The manufacturing sector is becoming increasingly challenging and complex. Customers and suppliers are demanding more for less, products are becoming commoditised and margins  shrinking. 

Below are Examples of businesses within the industrial manufacturing sector, realizing tangible business value with the deployment of Microsoft Dynamics Nav.  

Unitech America (a subsidiary of Taiwan based Unitech, is a leading manufacturer of automatic information and data collection products). Amongst Unitech America’s key internal challenges was the inability to track serial numbers associated with products. As a result the business was not able to accurately track inventory levels, product returns, warranty claims etc.. and monitor customer purchasing patterns. 

The Microsoft Dynamics Nav solution helped Unitech America; 

 ·         gain real-time business insight – with comprehensive information on inventory and other details such as: account history being available real time, managers were able to monitor KPIs regularly 

·         reduce human error by 50 percent, annual cost saving of circa US$ 60,000 per annum - the workflow functionality of Microsoft Dynamics Nav solution was customized to “generate” a wide variety of error messages to detect human/input errors during order processing.  

 ·         streamline processes – reporting cycles reduced to a few hours (rather than days) and report generation down to a few minutes (rather than hours) 

Central Mercantile Corporation (S) Ltd (CMCS) (established in Singapore in 1969, produces and sells adhesive tapes and packaging products for a range of applications) CMCC operates in a highly competitive and price sensitive (volume driven) market. In such and environment accurate real time information on inventory levels, customer orders and pricing are essential for customer retention.  

CMCC needed an integrated financial management solution that provided staff with accurate information real time so customer orders are processed and serviced within a very short timeframe.   

 The Microsoft Dynamics Nav solution helped CMCC;  

·         increase sales by circa 6% during the first 12 months – the system was easily adaptable to fit the business and therefore it soon became a very useful tool that also helped identify new business opportunities within the customer base 

·         realize cost savings of circa US$ 288,000 during the first 3 years  - ready access to up to date information on stock levels lead to an estimated 17% reduction in stockholdings

·         increase employee productivity – the familiar and intuitive user interface made the system easy to use, thus reduced human error and enhanced staff productivity 

 ·         improve the quality of management decisions – customized reports could easily be generated to monitor KPIs of the business, which  enabled confident decision making on strategic issues  

 Roll-Gom was founded in 1985, and has since been acquired by Alsace-Canadian GUITEL Group.  

 Roll-Gom operates a factory 24/7 to manufacture wheels for waste bins and wheelbarrows.The business was badly in need of a system that was easily adaptable (to the internal business processes) and user friendly (thus enabling users to access the information easily).  

The Microsoft Dynamics Nav solution helped Roll-Gom: 

·         make more accurate business decision – instant access to accurate and reliable information improved the quality of decision making and help increase employee confidence/morale

·         maintain software development and related costs at an optimum – the core functionality of all the specific modules i.e. manufacturing, finance etc.. met almost 90% of the business requirements

·         improve employee productivity – the familiar, intuitive user interface empowered employees with a tool that increased productivity

·         grow the business with ease – the modular structure of Microsoft Dynamics Nav solution is designed to scale with a business of any size. The integration into the Office suit extends the use of the system to a wider group of users within the business

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Sound financial management is fundamental to business success. Microsoft Dynamics Nav provides finance professionals and business users with the necessary tools to raise the effectiveness of financial management throughout the organisation.

Microsoft Dynamics Nav:

1. has a familiar, user friendly interface that is easily tailorable to present key functions and information that people need in their respective roles 
2. helps realise operational efficiencies by:

• enabling disparate sources of information to be formed into a single (consolidated) view of events with ease
• allowing tasks and functions to be streamlined and connected to help cut down redundant tasks/activity
• reducing the time for monthly processes such as: monthly closes, reconciliations etc..

    3.  integrates easily with other business software tools already deployed in the business: thus enabling financial reports and other business data to be easily published in portals such as:   

• the company’s intranet - for access by business managers from across the company and across the globe
• the company’s extranet- for access by external parties with the relevant security access

    4.   supports business growth with ease:the multi company, multi location and multi language functionality within  Microsoft Dynamics Nav could be activated on demand to meet the growing needs of the business

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Microsoft Dynamics Nav has the features and functionality that help build solid customer relationships, leading to increased sales and customer loyalty. 

The CRM functionality of Microsoft Dynamics Nav empowers people in business by: 

- helping to stay connected at all times with Outlook Integration(with the ability to create and manage contact information directly with Microsoft Outlook, when in the office, on the road or when offline and then synchronise with Dynamics Nav)

- helping keep customer information at their finger tips, through Contact Management (with the ability to maintain a summary view of the contacts, classify/group contacts in a meaningful manner and easily access information) 

- enabling Task Management(with the ability to create and assign tasks in Dynamics Nav or Microsoft Outlook and use the automated reminders/alerts to make sure the tasks are completed in a timely manner)

- facilitating Opportunity & Pipeline Management (analytics tool to define and analyze specific customer information to help take advantage of sales opportunities, monitor the sales pipeline)

- facilitate Campaign Management (help create targeted campaigns in any language of choice, customise mail pieces etc.. to suit the campaign, contextual reports to manage campaign results)

- enabling Sales Analysis(view and analyse sales and profitability trends with detailed drill-down capability, customizable sales reports etc..)

- access to Real-time Information (including inventory status, order status and financial information such as: balance outstanding etc…)

- enabling Document Management (a repository for all customer and sales related information such as: quotations, sales orders, meeting notes, correspondence etc.. and other relevant information)

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People in businesses across the world are continuously engaged in supply chain activities i.e. delivering goods and services, negotiating with suppliers and trading partners, managing inventories, negotiating shipping schedules etc…

Microsoft Dynamics Nav assists in the supply chain management of any business:

1. by being a single repository of information from different teams - helps better manage inventory and materials, negotiate with suppliers, plan production and dispatch schedules 
2. by providing people within the business with a tool-set to plan, schedule, coordinate and execute delivery of goods and services productively
3. by being customisable to accommodate the unique requirements (and growth patterns) of individual businesses
4. by providing all stakeholders within the supply-chain with the visibility into customer demand and the delivery of goods - through the business portal
5. by providing real time information on the KPIs to key executives within the business - through the business portal

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Here’s what Sammy, the Shipping Manger had to say: http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/roles/operationsoverview.mspx

My responsibility is to help keep the company profitable by ensuring that orders are shipped on time, are accurate and arrive intact…

Our Receiving process is also important to my role…

I watch for opportunities to make shipping cost -effective, for example we might unpack two incoming shipments and repack them into one outgoing order rather than sending it out in two separate shipments….

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Here’s what Susan, the order processor had to say: http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/roles/operationsoverview.mspx

I do a lot of different things, but processing order is my first priority. I ensure that workers in the shop have adequate time to prepare and ship the orders…. 

In addition, I assist other departments with purchase orders and invoicing I talk with the Purchasing Manager all the time. I check inventory levels every day to see what we need to order….

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Operations comprises of several departments, including research and development, engineering, materials, production, plant management, purchasing, warehousing, shipping, receiving etc…

Here’s what Vince, the operations Manager had to say:  http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/roles/operationsoverview.mspx

My job is to bring people together to execute on our business strategy. I make sure the departments under my supervision have what they need, when they need it. I am a problem - solver and my motto is “there is no time like the present to address the problem”…

Its extremely important that people have the information they need to do their job. That’s why I appreciate our company’s Microsoft Dynamics Business management solution - it works like familiar Microsoft Software so people can quickly drill-down for contextual information or take action on the spot…

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Accuracy and timeliness of business information are the key responsibilities of any finance department. In this day and age finance managers rely heavily on business management software to fulfill these responsibilities.

Here’s what Sara, the CFO had to say; http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/roles/financeoverview.mspx

As the one responsible for our company’s financial plans I need to know at any given time where the company is and where we are going….

For me,  the most important capabilities of our companies Microsoft Dynamics business management solution are the tools that simplify data analysis and reporting, such as web based dash boards that present key performance indicators….

Here’s what Ken, the Controller had to say:  http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/roles/financeoverview.mspx

I oversee the financial process of our company….

Other aspects of my job include overseeing systems training for accounting staff, reviewing budgets, forecasting and modelling, and overseeing monthly and yearly closings…

Microsoft Dynamics makes life easier because I can quickly access up-to-date and accurate information in the system….

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“Finding the right partner (solutions provider) is tremendously important in the success of an ERP solution,” says Alfredo D’Innocenzo, Managing Director, Prodotti Mediterranei Inc., (PMI) the US based importer of pasta, Italy’s second-largest producer. 

PMI turned to GRF Consulting LLC in  New York City, because of that firm’s expertise both in the food industry and in import distribution. PMI’s objectives were very clear, they needed a solution to help it transact business according to the food industry’s distinctive requirements. 

GRF Consulting, LLC proposed Microsoft Dynamics Nav, and enhanced (customised) it to include the following for PMI: 

- extended line discounts to up-to seven levels

- promotion pricing with tracking of promotion movement

- container tracking

- quantity budgets per customer

- sales statistics on unit volume rather than dollars (a food industry preference)

- credit management modified to reflect the company’s processes

- automatic order tracking from Italian warehouses through the trans Atlantic crossings to their arrival in the US

- chart of accounts in Italian and reclassified based on Italian and European union regulations

- pallet exchange tracking

In summary the “choice of right partner (solutions provider)” will save you time, dollars and provide that necessary freedom to get on with “growing the business”

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A “Microsoft Dynamics Nav Solutions Provider” is an independent business that continues to meet the required level of accreditation (specified by Microsoft).

The selection criteria for a suitable ”Microsoft Dynamics Nav Solutions Provider ” should include;

- expertise in the specific industry segment (i.e. if you are in the business of manufacturing chemicals, does the provider have other customers in this segment)

- ability to provide credible customer references

- the stability and longevity of the provider’s business

- modus operandi of the provider organisation (i.e. how much time have they spent understanding the specific needs of your business)

- the competency levels of the consulting/service delivery staff

- the culture fit between the organisations

- capacity to deliver the solution within the time-frame specified and provide on going support

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