microsoft-dynamics-365-business-central-solution-for-a-manufacturing-business

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Solution for a Manufacturing Business

Growth story of a Fiberglass Manufacturing company and its transformation to overcome their operational challenges and increase productivity by 20%, optimize inventory and pushed the boundaries of quality and customer satisfaction.

About Business

This manufacturing company has been at the forefront of fiberglass product innovation for over 15 years. Specializing in fiberglass tanks, ships, and pools, as well as polyethylene and acrylic products, they have become a reliable name in the industry. Their dedication to quality has helped families enhance their homes and improve their living conditions.

As they move into a new era, the company is driven by the pursuit of innovation and superior customer experience. Their focus is not just on revenue size, but on making a meaningful impact through their products and services. They strive to bring their ambitious growth plans to life by continually improving their business processes and quality of their products.

Business Challenges

The market demand and quality of the products are the driving factors for growth on one side, which is good for the business, but on the other side the business operations are becoming more complex to manage, lacking the pace to keep with the growth and deliver the final goods.

In a way, the existing disparate systems were unable to handle the complexities and scale of the growing business. Lack of system integration led to inefficiencies and hampered the company’s ability to scale operations effectively. These are the signs of lacking an integrated ERP system. On top of this, manual data entry and reliance on Excel spreadsheets resulted in frequent errors in data and analytics. These errors led to poor decision-making and adversely affected business performance in quick time.

Business Solution

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Solution

To address these challenges, the business decided to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, an all-encompassing ERP solution that seamlessly integrates various business functions into a unified system. The modules implemented included Financial Management, Sales, Purchase, Inventory, and Manufacturing.

As part of implementing the Dynamics Business Central solution, Covalense Global’s team of Functional and Technical consultants followed an enterprise solution execution and roll-out strategy as below:

Comprehensive Analysis and Planning – Conducted a detailed review of existing processes and systems to pinpoint areas needing improvement and Created a customized implementation plan with clear milestones and timelines.

Data Migration and System Integration – Transferred data from legacy systems and Excel spreadsheets into Business Central and ensured smooth integration with existing tools to streamline data flow and eliminate manual entry.

Tailored Configuration and Customization – Configured modules for Financial Management, Sales, Purchase, Inventory, and Manufacturing to meet the company’s specific requirements and Customized workflows to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Employee Training and Change Management – Provided comprehensive training sessions to facilitate smooth system adoption by employees, Implemented change management strategies to handle resistance and ensure stakeholder engagement.

Go-Live and Ongoing Support – Successfully launched the system with real-time support to address initial issues, Established continuous support mechanisms for system optimization and troubleshooting.

Solution Highlights

Financial Management: The finance team faced prolonged month-end reconciliations, delaying financial reporting.
Business Central automated reconciliation processes and provided real-time financial data access. Month-end closing time was reduced by approximately 30%, and financial accuracy was enhanced, enabling timely and reliable reporting.

Sales Management: Manual processing of sales orders led to frequent errors and delays in order fulfillment. The Sales module automated sales order processing, tracked customer interactions, and provided real-time status updates. Order processing time decreased by around 25%, improving customer satisfaction and reducing order errors.

Purchase Management: The purchasing department faced challenges with manual purchase order creation and tracking, causing supplier miscommunications. The Purchase module automated purchase order creation, tracked supplier performance, and integrated with inventory management. Supplier lead times were reduced by about 20%, and procurement errors were minimized, leading to better supplier relationships and consistent inventory levels.

Inventory Management: Manual tracking of inventory levels led to stockouts and overstock situations, disrupting production schedules. The Inventory module provided real-time tracking of inventory levels, automated reorder points, and integrated with sales and purchase orders. Stockouts were reduced by 30%, and overstock situations decreased by 25%, ensuring smooth production flow and optimal inventory levels.

Manufacturing: The production team faced difficulties in scheduling and resource allocation, leading to production delays. The Manufacturing module optimized production scheduling, tracked work-in-progress, and provided real-time data on production performance. Production efficiency improved by 20%, and lead times were reduced by 15%, enabling the company to meet customer demands more effectively.

Business Benefits and Value-adds

Unified ERP System
Enhanced Data Accuracy and Analytics
Streamlined Financial Management
Efficient Sales and Purchase Management
Optimized Inventory and Manufacturing
Increased Productivity

The implementation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central empowered this fiberglass manufacturing company to overcome their operational challenges and support their growth objectives. By integrating financial management, sales, purchase, inventory, and manufacturing into a single ERP system, they achieved greater efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. This transformation not only enhanced their current operations but also positioned them for future growth and success in the competitive manufacturing industry.