Use the Request Manager to Protect the Accuracy of Your Master Parts List

In Version 1.23 of Helm CONNECT, we added part management to our popular Request Manager. This powerful tool—which Helm CONNECT Jobs customers were already using to manage change requests for ship, location, and account information—now allows your users to request any parts they need to complete their work without interruption but protects the accuracy of your company’s data by not adding requested parts to the master parts list until they've been reviewed and approved.

If they have permission to do so, users can request parts while performing the following workflows:

• Recording parts used on tasks
• Adding part tracking for inventory
• Adding or editing requisitions

Related Permissions

The following permissions are related to managing part requests:

• Setup > Request Manager > Request > Parts: This permission allows users to request that new parts be added to the master parts list. Users with this permission will see an Add New option in the Parts list.
• Maintenance > Requisitions > Settings > Add New Part: This permission allows shoreside users to add new parts directly to the master parts list from a requisition without making a request. Users with this permission will see an “Add a new part icon” while adding a line item.
• Setup > Request Manager > Approve > Approve Part Requests: This permission allows users to approve, edit, or decline part requests by allowing them to see the Request Manager icon in the toolbar. Users with this permission will see the Request Manager icon in the toolbar.

  Note If your company subscribes to Helm CONNECT Jobs, users with either the Setup > Request Manager > Approve > Approve Setup Requests or the Setup > Request Manager > Approve > Approve Trip Requests permission will see the Request Manager icon, regardless of whether or not they have the Setup > Request Manager > Approve > Approve Part Requests permission.

Request Parts on Tasks

If your company subscribes to the Inventory module, users with the Setup > Request Manager > Request > Parts permission can request parts while recording the parts used on a task. Tasks can’t be finished until any requested parts have been approved or declined and removed from the task.

Request Parts while Adding Part Tracking

If your company subscribes to the Inventory module, users with the Setup > Request Manager > Request > Parts permission can request parts while adding a part tracking entry. Part tracking entries for declined parts will remain in the Tracked Parts list until they are deleted, however, inventory can’t be updated for declined parts.

Request Parts or Add Parts Directly while Building Requisitions

You can use permissions to control which users are allowed to request parts while building requisitions and which ones are allowed to add the parts directly to the master parts list without requesting them.

Request Parts on Requisitions

Users with the Setup > Request Manager > Request > Parts permission can request parts while adding or editing the line items in requisitions. The status of a requisition or line item can’t be set to Received on Shore, Received on Asset, Closed, or Canceled until any requested parts have been approved or declined and deleted from the requisition.

Add Parts Directly on Requisitions

Users with the Maintenance > Requisitions > Settings > Add New Part permission can add new parts directly to the master parts list while adding or editing the line items in requisitions without making a request.

Review User Requests

When parts are requested, users with the Setup > Request Manager > Approve > Approve Part Requests will see a small number beside the Request Manager icon in the toolbar indicating how many requests are waiting. By clicking the Request Manager icon, they can review each requested item then accept it, decline it, or merge it with an existing item. They also have the option to edit the request or add a note.

Reports

Requested parts won’t appear in any reports unless they’ve been approved.