READOS / Operations
Operational Data, Records and Controls
Master data, identifiers, documents, timesheets, internal controls, continuity and safety decisions.
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- 01Master data and the single source of truth: product codes, customer records and supplier detailsItem, customer and supplier records drive every order, invoice and report. How to define master data, give it owners, control changes, remove duplicates and protect payments.
- 02Writing a data dictionary: defining the data a business relies on so everyone means the same thingDisputed reports often come from undefined terms. How to build a practical data dictionary of fields, codes and measures, write clear definitions, assign owners and keep it current.
- 03Who looks after the database? Database administration responsibilities for small and medium businessesDatabases need routine care, yet in many businesses nobody clearly owns it. The tasks involved, how to share them between staff, IT providers and vendors, and how to avoid gaps.
- 04Designing identifiers: part numbers, job numbers, serial numbers and check digits that prevent errorsNumbers that identify parts, jobs, customers and products underpin every system. How to design identifiers that stay unique and stable, avoid confusion and catch typing errors.
- 05Analysing counts and categories in business data: cross-tabulations, proportions and when a difference is realDefect types, complaint reasons, survey answers and segments are categorical data. How to tabulate them, compare proportions fairly, test whether differences are real and avoid traps.
- 06Timesheet and labour data for job costing: capturing hours accurately so job profits can be trustedLabour is often the largest and least accurate cost in job costing. How to structure timesheet data, calculate loaded labour rates, capture hours reliably and quote better.
- 07Location data for field service and logistics: addresses, geocoding, service areas and site informationField service and delivery businesses run on location data. How to structure addresses, validate and geocode them, define service areas, record site access details and use routing well.
- 08Managing a product image and document library: structure, naming, rights and approvalsProduct images, drawings, manuals and brochures are business assets. How to organise, name, tag, approve and share them, track usage rights and keep the library useful as it grows.
- 09Controlled document management: approvals, revisions, distribution and keeping people on the current versionProcedures, work instructions, forms and specifications only help if people use the right version. How to control documents through approval, revision, distribution, training and review.
- 10Self-service reporting without chaos: giving people access to data while keeping figures consistent and secureReporting tools let anyone build dashboards, which brings speed and sprawl. How to set up trusted data sets, roles, publishing standards, security and training so self-service stays useful.
- 11Internal controls for a growing small business: purchasing, payments, maker-checker and a compliance calendarSimple controls that let owners delegate safely: approval limits, quotes, three-way matching, payment runs, maker-checker, reconciliations, scam checks and a compliance calendar.
- 12Building workforce capability in manufacturing: skills matrices, structured training and growing your ownWhen skilled people are hard to hire, capability must be built inside. How to map skills, find single points of failure, train on the job in a structured way and keep the people you develop.
- 13Business continuity planning for small businesses: preparing for fires, floods, cyber attacks and supplier failuresHow to keep a small business running through disruption: identify risks, find critical functions, set recovery targets, prepare people, cash and suppliers, communicate and test the plan.
- 14So far as is reasonably practicable: making and recording safety risk decisions in Australian workplacesWork health and safety law asks for what is reasonably practicable, not zero risk or the cheapest option. How the test works, how to verify controls and how to record decisions.
- 15Importing goods for a small business: suppliers, landed cost, customs, biosecurity, safety and paymentA practical guide to importing into Australia: choosing suppliers, Incoterms, calculating landed cost, customs and GST, biosecurity, product safety duties and safer payment methods.
These topic-based reading collections are organised alphabetically; chapters may be read in any order.
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