AX2012 process manufacturing integrates to manufacturing execution

In previous versions it was not possible to collect data on shop floor for process manufactured products. Many customers use both process and discrete manufacturing capabilities in Dynamics AX in their environments regardless of whether they are generally dealing with process manufactured products or with assembled products. Therefore in AX2012 it was made possible to do data collection on products that were manufactured using formulae and batch orders. This post describes the context in which some decisions were made and also lists a number of enhancements to process manufacturing in AX2012 that make this possible.

Synchronous updates
Manufacturing execution in AX2012 is changed so that progress updates made on job registration are instantly updated in the production module. It is now possible to track the production progress within production module by viewing jobs and quantity form from production orders as soon as the progress entry is made. This is also extended to batch orders.

Job registration form
On the job registration form it is now possible to see operations or jobs depending on whether operation or job scheduling was run on batch orders. The setup required for this is described in the documentation here.
Since batch orders can produce multiple outputs, it is now possible to see these multiple outputs by shop floor worker on their terminal. This is made possible by allowing access to co-by products form from job registration form. It is possible to configure job registration form so the co-by products button appears here. Setup of action pane that is needed to set this up is described here.
It is now made possible to set up the action pane on job registration form so that linked quality orders to the batch order in progress can be seen from within the job registration form. This capability enables either shop floor worker or supervisor to easily access and see the status of quality orders for the batch order on which they are still recording progress.
It is now made possible to set up the action pane on job registration form so that linked non-conformances to the batch order in progress can be seen from within the job registration form. This capability enables either shop floor worker or supervisor see the associated non-conformances

Production status list page
This page is intended as an overview for shop floor supervisor. In previous versions it was not possible to see batch order jobs on this page.

In process manufacturing AX2012 it is possible to do the following.

1. View the batch order jobs, 
2. View the formula connected to the batch order for which jobs are being displayed 
3. View the non-conformances connected to the jobs being displayed
4. View the consolidated orders form, this form will show consolidated orders, bulk or pack orders that are related to the batch order that is currently in focus on production jobs list page
5. "Cancel finished report" button will cancel the quantity reported as finished against the batch order, just like in the case of production order

Report as finish
In AX2012 it is possible to report as finish multiple outputs through manufacturing execution. This is achieved by simply making it mandatory for the user to open up report as finish form while reporting quantity as finish. The report as finish form that opens up is standard form that is used for reporting against a batch order. So, all the capability of adding co-by products and reporting against already available multiple co-by products is possible just like through the production module.

Edit job lists form
This is a new form in AX2012 where it is possible to re-prioritize individual jobs. This allows greater flexibility on shop floor. None of the changes are synchronized with master planning and scheduling. Based on our research users wanted some capability to do this without the changes going through master planning and scheduling. Shop floor supervisors often change the resources or get asked to prioritize certain jobs and there wasn’t a way to capture such changes without running master planning. Running MRP is huge overhead, not in control of a single supervisor since it impacts larger site/organization and usually decisions of such an immediate timeframe should not be run through master planning. Therefore, this capability was added in AX2012 in Manufacturing execution module. This job prioritization can be done for individual jobs or multiple jobs. Jobs can be moved from one position to another in the queue. Resources allocated for a job can be also manually changed here if the allocated resource is not available for a short period for whatever reason. This capability is now also available for jobs originating from batch orders.

Inventory Picking
While picking for a batch order from manufacturing execution module, AX2012 ensures that picking is done in FEFO order is this is setup for the item being picked

Catch weight and production module
A number of new fields have been added to many forms. All forms that are used to process products and those that are used to show progress of products through shop floor have new fields to handle products that have dual unit of measure defined.

Forms that have been modified

1. Production journals
2. Route jobs form
3. Route form
4. Materials form

Grid setup for catch weight products
CW started quantity, CW start quantity and CW requested quantity are three new fields that can now be setup on the grid in the job registration form.

Catch weight and manufacturing execution module
Catch weight fields are now available on several forms so that products with dual unit of measure defined can be processed using the manufacturing execution module.

Forms that have been modified are:

1. Edit jobs list form
2. Change feedback form
3. Raw registrations form
4. Posted registrations form
5. Quantity reports form
6. Approve form

Hopefully this post introduces you to the changes made to allow shop floor workers to record progress against products that are being manufactured using batch orders and formulae.