasing is the electronic purchase order. With electronic purchase orders, EDI users can order materials from vendors electronically.
After receiving a purchase order, the vendor returns a detailed purchase order acknowledgment to the client. This acknowledgment summarizes the information on the purchase order and validates the order's authenticity.
Using Internet E-mail to Issue Purchase Orders
Purchase orders can be issued to vendors using Internet e-mail. This kind of issue method is possible by using Procurement Punchout or another third-party tool that is capable of e-mail delivery. With Procurement Punchout, you also need Lawson Requisition Center (to get the PO Dispatcher, or sweeper).
Procurement Punchout lets users of Infor Lawson Requisition Center order supplies from a specific vendor's web site. With Procurement Punchout, a vendor page is linked to a shopping icon (called Punchout) on the Infor Lawson Requisition Center home page. When the user selects a specified vendor, that vendor's website catalog appears. From this catalog, Infor Lawson Requisition Center users select items to order. By separate agreement between the customer and the vendor, the vendor displays the customer's special cost information for catalog items and can limit the catalog items that are displayed. When users have filled their shopping carts and checked out from the vendor web site, the chosen items and their cost are returned to the Lawson server, where a requisition is created using the Infor Lawson Requisition Center application. A purchase order is then created from the requisition. After the requisition is interfaced into the Purchase Order application, Procurement Punchout enables the transmission of purchase order documentation back to the vendor so that the vendor can fill the order.
The setup for using this issue method is as follows. You add the vendor's e-mail address on PO Vendor (PO10.1) or Vendor Purchase From Location (PO10.2). When the purchase order is issued from Purchase Order Entry (PO20.1) or Mass PO Issue (PO120), an e-mail with a file extension of .EM is created in the following directory:
$LAWDIR/
productline
/email/out
(for UNIX)
%LAWDIR%\
productline
\email\out
(for Windows)
LAWDIR/
productline
/email/out
(for IBMi)
This .EM file can be picked up and sent by any sweeper program. A sweeper program is a utility that takes the e-mail from this directory.
The e-mail address entered on PO10.1 or PO10.2 will default on the e-mail address on Purchase Order Entry (PO20.1). When you run Mass PO Issue (PO120), two records are created, PO120.prt and p-email-co. The julienne date.EM file is created under the following directory:
$LAWDIR/
productline
/email/out
(for UNIX)
%LAWDIR%\
productline
\email\out
(for Windows)
LAWDIR/
productline
/email/out
(for IBMi)
For more information on these tools, see the Procurement Punchout Administration Guide.
Faxing Purchase Orders
Issuing purchase orders by fax permits you to fax them directly to your vendors. The purchase orders are saved in the designated directory, and then transmitted by fax using Lawson E-Fax Agent.
Issuing Purchase Orders Using Do Not Print
Issuing without printing is used when a purchase is handled over the phone and no paper follow-up is required. If you choose not to issue a purchase order (Issue Method = Do Not Print), the purchase order is considered printed upon release. Therefore, after release any change made to the purchase order using the Do Not Print issue method is considered a revision.
If the issue method "Do Not Print" is specified, the purchase order is considered printed as soon as it is released. If certain changes are made after the purchase order is released, it results in a revised purchase order (a revision number is assigned). With the other issue methods, you can change a purchase order after release as much as you want and the changes are not considered revisions because the purchase order has not been ‘physically' issued.