The main updates were enhancing the materials management module and adding a new purchasing module. Several areas of the software settings and lookups were expanded to support the new modules. Usability improvements included adding pop-up windows and displaying images as thumbnails. Additional functionality was added for managing assets, issuing parts, purchasing and reporting.

1. SystemQuest Ltd
CMMS Software Services Provider
Having recently received a copy of the latest Pirana CMMS software, I have spent
time going through the product in some detail, noting the areas of change from
earlier releases. Below is a summary of those changes and hopefully, I have not
missed too much along the way.
I do consider it to be a marked improvement from the previous version and well
worth installing the update when you get it.
The main thrust of the V3 development was to enhance the existing Materials
management module and to add to the portfolio a Purchasing module. The
FrontLine V2 system was used as a basic design specification for this part of the
development.
Shire still have some way to go in its overall development and the completion of the
core functionality is now the focus of the next release version 3.1 scheduled for
spring/summer 2011.
I am happy to carry out a combined review and refresher day for anyone who wants
to take full advantage of these new changes and features.
Pirana Version 3 – Review of Changes
Location Structure: Directly add a “Store” into the “tree/hierarchy”
Settings: Group change wizard can be found in this area, where changes to pre-
defined areas of the software can be made on mass.
Settings: Import a custom report, should you have any reports/formats created by
Shire than this utility allows them to be imported into the current system.
Settings: Business hours allow you to set up core businesses hours and shutdown
periods for the purpose of report calculation (KPI’s/ Downtime etc..).
Settings: General settings now extended to cover purchasing requirements i.e.
Currency defaults, company and purchasing details.
Settings/Licencing: Now extended to cover licencing for Materials and Purchasing
modules.
Settings/Look-ups: Now extended to cover new modules above – 36 tables
extended by another 9 new tables. (COSHH Types, Currency Codes, Cost Types,
Delivery & Invoice Addresses, GRN Formats, PO Prefixes, PO Formats, Stock Take
Formats, Tax Rates).
General: Product performance has been improved, speed of search, page loading
etc..
General: Pop-up windows introduced in certain areas to display information,
negating the need to load a new page or jump between pages.
Asset/Images in all areas: Images now shown as “thumb nails” in a “pop-up
window”. No longer need to size images before attaching as image.

2. Asset: New option to “Create an Asset Part” which means that assets can be a
stock item as well as an asset in the database, with all the usual asset
attributes/features - Again created in a pop-up window feature.
Scheduler: Can now resize grids/expand view and retain changes on close and
reopen.
Scheduler: Summary gives pop-up window displaying info on selected job (open
work order, suppressed job etc..)
Work Orders: Group Action allows for changes to be made to selected work orders
on mass i.e. reject, approve, schedule, progress, put on hold, sign off “Not Done”,
sign off “Done”.
Work Orders/New Work Requests: “Claim this Work Order” - Allows the logged in
user to quickly approve and schedule and assign a work request to him/herself in
one click.
Contacts: Supplier tick box will add additional fields to the organisation record
relating to purchasing i.e. Currency, min order value, terms.
Materials: Now managing assets as stock items as well as standard parts, serialised
stock items and perishable products.
Materials/Parts Issuing: Parts issuing now extended to include issues to asset,
location contact work order or cost centre.
Materials: Now possible to write off stock.
Materials: Tree view of stock by stores.
Materials: Part Images can be held against each stock item.
Purchasing/Purchase Requester: Includes “purchase requester” a quick means of
people remotely requesting stock/non-stock items.
Purchasing/ Quote Requester: Includes the ability to request a quotation for
stock/non-stock items from various suppliers.
Purchasing: Includes standard functionality to cover raising and approving PO,
goods receiving, goods return to supplier, invoice checking, credit note processing,
automatic reordering of stock items etc..
Reporting: Materials - reports now extended to 12 reports in this area. Purchasing -
has 13 new reports.
Reporting: KPI & Scoreboard – little has changed in this build of the software
Security Settings/User Profiles: Now reflect the new features/modules added
Chris Lee – SystemQuest Ltd – www.systemquest.co.uk