Business Central manufacturing made simple for everyone
You do not have to be a tech expert to use Dynamics 365 Business Central for manufacturing. Business Central gives you easy tools and clear steps. This helps small and medium businesses manage every process. Many people see results quickly. There is a 265% ROI in three years and payback in less than six months:
You get real-time insights and better efficiency. Your operations work together in one system. Even if your shop is small, you can use this ERP to grow with confidence.
Key Takeaways
Dynamics 365 Business Central makes manufacturing easier for small and medium businesses. It gives simple tools and clear steps to help manage production well.
Using Business Central can save a lot of money. You can get a 265% return on investment in three years. You can also save over $80,000 each year on consulting costs.
Real-time insights and automatic updates help businesses stay flexible. You can change plans fast when demand or supply changes. This keeps everything running smoothly.
Connecting Bills of Materials and routings helps plan production better. This link helps stop mistakes and makes sure you have the right materials when you need them.
Business Central uses a cloud system so teams can work anywhere. This makes it easy for people to work together and stay updated.
What is Business Central Manufacturing?
Overview
You can use the business central manufacturing module to handle every part of making products. This module in dynamics 365 business central puts planning, production, and accounting together. Older erp systems often need extra tools or special setups. Business central gives you everything you need in one place. This saves time and helps you make fewer mistakes.
The business central manufacturing module has many important parts:
Business central links manufacturing work with your financials. Your general ledger updates by itself, so you always know your costs. You also get Power BI reports to see how things are going and what they cost. The MRP tool looks at lead times and demand, so planning is easier.
If you compare manufacturing and assembly in dynamics 365 business central, you will see they are different. The manufacturing module is for detailed production and needs a premium license. It uses production orders, multi-level BOMs, and tracks costs closely. The assembly module is simpler, uses assembly orders, and is good for basic tasks without many steps.
Who Benefits?
Business central manufacturing helps if you run a job shop, repetitive manufacturing, make-to-order, make-to-stock, or engineer-to-order business. This module works for many types of manufacturing companies.
Small and medium businesses find this software very useful. You get real-time data on inventory, production, and supply chain. The cloud system lets you work from anywhere and react fast to changes. Automation and AI help you do less manual work and be more accurate.
You can use business central to handle your whole manufacturing process, from planning to making to delivery. This enterprise resource planning solution gives you what you need to grow and do well.
Building Blocks of Manufacturing in Dynamics 365 Business Central
If you know the basics of manufacturing in business central, you can run your shop with confidence. You will learn how bills of material and routings work together. These tools help you plan, track, and improve each step.
Bills of Materials (BOMs)
A Bill of Material (BOM) is like a recipe for your product. It lists every part, raw material, and subassembly you need to make the final item. In dynamics 365 business central, the BOM is your main guide. You use it to help your manufacturing and keep your inventory correct.
Tip: A good BOM helps you avoid mistakes and saves money by stopping you from buying too many raw materials.
There are different types of BOMs in business central:
When you use correct BOM data, you can guess what materials you need and match them with your production plans. This helps you get the right parts at the right time. Even small companies can use BOMs to stop mistakes and keep things running well.
Routings
Routings show the steps to make a product. Each step tells you what to do, where to do it, and how long it takes. In dynamics 365 business central, routings help you organize your work and use your resources well.
You can use routings to:
Change schedules quickly.
Use work centers better.
Watch how long tasks take.
Find delays and fix your schedule.
The Prod. Order Routing Gantt report shows all tasks clearly. You can see how long each step takes and find problems early. This helps you keep your work on track and efficient.
Tying BOMs and Routings Together
You get the most out of business central when you connect BOMs and routings. The BOM tells you what you need. The routing tells you how to make it. Together, they give you a full view of your manufacturing.
Here are some real-life examples:
Welding jobs may have lower yields because they need to be very exact.
Polishing might need to be done more than once to meet quality.
Heat treatment can change part sizes, so you may need to fix or throw away some items.
When you link BOMs and routings, you can:
Stop buying too many raw materials.
Find steps that cost the most.
Make your quotes more accurate.
Plan work and resources better.
Note: Good BOMs and routings help you plan, avoid waste, and deliver on time.
By using these building blocks in dynamics 365 business central, you make your manufacturing clear and easy to handle. You can track every part, every step, and every cost. This gives you control and helps your business grow with a modern erp.
Key Features for the Manufacturing Industry
Production Planning
You can control your whole production process with Dynamics 365 Business Central. The system helps you plan each step, from raw materials to finished goods. You see what you need and when you need it. You also see how long each step takes. This planning tool links your supply chain and production management. You always know what is happening on your shop floor.
With real-time data, you can change your plans fast. If a supplier is late or demand goes up, you update your schedule in seconds. You use production orders to follow each job. The system connects your planning with inventory, supply, and quality checks. This makes your production strong and dependable.
Tip: Use the Work Center Load Report to check how busy each area is. This helps you stop overloads and keep your production running smoothly.
Inventory Management
Inventory management in Business Central gives you real-time views and accuracy. You always know what is in stock and what you need to order. The system links inventory with finance and sales. This stops data silos. Automated restocking and AI demand forecasting make your inventory faster and more exact than many other ERP systems.
You can compare Business Central to other solutions like SAP Business One or NetSuite. Business Central stands out because it is flexible, costs less, and is easy to customize. You save time and money and keep your supply chain strong.
Track inventory levels in real time.
Get alerts when stock is low.
Forecast demand with AI tools.
Connect inventory with supply chain management and production.
This way helps you cut waste, boost quality, and keep your customers happy.
Capacity Planning
Capacity planning helps you use your resources well. In Business Central, you see how much work each machine or worker can do. You plan your production using real data, not guesses. The system shows if you have enough capacity for each order.
Here are some important metrics you can track:
You use these reports to find bottlenecks and plan for busy times. The system helps you balance supply and demand. You never overwork your team or machines.
Sub-Assemblies
Sub-assemblies help you split complex products into smaller parts. In Business Central, you can show sub-assemblies as indented lines in a production order or as separate production orders. This makes your data easy to read and manage.
You use sub-assemblies to make your production management better. This method helps you track each part, control quality, and plan your supply chain. You see where each part fits and can change things quickly if needed.
Integration with Business Functions
Business Central links your manufacturing with other business functions like finance and sales. You get smooth data updates, so your information is current everywhere. This integration cuts down on manual work and mistakes. You get better customer insights and make smarter choices.
You also manage your supply chain with tools for capacity and supply planning, production orders, machine centers, production bills of materials, and inventory forecasting. Cloud integration lets you reach your data anywhere, so you stay connected to your business all the time.
Note: Real-time cost tracking and advanced reporting features help you see your true costs and quality at every step. You make better choices and keep your supply chain strong.
Getting Started with Business Central
Setup
You can begin using Dynamics 365 Business Central for manufacturing in a few easy steps. First, log in to your account. Then, enter your company details and pick the manufacturing industry template. Add your products, materials, and work centers next. The guided setup wizard helps you with each step. This tool lets you add inventory, make bills of materials, and set up routings. You do not have to be an expert to start. The system shows you what to do so you can focus on production.
Tip: If you need help, use the built-in help and tooltips in Business Central. These tools answer common questions and help you keep going.
Managing Orders
It is simple to manage production orders in Business Central. You can make new production orders, assign materials, and plan tasks. The system connects your orders to inventory and work centers. This keeps your work running well. Many new users have problems when they first manage orders. Here are some common issues:
Business Central helps you fix these problems by connecting all parts of your production order management in one ERP system.
Tracking Inventory
You can watch your inventory in real time with Dynamics 365 Business Central. The system shows what you have, where it is, and what you need for new production orders. You can:
Check inventory levels at any time
Track where materials and finished goods move
Keep the right amount of stock for your needs
This way keeps your work smooth and your costs low.
Monitoring Progress
You can check your manufacturing progress with different tools in Dynamics 365 Business Central. Use Power BI reports to see how your production is doing. You can also look at lists or export data to Excel for a closer look. Built-in analytics and reports show important numbers like actual costs, expected costs, and planned versus finished amounts.
Look at lists for quick checks
Open in Excel for a deeper look
Built-in manufacturing analytics and reports
These tools help you find problems early and keep your work on track. You always know how your production orders are moving through the process.
Solving Common Manufacturing Challenges
Reducing Manual Work
Business central helps you do less manual work. It puts all your business tasks in one place. You do not have to type the same data more than once. This saves time and helps stop mistakes. You can use planning and scheduling tools to keep things running well. Automation helps you avoid errors and lets your team focus on growing the business.
Puts business processes into one ERP system
Stops manual data entry, so there are fewer mistakes
Lets your team work on important jobs
Links finance, inventory, sales, and purchasing for smooth work
Keeps your Bill of Materials and Routings up to date to speed up production
Tip: Using automation in dynamics 365 business central means less paperwork and more time making products.
Improving Accuracy
Business central helps you be more accurate at every step. You get tools to check quality, manage recipes, and control inventory. These features help keep your data right and current.
You can trust your numbers and make smart choices for your production and supply chain.
Enhancing Collaboration
Business central helps your team work together better. Everyone can see the same information. This makes it easy for teams to solve problems fast.
Puts all data in one place so everyone sees the same facts
Works with Microsoft Teams for easy chats and sharing documents
Gives each role a custom dashboard to help with planning and decisions
Automates simple tasks, so your team can do creative work
Has project management tools for using resources well and tracking progress
Note: When you use dynamics and business central together, your whole team stays connected and your projects stay on track.
Tips for Simplicity and Efficiency
Best Practices
You can make your work easier in business central by using some simple best practices. These steps help you stop mistakes and keep production running well.
Set up your master data first. Add your items, components, bills of material (BOMs), and routings. This gives you a strong start for every production order.
Make sure your master data is right and complete. Good data helps you avoid big mistakes and keeps your manufacturing on track.
Use the Planning FastTab on the Item Card. Pick the best planning settings for each item. This helps you control inventory and serve customers better.
Check your BOMs and routings often. Update them when you change products or how you make things. This keeps your erp system up to date and working well.
Teach your team to follow these steps. When everyone uses the same process, your business central system works better for all of manufacturing.
Tip: Good data and regular checks help you get the most from your erp and dynamics tools.
Resources
You have many resources to help you learn business central and dynamics 365 business central. These tools make learning simple and help you every day.
Watch the intro video. It shows how dynamics 365 business central brings all your business work together.
Use Microsoft’s training guides and documents. These cover both easy and hard features for the manufacturing industry.
Try the built-in help and tooltips in business central. You can find answers fast as you work.
Ask support teams for help. They help you fix problems and get the most from your erp.
Join online groups and forums. Other users share tips and answers for production and inventory problems.
Use Power BI and reporting tools. These help you make smart choices and improve your production.
Note: Business central gives you one platform. You can run your operations, improve quality, and help your manufacturing business grow.
You can make your job easier in manufacturing with business central. Many companies have seen good changes:
KONG got more accurate with their inventory.
TDL Canada made production faster and smoother.
AGIS fixed slow spots by seeing updates right away.
Melco and OESD made their operations more modern.
Try dynamics 365 business central to see how you can control your manufacturing and keep your business moving ahead.
FAQ
How do you start using manufacturing in Business Central?
You log in, choose the manufacturing template, and follow the setup wizard. The system guides you step by step. You add your products, materials, and work centers. You do not need special training to begin.
Can you track production progress in real time?
Yes, you can. Business Central shows live updates on your production orders. You see what is finished and what is still in progress. You can use dashboards or reports for quick checks.
What is a Bill of Materials (BOM)?
A Bill of Materials (BOM) lists all the parts and materials you need to make a product. You use it as a recipe for your manufacturing. This helps you plan and avoid missing items.
Does Business Central help with inventory management?
Yes! You always know what you have in stock. The system tracks inventory levels and sends alerts when you need to reorder. You save money and avoid running out of materials.
Can you use Business Central if your team works in different locations?
Absolutely. Business Central is cloud-based. Your team can log in from anywhere. Everyone sees the same data, so you work together easily.