1. AmeriComp
Background
AmeriComp industries manufactures specialized PC components and sells them to other businesses. Customers may send Purchase Orders using either the Web or the regular mail. AmeriComp processes these identically. The following narrative describes their order-entry process. Narrative
The order-entry clerk at AmeriComp receives a purchase order (PO) from a customer. The clerk enters the customer number into an online terminal. The clerk then enters the quantity and item numbers requested. The computer checks the inventory file and prints a Sales Order Header on the printer in the order-entry clerk's office. The order entry clerk reconciles the Sales Order Header to the PO and forwards the Sales Order Header to Accounts Receivable.
The clerk in Accounts Receivable reviews the Sales Order Header and checks the customer file. The Accounts Receivable clerk then approves the Sales Order Header (by initialing the approval box - the approved Sales Order Header is now called a Sales Order). The Accounts Receivable clerk copies the approved Sales Order and forwards the copy to the Shipping department. The Accounts Receivable clerk forwards the original Sales Order to the order-entry clerk. The order-entry clerk prepares a vendor acknowledgement and sends it to the customer. The clerk then files the Sales Order and Purchase Order together in a Sales-Pending File. 1 3 2 9 10 4 5 11 12 13 15 14 16 6 7 8

2. ORDER-ENTRY CLERK
Receives a purchase order (PO)
Enters the customer number into an online terminal
Enters the quantity and item numbers requested
Reconciles the Sales Order Header to PO
Forwards the Sales Order Header to Accounts Receivable
Prepares a vendor acknowledgement
Sends vendor acknowledgement to the customer
Files the Sales Order and Purchase Order together in a Sales-Pending File
COMPUTER
Checks the inventory file
Prints a Sales Order Header
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Reviews the Sales Order Header
Checks the customer file
Approves the Sales Order Header
Copies the approved Sales Order
Forwards the copy to Shipping
Forwards the original Sales Order to order-entry clerk
1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 6, 7, 8

3. Sales Pend. Customer Order Entry Computer Accounts Receivable
Vendor Ack 7
Customer
Shipping
Inventory
Sales Pend. PO 1
Accounts
Receivable
Computer
Order
Entry 8 16 SO
SO header 5 4 6
Cust No 2
SO header 10
Order info 3 9 12 11 13 14 SO 15
1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 6, 7, 8

4. Sales Pend. Customer Order Entry Computer Accounts Receivable
Vendor Ack
Customer
Sales Pend.
Order
Entry PO
Cust No
Order info
Computer
SO header SO
Accounts
Receivable
SO header
Inventory SO
Shipping
Customer

5. Inventory Customer 1.0 Prepare SO Header 2.0 Approve SO Sales Pend.
Shipping
Inventory
Sales Pend. 2 3 10 4 5 1 PO
1.0
Prepare SO
Header 9 7
Vendor Ack 12
2.0
Approve SO 8
3.0
Prepare
Vendor
Ack. 15 SO 11 13 14 16 6
1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 6, 7, 8

6. Inventory Customer 1.0 Prepare SO Header Customer 2.0 Approve SOPO
Customer
Vendor Ack
2.0
Approve SO
Sales Pend.
3.0
Prepare
Vendor
Ack. SO
Shipping

7. Order Entry Computer Accounts ReceivablePO
Customer 1 5 A SO
header PO 9
Check
Print
Inventory
Cust no
Item info
2,3 7
Reconcile 4 10
Check
Print SO
header
Reviews
Checks
Approves
Copies 11
Reviews
Checks
Approves
Copies 13
Reviews
Checks
Approves
Copies 12
Cust
Reviews
Checks
Approves
Copies 14
Sales
Order 6
Prepare
Vend
Ack.
Vendor 16 B
Sales
Order 15
Shipping 8
Sale
Pnd
1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 6, 7, 8

8. Order Entry Computer Accounts Receivable PO A Customer Check Print
Inventory SO
header
Cust no
Item info
Reviews
Checks
Approves
Copies
Reviews
Checks
Approves
Copies
Reviews
Checks
Approves
Copies
Reviews
Checks
Approves
Copies SO
header SO
header
Cust
Reconcile
Vendor
Ack.
Sales
Order
Sales
Order
Prepare
Vend
Ack. PO SO
header
Shipping A B
Sales
Order
Sale
Pnd B