Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Manufacturing – Lean IoT Scenario Part 1: Functionality/Make to Order

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Manufacturing – Lean IoT Scenario Part 1: Functionality/Make to Order
 
Purpose: The purpose of this document is to illustrate a classic Make to Order Lean Manufacturing scenario in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 on simplified example when manufacturing motorcycles. This document will outline end-to-end functional flow for the scenario from initial setup all the way to Lean costing.

Challenge: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 out-of-the-box enables mixed mode manufacturing including discrete, process, project and Lean approaches. The goal will be to establish an end-to-end functional flow for Make to Order Lean Manufacturing scenario, better understand what it takes to do it. And then automate this scenario for the future use in a broader Lean IoT Demo scenario using IoT devices and the power of Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Core OS. 

Solution: The simple but at the same time descriptive real-world example of motorcycles manufacturing provides a necessary context for better understanding of manufacturing processes and their implementation in Microsoft Dynamics AX. In particular we will be dealing with simple bill of materials which will consist of 2 components and straightforward production flow with 2 activities (one transfer and one process) to supply one of the components in order to implement Make to Order scenario.
 
For more detailed explanation of Make to Stock Lean Manufacturing scenario please refer to my earlier blog here: http://ax2012manufacturing.blogspot.com/2012/12/microsoft-dynamics-ax-2012_2.html
 
Walkthrough
 
In this scenario Motorcycle will be manufactured using Lean approach. Motorcycle components (Body and Wheels) will be assembled together in a work cell. But before this happens one of components (Wheels) will have to be supplied into Part location from General storage location by Water spider, once this happens Work cells worker will be able to pick a part from replenished Part location and use it for assembly. For the sake of simplicity another part (Body) is considered to be available for picking in its own location (the assumption is that it is available in on-hand inventory)
 
BOM
Production flow
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Please note that the idea is to replenish Wheels from General storage location (Warehouse 11) into Part location (Warehouse 12). Body will be picked directly from its Part location (Warehouse 12). And the finished product AlexMotorcycle will be put into Finished product location (Warehouse 13). I used Warehouses instead of Locations (potentially within the same warehouse) only for the sake of clarity. Please see the diagram below for a visual explanation of the scenario.  
 
Diagram
 
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On the visual diagram 3 Workcell workers work in their respective Work cells, and Water spider is helping them with replenishment of each Part location to support a continuous manufacturing process without extra distractions.
 
One of the requirements defined in this scenario is that all products are Standard cost controlled.
 
Section: Setup
 
Let's review the setup which is required to implement this scenario
 
We'll start with introduction of products for a finished good (AlexMotorcycle) and its components (Body and Wheels)
 
Released product: AlexMotorcycle
 
 
Released product: AlexMotorcycle – Default order settings
 
 
Please note that Default order type = Kanban
 
Released product: AlexMotorcycle – Site specific settings
 
 
Cost price for AlexMotorcycle is 3000$
 
Released product: AlexMotorcycle – Cost price
 
 
Production type = BOM
 
Released product: AlexMotorcycle – Production type (BOM)
 
 
First of AlexMotorcycle components is going to be Body
 
Released product: Body
 
 
Released product: Body – Default order settings
 
 
Released product: Body – Site specific settings
 
 
Cost price for Body is 2500$
 
Released product: Body – Cost price
 
 
Finally another component of AlexMotorcycle is going to be Wheel(s)
 
Released product: Wheel
 
 
Released product: Wheel – Default order settings
 
 
Released product: Wheel – Site specific settings
 
 
Cost price for Wheel is 250$
 
Released product: Wheel – Cost price
 
 
Now as we introduced all necessary Released products let's take a quick look at their list
 
Released products
 
 
Next step will be to introduce Resource groups
 
Resource group: AlexMotor
 
 
Please note that AlexMotor resource group will be a Part location which will be Replenished by the Water spider
 
Resource group: AlexMotor – Workcell capacity
 
 
We are going to need one more Resource group for this scenario
 
Resource group: AlexGeneral
 
 
Please note that AlexGeneral resource group will be a General storage location which will be Replenishing location for Water spider. By other words, Water spider will transfer parts from AlexGeneral location (Replenishing) into AlexMotor location (Replenished) to supply Work cell worker with required parts.
 
Now we'll define BOM structure for AlexMotorcycle
 
BOM – Designer view: AlexMotorcycle
 
 
BOM – Lines view: AlexMotorcycle
 
 
Please note that the consumption of components will happen from Warehouse 12. In the case with Wheels Part location (Warehouse 12) will first be replenished by Water spider from General storage location (Warehouse 11).
 
Then we can define Production flow model and production flow
 
Production flow model: AlexModel
 
 
Production flow: AlexMotorcycle
 
 
Production flow version details: AlexMotorcycle
 
 
Please note that I changed Takt unit = Hr
 
Then we'll run Activity generation Wizards to generate activities for Transfer and Process
 
Production flow: Activity = Replenish (Welcome)
 
 
Production flow: Activity = Replenish (New activity)
 
 
Production flow: Activity = Replenish (Create transfer activity)
 
 
Please note that Replenishing location is AlexGeneral and Replenished location is AlexMotor as it was described above
 
Production flow: Activity = Replenish (Assign transfer locations)
 
 
Please note that because I've selected Replenishing and Replenished work cells on the previous step, the appropriate Warehouse and Location settings where automatically populated for me based on Resource group (Work cell) data
 
Production flow: Activity = Replenish (Assign activity time)
 
 
Please note that I assigned 0.25 hr as Runtime activity time
 
Production flow: Activity = Replenish (Wizard completed)
 
 
This is how Replenish Transfer activity looks like
 
Production flow: Activity = Replenish
 
 
Production flow: Replenish – Activity details
 
 
Now we'll introduce the second Process activity which will represent assembly step
 
Production flow: Activity = Assembly (Welcome)
 
 
Production flow: Activity = Assembly (New activity)
 
 
Production flow: Activity = Assembly (Create process activity)
 
 
Production flow: Activity = Assembly (Assign picking activities)
 
 
Please note that component Wheel will be picked from its Part location (Warehouse 12)
 
Production flow: Activity = Assembly (Assign activity time)
 
 
Please note that I assigned 0.25 hr as Runtime for this activity
 
Production flow: Activity = Assembly (Wizard completed)
 
 
Now we can review a newly created activity
 
Production flow activity: Assembly
 
 
Next step will be to define a relationship between Transfer and Process activity because logically Transfer of necessary component(s) must take place before Process activity will begin
 
Create activity relation
 
 
Now we can review activity details
 
Production flow activity: Assembly – Activity details
 
 
At this point we'll be back to the Production flow to validate it
 
Validate
 
 
Infolog
 
 
After successful validation we can activate Production flow
 
Activate
 
 
Infolog
 
 
Now Production flow has been successfully activated
 
Production flow: AlexMotorcycle
 
 
At this point we can introduce Kanban rules which will drive kanbans creation
 
First we'll create Withdrawal Kanban rule to generate Withdrawal kanban to replenish Part location for Wheel(s)
 
Kanban rules - Withdrawal
 
 
Kanban rules – Withdrawal (Events)
 
 
Please note that Kanban line event = Automatic which means that if Kanban line requirement (for Wheels) in order to produce a finished good BOM, the appropriate kanban will be created automatically
 
Kanban rules – Withdrawal (Production flow)
 
 
Please notice Receipt location to be a Part location (Warehouse 12) as expected
 
Now we'll create Manufacturing Kanban rule to describe the actual assembly process
 
Kanban rules - Manufacturing
 
 
Kanban rules – Manufacturing (Events)
 
 
Please note Sales event = Automatic. This makes perfect sense because we are establishing a classic Pull-based Make to Order scenario, so when a new Sales order is placed this will automatically trigger a creation of Manufacturing kanban to produce a finished good
 
Kanban rules – Manufacturing (Production flow)
 
 
Please notice that Receipt location is a Finished good location (Warehouse 13) as expected
 
Now before we process with execution of this scenario we want to make sure that we have enough on-hand for Wheel(s) components in Warehouse = 11 (because we first need to transfer parts to Warehouse 12), and also Body components in Warehouse 12. I simply used Inventory adjustment journal to introduce necessary levels of on-hand
 
Posted journal lines 
 
 
At this point we are ready to begin scenario execution
 
Section: Creation
 
We'll begin with placing a new Sales order for AlexMotorcycle
 
Sales order
 
 
Please note that AlexMotorcycle finished product is expected to be in a Finished good location (Warehouse 13). After we save Sales order the system based on Kanban rules in place will automatically create necessary kanbans. We can review created kanbans by opening Pegging tree form 
 
Pegging tree
 
 
As you can see according to Kanban rules 2 Kanban jobs will have to be completed to produce AlexMotorcycle, one for Transfer and another one for Process 
 
Pegging tree - Kanban
 
 
The following view shows that Transfer (Replenish) of Wheel part is required before Process (Assembly) may take place. You can clearly see it in Pegging details
 
Kanban
 
 
The view below shows what is necessary for Transfer to take place
 
Pegging tree - Kanban
 
 
Kanban
 
 
Let's take a quick look at Inventory transactions at this point
 
Inventory transactions
 
 
The next step will be to either manually plan or automatically plan Process activity. I'll do automatic planning by clicking "Plan the entire pegging tree"
 
Plan pegging tree
 
 
Now my kanban job shows status Planned as expected
 
Pegging tree – Kanban (Kanban jobs)
 
 
Then we are almost set to begin manufacturing activities
First we'll need to take care of the Transfer for Wheels, so we'll go ahead and launch Transfer jobs board
 
Transfer jobs board – Filter jobs
 
 
Here we'll see a Transfer job listed with its details
 
Transfer jobs board
 
 
Transfer jobs board – Tabs (Details)
 
 
Transfer jobs board – Tabs (Picking list)
 
 
Please note that because we've introduced enough on-hand for Wheels in advance Supply status indicates a green light for picking
 
Transfer jobs board – Tabs (Pegging)
 
 
Now let's check out Process jobs and we'll begin with launching Planning board to verify that Process job has been successfully planned for execution
 
Planning board – Workcell selection
 
 
Excellent, Process job is planned for one of days on the board
 
Planning board
 
 
Now we'll launch Process jobs board to see Process job there
 
Process jobs – Workcell selection
 
 
Process jobs board
 
 
Process jobs board – Tabs (Details)
 
 
Process jobs board – Tabs (Production instructions)
 
 
Process jobs board – Tabs (Picking list)
 
 
Please note that Body is available for picking, but Wheels are not. This is because we haven't completed a necessary transfer yet
 
Process jobs board – Tabs (Pegging)
 
 
And Pegging details clearly indicated that there's Replenish Transfer activity to be done
 
Now let's take a look at Kanban details and please note how Kanban Process job is referencing Sales order on the screen below
 
Kanban – Source requirements details
 
 
One more composite view of Process job and associated Transfer job is presented below
 
Process jobs board
 
 
Now we can finally begin the execution of the scenario
 
Section: Execution
 
We'll begin with Starting Transfer job first
 
Transfer – Start
 
 
Here's how inventory transactions look like after this step
 
Inventory transactions
 
 
Then we'll complete Transfer
 
Transfer – Complete
 
 
Here's how inventory transactions look like after this step
 
Inventory transactions
 
 
As we complete Transfer now we have enough Wheels in its Part location for Workcell worker to begin Assembly process
 
Process job
 
 
And this is what we are going to do next. We'll do Prepare step now
 
Process job – Prepare
 
 
And again we'll take a look at inventory transactions
 
Inventory transactions
 
 
Then we'll start Process job
 
Process job – Start
 
 
And review how inventory transactions changed after this step
 
Inventory transactions
 
 
And finally we'll Complete Process job
 
Process job – Complete
 
 
And also review how it was reflected in inventory transactions this time
 
Inventory transactions
 
 
After we produced a finished good we can review on-hand inventory for AlexMotorcycle in Finished goods location (Warehouse 13)
 
On-hand
 
 
And because we have produced the product we can now send it to the customer
 
Sales order – Packing slip and Invoice
 
 
This is how inventory transactions will look like after we update Sales order Packing Slip and Invoice
 
Inventory transactions
 
 
The very last step will be to run Lean costing routine to cost the production flow
 
Section: Costing
 
Cost the production flow
 
 
Prompt
 
 
Please note that no further registrations of kanban jobs will be possible after the date costing, but that's fine for the sake of this demo
 
Now we can review the results of Backflush costing calculation
 
Backflush costing calculation
 
 
Standard cost transactions
 
 
Unused quantities
 
 
WIP Balances (Price calculation)
 
 
And take a final look at inventory transactions
 
Inventory transactions
 
 
Summary: In this walkthrough I illustrated how to establish a classic Make to Order Lean Manufacturing scenario in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. We went through the process of setting up data, creation of initial demand, manufacturing process and Lean costing. In the next parts I'll focus on how to use IoT devices and the capabilities of Windows 10 IoT Core OS to fully automate this functional scenario using the concept of "Intelligent" location and provide the environment for workers to solely focus of their manufacturing tasks in order to deliver the best quality products for customers. 
                               
Tags: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Lean Manufacturing, Pull, Kanbans, Kanban rules, Production flow.
 
Note: This document is intended for information purposes only, presented as it is with no warranties from the author. This document may be updated with more content to better outline the issues and describe the solutions

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