MISSISSAUGA, ON – AX-iom ERP Inc., a Canadian-based Microsoft Dynamics AX enterprise resource planning (ERP) software value-added reseller (VAR) and services provider is proud to announce its achievement of Microsoft Partner Network’s Gold Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) competency.

Delivering Microsoft Dynamics AX solutions to the manufacturing industry, AX-iom has had tremendous success assisting discrete manufacturers in adding value to their businesses through ERP software. In just two short years, AX-iom has made great strides with Microsoft Dynamics AX, realizing aggressive growth through the addition of new Microsoft Dynamics AX clients and through signing existing Microsoft Dynamics AX clients in need of ERP upgrades and support. Their growth, which has led to an increase in resources by over fifty percent, is attributed to a focused strategy and their ability to create strong collaborative working relationships with their clients. AX-iom is considered to be a rising star in the Microsoft community and to date has not only achieved their Microsoft Gold ERP Competency, but has also earned its Microsoft Silver Data Platform competency and holds the distinction of having the first live implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 in Canada.

“We are very proud of the success that AX-iom has achieved in so little time” said Marc Harris, President of AX-iom. “Our team has a high level of expertise in both ERP software and manufacturing which we leverage to help our customers succeed in uncovering opportunities and increasing their profitability. With the in-depth knowledge that we have gained in delivering Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, we have strengthened our position as a leader in the deployment of ERP solutions to the Canadian discrete manufacturing industry. Earning our Microsoft Partner Gold ERP Competency was extremely important to us, and recognizes the hard work and commitment that our team brings to the table every day.”

To earn a Microsoft gold competency, partners must successfully complete exams (resulting in Microsoft Certified Professionals) to prove their level of technology expertise, and then designate these certified professionals uniquely to one Microsoft competency, ensuring a certain level of staffing capacity. They also must submit customer references that demonstrate successful projects, meet a revenue commitment, and pass technology and sales assessments.

“Gold competencies demonstrate your best-in-class expertise within Microsoft’s marketplace” commented Cathy Tracey, Microsoft Dynamics Partner Lead-Canada. “Earning a gold competency is evidence of the deepest, most consistent commitment to a specific, in-demand, business solution area, along with the distinction of being among only 1 per cent of Microsoft partners worldwide that have attained this outstanding degree of proficiency. This is a tremendous milestone for AX-iom ERP Inc.”

TORONTO, ON –With FABTECH Canada just around the corner, Microsoft Dynamics and AX-iom ERP are set to enlighten mid-sized manufacturers with the benefits that next-generation ERP software can offer their manufacturing operations.

Microsoft Dynamics and AX-iom will be sharing the stage at FABTECH Canada’s launch at the Toronto Congress Centre March 20 – 22, 2012. The manufacturing event caters to the fabricating, metal forming and welding community providing the most relevant and important information on industry standards, new products and latest technologies.

With enterprise software solutions taking on a more critical role in the success of manufacturing operations, Microsoft Dynamics and AX-iom will be presenting a one-hour session highlighting advancements in enterprise software technology. The presentation will review key manufacturing concerns and how next-generation ERP software acts as an essential management tool in reducing risk and increasing profitability for mid-sized manufacturers. Topics will include complex production environments, project-based manufacturing, supply chain management, and business intelligence.

Microsoft Dynamics and AX-iom will be presenting the session at FABTECH Canada’s Lunch & Learn venue to take place on March 21 at 1:00pm. Visit http://www.AX-iom.com for more details.

Toronto, ON – For Samco Machinery, continuous improvement is a strict regimen. Therefore it is no surprise that AX-iom ERP released today that Samco Machinery Ltd. has moved to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 for their Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. A previous user of Salesforce, Samco is positioned to benefit from integrated CRM with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.

Samco Machinery ( www.samco-machinery.com ), a leading roll forming machine solutions provider with head offices located in Toronto, Ontario accepted the challenge of replacing their CRM solution upon their decision to move to Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP for their enterprise-wide management solution. Microsoft Dynamics AX offered Samco a solution that would embrace the complexities of their engineer-to-order (ETO) manufacturing operations while providing a flexible, modifiable and familiar toolset. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 CRM will be utilized by Samco’s divisions located in North America and India and is expected to save the company significant subscription costs from their previous online CRM service provider.

AX-iom ERP is providing implementation services for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 which will be fully implemented at the manufacturer later this year. “The transition to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 CRM at Samco Machinery went very smoothly”, stated David Linton of AX-iom ERP. “AX 2012 provides Samco with all the functionality that they had previously been using in Salesforce and AX 2012 has the added benefit of being integrated with the rest of their ERP solution. Samco’s sales team can now take advantage of full visibility of all customer activities.” In addition to the increased visibility, Samco is realizing the following benefits from its CRM software transition:

• Robust CRM application with full support of Account, Contact, Lead, Prospect and Opportunity Management.
• Increased productivity through integration of CRM data with Microsoft Outlook e-mail
• Full integration with Microsoft Dynamics AX Enterprise Resource Planning Software providing full 360 visibility of customer activity
• Comprehensive Sales and Marketing utilities including Sales Pipeline and Marketing Campaign management
• Decreased training costs with all Samco CRM and ERP users in a single integrated application
• Increased flexibility in reporting using Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft SharePoint tools
• Significant annual savings of Salesforce.com subscription costs

Bob Repovs, CEO of Samco Machinery concurs with the importance of an integrated solution stating, “An integrated CRM solution, including estimating and quoting tools that will reduce the manual effort required to respond to RFQ’s will help us win more business.”

Samco is now enjoying the benefits of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 CRM as their ERP implementation continues to move forward towards their target date. AX-iom ERP remains focused at not only providing a successful implementation but at leveraging Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012’s tools to provide the best possible return on investment for Samco Machinery – a feat that can only be made possible through a next generation, robust and comprehensive ERP system like Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.

January 23, 2012 – Mississauga, ON – AX-iom ERP Inc., a leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software services partner and reseller of Microsoft Dynamics AX confirmed that they would be exhibiting at the upcoming 2012 FABTECH Canada event to be held in Toronto, Ontario later this year.

Sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the FABTECH event is the first-ever to be held in Canada and will showcase the latest in manufacturing from the fabricating, welding, and metal forming sectors. “We are looking forward to the FABTECH event,” said Marc Harris, President of AX-iom ERP. “It will provide us with a unique opportunity to announce to the manufacturing community that Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is no longer the big business application that they perceive. Microsoft has driven a new pricing and licensing model making it possible for manufacturers of all sizes to take advantage of the full functionality that Microsoft Dynamics AX offers. It is an industry changing model that will provide value to manufacturers like no other ERP on the market today.”

Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP system is Microsoft’s flagship enterprise software that offers a powerful, agile, simple solution that enables manufacturing organizations to run and continuously improve their unique mix of discrete, process, and lean processes, across multiple sites and geographies, on a single unified platform. With the arrival of the latest version, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 now delivers an ‘ERP for Everyone’ platform with Role-Based Pricing making the highly acclaimed application available to a much wider range of manufacturers. AX-iom ERP will be in attendance at the show to discuss Microsoft Dynamics AX functionality for manufacturers and the new Role-Based Pricing model.

AX-iom will be available at the Microsoft Dynamics AX Exhibit, Booth #1334 at FABTECH Canada which will be held March 20 – 22 at the Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

AX-iom ERP Inc., a Canadian-based Microsoft Dynamics AX enterprise resource planning (ERP) software value-added reseller (VAR) and services provider announced today that it has received a second competency from the Microsoft Partner Network with its recent achievement of the Silver Enterprise Resource Planning competency. Attained through demonstration of high levels of customer service, proven experience and advanced ERP certification, AX-iom remains committed to the continuous development of its team and Microsoft Dynamics AX service offerings.

AX-iom, with offices located in Ontario, specializes in discrete manufacturing solutions, providing complex manufacturers with the pivotal support they require in reaching industry best-in-class performance levels. With AX-iom and Microsoft Dynamics AX, the visibility of the manufacturing process is extended resulting in an overall more profitable business and greater customer satisfaction.

The Microsoft Partner Network Competency places AX-iom in the top 5 percent of Microsoft Partners worldwide, showcasing its proficiency in ERP, and specifically its knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics AX. “AX-iom is dedicated in its approach to employ and continually develop its resources,” stated Marc Harris, President of AX-iom ERP. “This Competency supports our goal to deliver our customers unparalleled Microsoft Dynamics AX and manufacturing expertise that will help them to succeed in their industries.”

“By achieving a Silver Competency, partners have proven themselves as specialized technology experts with the skills needed to best serve customers,” said Jon Roskill, corporate vice president, Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “The Silver Competency in the Microsoft Partner Network is designed to help customers identify services and solution providers that have demonstrated proof of their capability to deliver quality outcomes and customer satisfaction.”

The Microsoft Silver Competency defines partners’ success as technology market leaders within a specific technology competency, with each competency having a unique set of requirements and benefits formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the industry. Requirements for the Silver Competency are comparable to the formerly recognized Microsoft Certified Partner criteria. All 28 Microsoft technology competencies differentiate a partner’s specific technology capabilities, helping customers find qualified solution providers with expertise in discrete areas quickly and easily.

For 40 years, Samco Machinery has been providing precision roll forming machine solutions to the building and construction, automotive, HVAC and appliance industries around the globe. Their innovative management style has recently allowed them to launch a new division for the solar industry to complement the Ontario Power Authority’s Feed-In Tariff Program that encourages development of renewable energy under the Green Energy Act. This new venture, coupled with their need for improved integrated support with their branch offices in Canada, and India initiated their search for a stronger ERP solution that could support their growth well into the future.

Samco enlisted the services of AX-iom ERP to assist in their selection process. Specializing in services to ETO manufacturers, and even more notably, their intimate knowledge of VISUAL (Samco’s current ERP) made AX-iom a perfect choice. AX-iom’s VISUAL expertise enables them to quickly expose Samco’ s existing ERP shortfalls, recognize the immediate benefits that could be had with a more comprehensive and technologically advanced solution and provides Samco with invaluable advantages and efficiencies that can only be had from experts with in-depth experience in both their present and future enterprise applications. To establish the business case, AX-iom performed an ERP Diagnostic Assessment to quantify the return-on-investment that the new software would have on their business prior to performing an implementation. Through the evaluation, AX-iom was able to document their key processes and provide them with a detailed assessment outlining the impact the new ERP would have on their operations. The opportunities that were uncovered allowed them to prioritize their ERP implementation project requirements.

The benefits that Microsoft Dynamics offers are well-matched to Samco’s expectations. Microsoft Dynamics AX will:

• Improve overall business productivity through elimination of manual processes and integration of disparate systems.
• Leverage and extend their existing investments in Microsoft technology into their ERP.
• Improve quote response times and accuracy to drive customer service and sales.
• Allow projects to drive MRP and manufacturing through tight integration between modules – and even integration with Microsoft Project.
• Provide Bill of Material (BOM) integration with Inventor® software and AutoCAD® software using a bi-directional Product Data Management (PDM) solution.
• Increase visibility across their supply chain with complete integration that will incorporate all aspects of Samco’s operations.
• Support Samco’s emerging service business that can be implemented in a subsequent implementation phase.
• Fully integrate Human Resources to more proactively manage their workforce and their recruitment efforts.
• Deliver comprehensive multi-company, multi-currency, multi-language capability that will allow Samco to confidently proceed in their global growth aspirations.

Outside of the functional benefits above, Samco’s decision to select Microsoft Dynamics AX was solidified through Microsoft’s product commitment; a perceived risk with their existing ERP. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is to be released this August, and with a Roadmap and R&D budget that extends far into the future, Microsoft Dynamics AX is leading the industry in future development planning.

With the help of AX-iom ERP, Samco will begin their implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX in early June using a phased implementation approach. AX-iom will leverage its knowledge of VISUAL throughout the Microsoft Dynamics AX implementation to add and develop existing business and manufacturing processes to take advantage of all that Microsoft Dynamics has to offer this ETO manufacturer. “AX-iom’s knowledge of our existing ERP together with their knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics AX reduces our risk. “, said Bob Repovs, President/COO of Samco. “AX-iom identifies with our users, our goals, our strategy and our expectation for the new ERP technology. We feel confident that the partnership with AX-iom ERP will be a critical component in support of our international expansion plans.” Samco Machinery’s ‘go-live’ is targeted for first quarter 2012.

HANNOVER, Germany — April 4, 2011 — At Hannover Messe, the leading international showplace for industrial technologies, materials and product ideas, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) today previewed the manufacturing foundation in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, Microsoft’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution for global organizations, expected to be generally available in the third quarter of 2011.

“Manufacturers are challenged with addressing economic pressures, globalization, environmental regulations and requirements and preparing for an increasingly diverse workforce with varying technology expectations,” said Rakesh Kumar, global industry product director, manufacturing, Microsoft Dynamics. “Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 will provide the capabilities global manufacturers need to thrive.”
Contrary to real-world requirements, many ERP applications force discrete, lean and process manufacturing to be managed in separate systems. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 removes these limitations by supporting the ability to run all three processes in a single solution, simplifying operations, and increasing flexibility in production planning and execution. Going a step further, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 provides visibility across a unified resource pool, helping to optimize resource utilization and increase responsiveness to customers’ needs.

“The ability to view and apply various manufacturing processes through a single ERP solution is revolutionary to our business,” said Hubert Meisterjahn, chief information officer, Dornbracht, a globally active manufacturer of high-quality fittings and accessories for bathrooms and kitchens. “We are confident Microsoft will help us remain on the cutting edge of technology.”

To provide visibility into the environmental impact of a manufacturer, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 includes an update to the Environmental Sustainability Dashboard for Microsoft Dynamics AX. The dashboard is designed to track a company’s energy consumption, carbon footprint and related costs, and it supports a manufacturer’s ability to address increasing supply-chain requirements and government regulations. New dashboard features include additional key performance indicators for waste and water usage, a graphical interface for ease of setup and management, and a what-if analysis feature to help assess the impact of proposed changes.

Helping to increase user adoption across an organization, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 takes advantage of Microsoft technology investments in user experiences. Shop floor machine operators without convenient keyboard access or experience using on-the-job business application technology will benefit from new interactive touch-based capabilities. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 delivers Kanban visualizations for lean manufacturing, automating a typically manual replenishment process, which saves people time. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 also delivers a familiar Microsoft Office interface and interoperability with the latest Microsoft Office 2010 applications, such as Microsoft Word 2010 and Microsoft Excel 2010.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 provides partners with a manufacturing foundation that can be easily customized and extended for multiple vertical industries, such as industrial equipment, food and chemical manufacturing. This foundation gives them the opportunity to deliver further value to and broaden their customer base.

More information about Microsoft Dynamics solutions for the manufacturing industry is available at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/industries/manufacturing.aspx.

MISSISSAUGA – AX-iom ERP Inc., a leading Canadian ERP reseller and Microsoft Dynamics AX partner, announced today that Mining Technologies International Inc. (MTI) has selected Microsoft Dynamics AX as its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.  Located in Sudbury, the heart of the Ontario, Canada mining community, MTI is a manufacturer committed to supplier partnerships that deliver innovation.  Its purchase of Microsoft Dynamics AX, a leading edge ERP software technology, demonstrates MTI’s dedication to operational excellence and improvement through innovation.

MTI operates four manufacturing facilities producing a wide range of mining equipment and high quality drill string components.  Known in the mining community as a ‘one-stop solution provider’, MTI had to find an ERP solution that could not only easily scale to meet its rapid growth, but also effectively handle a multi-company environment.  The strength of these two major influencers alone placed Microsoft Dynamics AX ahead of the competition.   In addition, MTI required an ERP solution with strong manufacturing capability that would allow them to:

• Streamline their supply chain operations to get equipment, products, and repair parts to the customer without compromising time, quality or price,
• Gain operational visibility across their entire organization to enable confident decision making,
• Manage mixed-mode manufacturing with integrated production and materials resource planning.

These capabilities and the familiar look and feel of a Microsoft solution were the final factors in their selection of Microsoft Dynamics AX.  Tim Smith, Corporate Controller at MTI adds, “AX-iom proved to us that Microsoft Dynamics AX was a superior solution and equally important, they took the time to properly understand our needs and build relationships with our people. We are confident that AX-iom has the right people to make our ERP implementation a success.”

AX-iom ERP Inc. will be delivering the software implementation to MTI using its comprehensive team of financial, manufacturing and technical specialists.  AX-iom provides ERP implementation services to discrete manufacturing organizations, focusing on best practices that add value through process improvement.  Brian Freeman, Project Manager for the MTI project noted, “MTI is a great organization to be partnered with.  We can see the benefits that AX-iom and Microsoft Dynamics AX can offer, and we are excited to take them to the next level in terms of their corporate growth and development strategy.“

General

• Product, inventory, trade details can be pushed from AX to cloud for internet sales through third parties, and orders received back into Microsoft Dynamics AX.
• New AR collection management module.
• Redesigned and centralized Global Address Book (MDM).
• New WebSearch component of Help System.
• AX 2012 will only be delivered on SQLServer (Oracle will not be supported)

Manufacturing Execution and Time & Attendance

• Renaming and enhancement of AX2009 Shop Floor Control
• Support for Process industry Batch Orders
• Enhancements for touch screen enabled registrations
• New shop floor manager screen for job reassignment and prioritization
• Advanced configuration of registration screens
• Registration feedback wizard
• Ability to correct feedback
• Enhanced document handling features
  • Access to all related documents (Production/Batch Orders, Product, Routings)
  • Flag documents as required reading and force confirmation of reading
• Workflow approval of registrations
• Enterprise Portal access no longer a separate license
• Initial release does not support Lean manufacturing

Budget Control and Commitment Accounting

• Ability to budget at detailed (dimension and/or account) level, control at higher level
• Improved audit trail of budget changes
• Budget workflow for approvals
• Fully integrated with Purchasing/AP functions – realtime budget funds availability checking
• User calendars for budget cycles
• Budget WebService for developing budgets outside AX (MS Excel, 3rd party product)
• New Role Center persona for Budget Manager
• Budget allocation terms to spread budget across dimensions
• Budget transfers within/across dimensions, with workflow approval rules
• User defined pre-encumbrances and encumbrances
• Commitment journals generated for pre-encumbrances and encumbrances for reporting on BS

Product Master Data

• Designed for multi-entity organizations to manage products centrally (MDM)
• Removes requirement for “Company Items” for Intercompany processing
• Centralized product creation process
• Controlled and selective release to companies
• Ability to define company-specific Item # for product
• Shared policies e.g. serial # control
• Non-shared policies e.g. default order settings
• Inventory dimension group split into three:
  • Product Dimension Group
  • Storage Dimension Group
  • Tracking Dimension Group
• Item type “BOM” no longer necessary
• “Non-Inventory” flag on Inventory model to allows products to be defined but not tracked

Constraint Based Product Configurator

• Complements existing rules-based Product Builder, does not replace
• Constraint logic delivered using Microsoft Solver Foundation V3
• Shipped with API to support ISV extensions
• Works with Sales Quotes/Orders and in Enterprise Portal
• Configurations can include Products AND Services
• Validates combinations of choices
• Supports multi-level configurations
• Order/Quote-specific BOM & Route generated
• Initial release does not support intercompany orders

Chart of Accounts and Dimension Framework

• Accounts and Dimensions data structure redesigned
• Accounts and dimensions merged into single data structure
• Shared accounts and dimensions across entities (MDM)
• Ledger Account is now the ‘Main account’ financial dimension
• Unlimited financial dimensions (AX2009 limit was 10)
• Simplified definition of Account/dimension combinations/validations
• Organization types from org structure are published as dimensions
• Postings are now to an ‘Account structure’ – a configuration of the main account and other financial dimensions

AX-iom is in attendance at the conference getting the latest information on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 highlights.  AX-iom staff is reporting that nearly 1000 delegates are in attendance at the conference, nearly doubling Microsoft’s initial expectations. 

Here is a report of yesterday’s Conference findings regarding Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012:

General

• All development can now be done in Visual Studio using .NET tools, and deployed to AX AOT with a single click.
• Multiple development Projects/Versions can be deployed in the same layer.
• Enhanced MS Office integration:

• Full two way integration with MS Excel
• Use MS Excel PowerPivot to create mashups of AX and non-AX data
• MS Word templates for documents can be designed via drag-and-drop of AX data elements

• Graphical Workflow design
• All forms have been redesigned as Places with tabs and ribbons. No more buttons on the right!
• Any form can be deployed to the Enterprise Portal with a single click.
• Master data maintained by effective date.

Material Planning and Resource Scheduling

• Decoupling of Routes from Work Centers.
• Work Center Groups are now Resource Groups; Work Centers are now Resources.
• Resources are linked to Resource Groups by effective date.
• Resources are assigned capabilities – Resource Type, Skills, Courses, Certifications, Titles.
• Operations are assigned capability requirements.
• Scheduling engine selects resources based on capabilities.
• Master Scheduling engine rewritten and optimized in C#.

Production

• Standard, Lean and Process Manufacturing all shipped in a single layer and can be used together.
• New planned order types ‘Kanban’ and ‘Intercompany order’.
• Forecasts can be entered at any level and be consumed by any type of demand (not just Sales Orders).

Lean Manufacturing

• Product cost calculation without routings.
• Fixed and variable kanban quantities.
• Event kanbans for use in MTO/CTO businesses.
• New delivery date control option on Sales orders. – Capable to Promise
• Graphical kanban schedule board with drag and drop scheduling.
• Kanban board for cells (similar to SFC registration screen).
• Cell Capacity can be defined in quantity or time.

Organizational Structures

• Ability to define different organizational hierarchies for legal and management structures by effective date.
• Simple reorganization of organization structures.
• Integration of organization types with financial dimensions.
• Security by organization structure.
• Data sharing by organization structure.
• Integration with new Global Address Book.
• Facilitate shared services across organization units. e.g. Purchasing
• Policy definition by organization structure.

Check out our blog for more highlights from the 2011 Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference tomorrow!