HELMAC PRODUCTS CORPORATION Forecasting and Reporting System THE CHALLENGE While Helmac Products' consumer goods manufacturing business had successfully weathered the economic spin at the end of the nineties, it became clear to CEO Nick McKay that the company needed to have a clearer picture of its economic future. Their existing forecasting systems were outdated and cumbersome and did not integrate well with their new SQL Server based proprietary systems. It was difficult to rapidly generate forecast reports, test sales scenarios, and maintain accurate data. They needed an easy-to-use system that they could use to enter forecast estimates, test sales scenarios, maintain accurate data, and rapidly generate sophisticated forecast reports. Data needed to be stored in SQL Server tables to support queries integrated with existing actual data. INTERDEV'S SOLUTION We used Visual Basic 6.0 with interface control tools from FarPoint to develop an intuitive data entry system that could also be used for a visual review of forecast estimates. The data entry tabs display actual data for the last twelve calendar months, with entry fields available for the subsequent 36-month periods. As users enter estimated values, the system automatically calculates growth or loss percentages. Command buttons also allow users to select steady growth rates over subsequent periods, seasonal logic, or repeat the previous year's growth patterns. A summary tab provides a full overall picture for items, customers, or sales managers. Crystal Reports was used to generate several complex reports, including detailed analysis of forecast vs. previous, forecast vs. actual, and actual vs. previous values.   The user has the ability to update, add, or delete information. The page is self posting, therefore the majority of the code is re-usable. The code contains client side validation which checks for legitimate values. It populates existing values during updates. The code uses hover help, prompts users if they are sure they want to delete, and intuitively changes from an update form to an add form after a change has been submitted. A button, tied to a Javascript function, displays decal mailing information in a pop-up window when clicked. THE RESULTS The reports showed dramatic evidence that Helmac needed to refocus its business efforts and policies. Previously unknown loopholes in their business practices were brought to light, and many adjustments in manufacturing and material procurement plans were enacted immediately. In only the first month after activating the Forecasting system and reports created by InterDev developers, Helmac displayed stunning growth in its actual performance versus an already challenging forecast, and made significant strides towards new company efforts to reduce costs and improve sales versus inventory. Future plans are to make this information available in a Digital Dashboard format.