UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 39, Page 10
August 15, 1996
FAMIS project team's activities continue during summer months

     The Financial Accounting Management Information System (FAMIS)
project team has continued its work during the summer months
redesigning selected ways of conducting business on campus and
continuing in the development of financial software.
     A spring decision to focus on business processes until the
software market offers better functionality has resulted in several
achievements and specific recommendations, including:
     DEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNTING-The efforts of this group, led by Denise
Berilla, chemical engineering, have resulted in the automatic
obligating of requisitions and travel authorizations in the
Departmental Obligations on-line system, additional departments
subscribing to the Departmental Obligations system, the inclusion of
the General Accounting office in decisions about the system and the
first steps in developing departmental specifications for any new
financial system.
     INTERNAL CHARGES-In all, 35 departments on campus charge other
units for goods and services. This working group, led by Lynda
Ruggerio, informational technologies, is proposing alternate methods
of internal charging, involving such items as annual service
contracts, standardized costing, electronic ordering and charging
enhancements and eliminating charging completely. An electronic, web-
based form is being developed that will incorporate technology and the
modifications noted above. The pilot units working on this project
include catering, The Review, Public Safety and Photographic Services.
     BUY/PAY-This process includes Requisitioning, Purchasing,
Receiving, Accounts Payable and Plant Property Records. The review of
these methods is being coordinated by Amy Connell, facilities,
planning and construction. Already in the implementation stage are the
elimination of all printed purchase order copies (since orders are
faxed to suppliers out of the purchasing system); reduction of invoice
problems with payments to suppliers based on previously quoted
pricing; direct to unit deliveries where desired; and streamlining the
Plant Property Records tracking and survey process. Plans are under
way to implement, this fall, a University Procurement card for small
order handling; electronic Request for Check and Business Expense
Reimbursement forms; CATS- Customer Acquisition Teams- composed of
Purchasing and Accounts Payable personnel aligned to departments for
better service; and on-line contracts with preferred suppliers for
ease of ordering.
     FAMIS will continue work in all focus areas and will report
progress to the campus community through UpDate, on the mvs Bulletin
Board, FAMIS-BB, and very soon through a FAMIS web page.
     Brief announcements about new developments will be reported in
"FAMIS Facts" in UpDate during the coming months.
     For additional information, send e-mail to FAMIS@mvs.udel.edu, or
contact Tory Windley, Purchasing.