Managing inventory in a manufacturing environment is a balancing act—accuracy, efficiency, and traceability all matter. At the Paul Mueller Company, ERP Business Analyst Corey Boettler shared how his team streamlined two of their most time-consuming and error-prone processes—inventory adjustments and cycle counts—by leveraging JD Edwards (JDE) tools, orchestrations, and end-user collaboration. 

Identifying the Pain Points 

Before automation, inventory processes at Paul Mueller relied heavily on paper forms and manual entry. Adjustment requests were handwritten, prone to smudges, and often lost on the shop floor. Cycle counts required up to 24 clicks to create a single count, and approvals involved walking forms around for signatures. These inefficiencies caused delays, miscommunication, and compliance risks. 

The team recognized two key opportunities for improvement: 

• Inventory Adjustments – A paper-heavy, approval-dependent process that often required duplicate data entry. 
• Cycle Counts – Complex setup, manual handoffs, and lack of visibility into status and progress. 

Both processes consumed hours of valuable time and introduced unnecessary error risk. 

Turning Complexity into Simplicity 

The solution was to replace manual, paper-based workflows with digitally driven processes powered by JDE Orchestrator. 

• Web-Based Inventory Adjustments:
  The IT team built a web interface where users could select items, view available locations, and automatically calculate totals. Approvals were routed electronically, eliminating guesswork and hand delivery. Once approved, orchestrations pushed the adjustment directly into JD Edwards, ensuring accuracy and audit traceability. 
• Cycle Counts at the Push of a Button:
  Instead of navigating through 24 clicks, users now launch cycle counts from a simple e1 page with orchestration buttons. Shop floor employees without JDE access record counts on a web interface, while administrators track real-time progress. Variances trigger automated recount requests, and overdue counts close automatically after seven days—keeping the process efficient and compliant. 

Real Business Impact 

The results speak for themselves: 

• 80% reduction in cycle count setup time (from over two hours to just 15 minutes). 
• Faster approvals for both adjustments and counts, cutting delays from days to hours. 
• Improved accuracy and completion rates thanks to electronic data capture and automated workflows. 
• Better visibility for managers, who can now monitor cycle count progress and approvals in real time. 

Beyond these wins, Paul Mueller is expanding orchestrations to other areas, such as item record creation, rework tracking, and routing cleanup—delivering measurable time savings and improved data quality. 

Lessons for Other JDE Users 

Boettler emphasized a key takeaway: you don’t need to be a developer to build orchestrations. With input from end users and the flexibility of JDE tools, even non-technical business analysts can create practical solutions that transform workflows. 

The company’s motto—creating quality of life for customers, coworkers, and community—extends to its internal processes. By eliminating inefficiencies and frustrations, these orchestrations have made life easier for employees and improved inventory control across the organization. 

Want more?  

Explore more content and resources to help you get the most from your JD Edwards investment:  

• Be sure to check out the INFOCUS 2025 Event Hub (coming soon) for presentation slides – available exclusively to Quest members.  
• Explore the JD Edwards Orchestrator Strategic Content Center for more Quest-exclusive resources.  
• Visit the Quest Learn Library for blogs, how-to demos, and on-demand sessions.  
• Connect with peers in one of our Quest JD Edwards Community User Groups to swap stories, ask questions, and share tips with other users facing the same challenges.  

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