A multi-national sales planning system in APL

ABSTRACT

A large multi-national chemical company has been using an APL-based logistics planning system called LOGISTICS*PLUS since 1984. Over the past five years, the original US-based system was extended into Canada and Europe. Recently, business units in Europe asked STSC to develop a sales planning system for LOGISTICS*PLUS. The developed system is used by many people with minimal training from many different countries. The software needed to be easy to access and easy to use. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the requirements of a system that needs to function across international borders. In addition, I will review the implementation of the system in regard to the need to manage multiple currencies, languages, product orientations and time-phased planning.

REFERENCES

• 1: STSC, Inc. LOGISTICS*PLUS Reference Manual, 1990, Appendices C-E.
• 2: Ling, Richard C. and Goddard, Walter E. Orchestrating Success: Improve Control of the Business with Sales and Operations Planning, Oliver W. Wight, 1988.
• 3: Taylor, Dave. "Going Global", Sunworld July 1991. (This article provides a wealth of useful information for people interested in building software applications for international use).

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: APL

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Interaction styles (e.g., commands, menus, forms, direct manipulation)

  J. Computer Applications
  J.1 ADMINISTRATIVE DATA PROCESSING
      Subjects: Marketing; Manufacturing

General Terms:
Human Factors, Languages