tree nursery inventory bar coding systemseniord.ece.iastate.edu/projects/archive/may0208/tree...
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Tree Nursery Inventory Barcode SystemAbstractA hardware and software solution will be designed and built for Hynek Tree Farms to allow them to keep track of the nursery’s inventory and to sell trees online and on-site. A barcode system along with a central database will be used to manage the inventory and sell the trees.
Testing Approach• Software Component Validation done by senior design team• End-product testing by senior design team• End-product review by client
AdvisorDr. Vijjay Vittal [email protected]
Project Websitehttp://seniord.ee.iastate.edu/may0208/
ClientHynek Tree Farms www.hytree.comBill and Angie Hynek [email protected] Hynek [email protected]
Design Team MembersBrownsberger Russell Wade [email protected] Joe Slee [email protected] Chuan-Jid [email protected] Anthony James [email protected]
May02-08 Project Team Information
Design Constraints• Virtual Shopping Cart and Inventory Tracking system must fit into shirt
pocket• 10000 entry database is limited to 8 MB of memory on PDA• Software is limited to 2 MB of memory on barcode unit
Milestones• Database layout completed• Virtual Shopping Cart and Inventory Tracking System GUI layouts created• Development software picked out and purchased for Palm OS develo pment • Code Development Completed • Online catalogue ASP code up and working online catalogue posted to the
Internet on a web host
Functional Requirements• The system must allow nursery customers to create a purchase order in the
field• Nursery customers must be able to access price information about a tree by
scanning its barcode• The system must allow client to update tree information• The system must synchronize with central database
Design ObjectivesDesign a system that can do the following:• Act as a Virtual Shopping Cart• Inventory Update System• Online Catalogue of Inventory
General BackgroundA nursery presents a unique inventory situation. Trees are sold on an individual basis while still in the ground and can be delivered up to two years after being sold. Each year, some trees are lost to weather, machinery damage, or disease. The trees are priced according to caliper and grade. Each year the farmer will walk through the nursery and update the stock information. Hynek Tree Farms will have approximately 10,000 trees in their inventory within the next 2 years. A system is needed to handle this complex inventory situation.
Trees are sold by two methods: on-site shopping and online catalogue order. For on-site shopping, a customer walks through the field and selects trees they wish to buy. To enhance the customer shopping experience, a barcode system that will provide price information and background data about each tree is needed.
Hynek Tree Farm desires to have an online catalogue that will keep accurate track of stock on hand so that they do not oversell and can easily adjust prices for the growing trees. Customer’s will be able to see pictures of available trees and place orders online.
The barcode system will be operated outdoors in mild weather. It is possible that the intended users will have minimal experience operating computers and PDA’s.
End-Product DescriptionThe “Tree Tracker System” utilizes a Handspring Visor with a Symbol CS-150 barcode scanning unit to keep track of inventory, allow nursery customers to shop using the virtual shopping cart feature, and allows the client to synchronize field-collected data with a central database. The product allows Hynek Tree Farms to keep accurate records of their inventory so they can precisely calculate how much inventory is sold; calculate how many trees they will need to plant to meet their customer demand; make customer shopping experience fun, easy, and accurate; and provide an online catalogue for shoppers.
Technical Approach
Budget & Personnel EffortEstimated Personal Budget 828 hoursEstimated Project Budget $600.00
Shopping for Trees
Updating Inventory
Managing Inventory
Online Tree Shopping
Central Database
Client
Client Customer
Customer
General Background
Abstract
Design Objectives
Functional Requirements
Design Constraints
Milestones
Testing Approach
Budget & Personal Effort
End-Product Description