Manufacturing Solutions for Optimised Operations
Every manufacturer faces challenges—whether it’s balancing production schedules, managing raw materials, or ensuring quality control. How do you stay ahead in a highly competitive market? By adopting technology that helps you reduce costs, improve quality, and optimise production.
At Professional Advantage, we’ve helped manufacturers across Australia leverage Microsoft Dynamics 365 to streamline their operations, from raw material procurement to finished goods. Whether you’re a small manufacturer or running a complex global operation, our solutions help you gain full visibility into your production processes, reduce waste, and improve decision-making.
How will you stay competitive?
The manufacturing sector is evolving, with increasing pressure from global competition and changing customer demands. Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers the flexibility and advanced tools manufacturers need to improve agility, ensure quality, and drive long-term growth.
Manufacturing Operations Management
Enhance your production operations with end-to-end visibility and control over your entire manufacturing process.
From the factory floor to final delivery, Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers comprehensive tools to manage your production schedules, resources, and quality control. Keep your manufacturing process running smoothly with real-time data and automated workflows.
- Production Scheduling: Plan and optimise production runs, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently.
- Bill of Materials (BOM) Management: Manage complex BOMs with multi-level components and assemblies.
- Capacity Planning: Align production schedules with available resources and demand forecasts.
- Shop Floor Control: Track production progress, monitor equipment performance, and optimise output in real-time.
- Quality Management: Implement and track quality control measures to ensure consistent production standards.
Supply Chain and Inventory Management
Ensure your materials, parts, and finished goods are always where they need to be.
Manage your supply chain and inventory with precision, from raw materials to finished goods. Microsoft Dynamics 365 provides real-time inventory insights and automates purchasing processes, ensuring you always have the right materials at the right time.
- Material Resource Planning (MRP): Optimise inventory levels by forecasting demand and automating purchasing processes.
- Warehouse and Inventory Management: Track raw materials, components, and finished goods across multiple locations.
- Supplier Management: Improve vendor relationships by tracking performance, lead times, and procurement costs.
- Advanced Item Tracking: Trace products and materials through lot and serial number tracking.
- Production Order Management: Manage production orders and ensure timely fulfillment.
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
Manage your product from concept to production and beyond.
With integrated product lifecycle management, you can manage every stage of your product’s journey, from design and development to production and retirement.
- Product Design and Development: Collaborate on product design, revisions, and approvals.
- Change Management: Track engineering changes and ensure they are reflected in production schedules and BOMs.
- Version Control: Manage multiple product versions and iterations throughout their lifecycle.
- Production Costing: Track product costs from design to finished goods, helping to ensure profitability.
- Compliance Management: Ensure your products meet regulatory requirements across multiple markets.
Reporting and Analytics
Make data-driven decisions with real-time insights into every aspect of your manufacturing operations.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 provides advanced reporting and analytics to help you track production efficiency, quality control, and costs. Get the insights you need to make informed decisions and continuously improve your processes.
- Production Performance Reports: Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) like output, downtime, and efficiency.
- Cost Analysis: Track production costs and identify areas for savings.
- Quality Control Metrics: Analyse quality control data to ensure product consistency and reduce waste.
- Inventory Reports: Gain insights into material usage, stock levels, and inventory turnover.
- Capacity Utilisation: Measure how effectively your resources are being used in production.
Which solution is best for your manufacturing business?
For small and mid-sized manufacturers, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides an affordable and user-friendly platform to manage production, inventory, and financial operations all in one system. Its simplicity and flexibility make it an excellent choice for growing manufacturers that need to optimise their processes without the complexity or cost of larger ERP systems.
For larger and more complex manufacturing operations, Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Supply Chain delivers an advanced solution designed to handle multi-site production, global supply chains, and sophisticated manufacturing processes. With robust scalability, automation, and AI-driven insights, Finance and Supply Chain is ideal for manufacturers looking to enhance efficiency, manage complex operations, and scale globally.
| Feature | Business Central | Finance and Supply Chain |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small to Mid-Sized Manufacturers | Large/Complex Manufacturing Operations |
| Production Scheduling | Basic, Single-Site Scheduling | Advanced, Multi-Site, and Global Scheduling |
| Bill of Materials (BOM) Management | Supports Simple and Multi-Level BOMs | Handles Complex, Multi-Level BOMs and Configurations |
| Capacity Planning | Basic Capacity Planning | Advanced Capacity and Resource Optimisation |
| Shop Floor Control | Basic Shop Floor Management | Advanced Real-Time Shop Floor Insights and Automation |
| Supply Chain and Inventory Management | Integrated Supply Chain and Inventory Features | Advanced Supply Chain Automation and Optimisation |
| Material Resource Planning (MRP) | Basic MRP for Small Operations | Advanced MRP with Demand Forecasting and AI |
| Global Scaling | Limited Global Scaling | Fully Scalable for Global Manufacturing Operations |
| Financial Integration | Integrated Financials for Manufacturing | Advanced Financial Management with Detailed Costing |
| Compliance and Quality Control | Basic Quality Control and Compliance | Advanced Compliance and Quality Management |
Learn how we can help improve your Manufacturing operations
Complete the form below, or contact us on 1800 126 499 to speak to one of our experts today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most common questions we receive about how Microsoft Dynamics 365 can support manufacturing businesses. If you have more questions, feel free to reach out to our team.
What is the difference between Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Finance and Supply Chain for manufacturing?
Business Central is ideal for small to mid-sized manufacturers looking for an affordable, integrated solution to manage production, inventory, and financials.
Finance and Supply Chain is designed for larger, complex operations that require advanced production management, multi-site capabilities, and global scalability.
How can Microsoft Dynamics 365 improve our production scheduling and planning?
Both Business Central and Finance and Supply Chain offer robust tools for production scheduling and capacity planning. These features help you optimise production runs, align resources with demand, and reduce downtime. Finance and Supply Chain also includes AI-driven demand forecasting for more complex operations.
Can Microsoft Dynamics 365 handle multi-level bills of materials (BOM)?
Yes, both solutions support multi-level BOMs. Business Central manages simple to moderately complex BOMs, while Finance and Supply Chain is designed for handling highly complex BOMs with multiple layers, configurations, and engineering change tracking.
How does Microsoft Dynamics 365 help with quality control in manufacturing?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 includes quality control features that allow manufacturers to track and ensure consistent product quality. You can set up quality checks throughout the production process and track non-conformance issues to reduce waste and ensure customer satisfaction.
How does Microsoft Dynamics 365 integrate with other systems in my manufacturing operation?
Both Business Central and Finance and Supply Chain integrate seamlessly with third-party tools, including supply chain systems, warehouse management solutions, and manufacturing execution systems (MES). This ensures a smooth flow of data across your entire operation.
How long does it take to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 for manufacturing?
The timeline depends on the size and complexity of your manufacturing operation. For small to mid-sized manufacturers using Business Central, implementation is typically faster and can be completed in a few months.
For larger operations using Finance and Supply Chain, the process may take longer due to more complex requirements and customisations.
On-Demand Webinar: Manufacturing Made Easy in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Curious about how Microsoft Dynamics 365 can simplify your manufacturing processes? Watch our on-demand webinar, Manufacturing Made Easy in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, and discover how you can streamline production, manage resources more effectively, and improve visibility across your entire operation.
Learn from our industry experts as they walk you through key features and real-world applications of Business Central for manufacturers of all sizes.
Watch now