Build a Competitive Edge for Manufacturing Plant Operations

MANUFACTURING
Microsoft DynamicsT AX
Build a Competitive
Edge for Manufacturing
Plant Operations White Paper Date: June 2006 www.microsoft.com/dynamics/ax

Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................... 3
Manufacturing Trends and Key Challenges............................................... 3 Key challenge: price pressure......................................................................................................................................................3 Key challenge: agility......................................................................................................................................................................4 Key challenge: insight.....................................................................................................................................................................4 Key challenge: perceived difficulties of change ...................................................................................................................5
Turning Challenges into Opportunities: How Technology Can Help ..... 5 Increase insight and efficiency by integrating people, information, and processes ..............................................5 Empower flexibility ..........................................................................................................................................................................6 Expand business intelligence.......................................................................................................................................................6 Provide a low total cost of ownership......................................................................................................................................6
Microsoft Dynamics AX-Solutions for Manufacturing Operations ...... 7 Gain real-time plant floor visibility............................................................................................................................................8 Optimize product design, engineering, and production planning...............................................................................9 Fuel greater efficiency from the shop floor to the top floor...........................................................................................9 Empower people with a solution that works like you do .............................................................................................. 11 Achieve a fast return on investment (ROI) .......................................................................................................................... 11 Solution map of plant operations capabilities................................................................................................................... 12
Technology Overview.................................................................................13
Conclusion ...................................................................................................14
2 BUILD A COMPETITIVE EDGE FOR MANUFACTURING PLANT OPERATIONS
Introduction Manufacturing organizations bear the brunt of global competition. Whether your plant operations consist primarily of discrete, repetitive, build-to-order, continuous process, or mixed-mode models, competitive pressures and increasing customer demands are driving most manufacturers to produce goods ever faster, at lower cost, and in compliance with more exacting quality, regulatory, and market requirements. As both cycle times and margins shrink, profitability can be achieved only by: . Reducing costs and lead times through strategies such as outsourced manufacturing, lean or demand-driven manufacturing initiatives, postponement, and shared services. . Meeting customer demands for shorter lead times, greater traceability, custom configuration or packaging, and compliance initiatives such as radio frequency identification (RFID). . Bringing new products to market faster. . Offering advanced services such as vendor-managed inventory (VMI), returns management, or warranty and repair services. This white paper outlines ways that technology can help manufacturers meet these challenges, increase operational efficiency, and step ahead of competitors with... [download for more]