Case study · Process manufacturing
Formulas, batches and compliance in one system
Process manufacturers work with formulas, co-products, batch attributes and strict safety rules that ordinary ERP setups struggle with. This is how we used Dynamics 365 process manufacturing features so batches, quality and compliance are handled in the same system as planning and finance.
Project overview
Process manufacturing on Dynamics 365.
- Industry
- Chemicals & coatings
- Client
- Confidential
- Solution
- Process manufacturing ERP
- Platform
- D365 SCM + Finance
- Timeline
- 10–16 months
- Team
- 6 people
- Batches
- Attributes and potency
- Compliance
- Safety data sheets, dangerous goods
- Quality
- Lab testing and release
Expected business outcomes
What the client set out to achieve
Batch traceability and quality release speed are the main gains.
-
Minutes
To trace a batch
Raw material batches traced to finished batches and customers.
Instead of hours of paper records
-
20–40%
Faster quality release
Test results recorded against batches release them automatically when in specification.
Target range; depends on lab workflow
-
1–3%
Yield improvement targeted
Actual versus formula yields visible per batch and line.
Target range; achieved by process teams using the data
Business challenges
How process plants ran before
Formulas and batch records often live outside the ERP.
Formulas
Kept in spreadsheets by the technical team, with versions by filename.
Batches
Batch records on paper, filed per production run.
Quality
Lab results in a separate system; release by email.
Compliance
Safety data sheets and transport classifications maintained manually.
Yield
Differences between planned and actual yield noticed at stocktake.
Proposed solution
What the build covers
Dynamics 365 process manufacturing features, configured for chemicals and coatings.
-
Formulas
Versioned formulas with co-products, by-products and scalable quantities.
-
Batch attributes
Batches with attributes such as potency, viscosity or colour, used in picking.
-
Batch orders
Batch production with consumption against actual raw material lots.
-
Quality control
Test groups, quality orders and automatic batch disposition.
-
Compliance
Safety data sheets, hazardous materials and transport documents.
-
Yield tracking
Planned versus actual yield per batch, formula and line.
Project requirements
What the client asked us for
The request was to bring formulas and batch records into the ERP. The technical team must trust the formula management, so they are closely involved in design.
Quality release is designed with the lab, because it controls when stock can be sold.
What the project had to deliver
- 01Versioned formulas in the ERP
- 02Batch attributes used in picking
- 03Automatic quality release
- 04Compliance documents from system data
Key challenges & considerations
What made it harder, and what we did
-
Confidential formulas with restricted access
What we did
Formula access was restricted by role, and every view and change was logged.
-
Batch attributes customers specify
What we did
Batch attributes were captured at production and matched against each customer's specification at picking.
-
Lab systems to integrate
What we did
The lab system was integrated, so test results released or held batches automatically.
-
Regulations that vary by market
What we did
Regulatory data was held per market and printed on the documents for that market.
What we watched for
- Involve the technical team in formula design
- Restrict access to confidential formulas
- Design release rules with the lab
- Test traceability before go-live
Development process
Technical data first
Formulas and specifications are migrated and validated before production is configured.
-
Technical data
Formulas, specifications and attributes migrated with the technical team.
-
Production design
Batch orders, co-products and yields configured.
-
Quality
Test groups and release rules designed with the lab.
-
Compliance
Hazardous materials and document outputs configured.
-
Go-live
Go-live per site with batch traceability tested end to end.
Technology stack
Dynamics 365 process manufacturing
Standard process features with integrations to lab systems.
ERP
- D365 SCM process manufacturing
- D365 Finance
Quality
- Quality management
- LIMS integration
Compliance
- Product compliance
- Document management
Reporting
- Power BI
- Yield dashboards
Quality assurance & deployment
Rehearsed until cut-over was routine
Finance and supply chain systems cannot be tested in production. Processes were proved end to end in test environments, and the cut-over was rehearsed until it held no surprises.
- End-to-end process tests across finance and operations
- Automated regression tests for standard and extended processes
- Data migration rehearsals, reconciled entity by entity
- User acceptance testing by business process owners
- Performance tests at real transaction volumes
Deployment
- 01ComplianceHazardous materials and document outputs configured.
- 02Go-liveGo-live per site with batch traceability tested end to end.
- 03Rehearsed cut-overA timed cut-over plan, rehearsed at least twice, with a go or no-go decision by the business.
- 04Hypercare and warrantyOn-site or remote support through the first period close, and six months of free bug fixing.
Final deliverables
Batches you can trust and trace
Formulas, batches, quality and compliance live in one system, so every finished batch can be traced and released with confidence.
Yield differences are visible per batch, giving process teams the data to improve.
- Controlled formula management
- Batch attributes and traceability
- Automated quality release
- Yield visibility
Handed over to the client
- 01Configured Dynamics 365Production and test environments
- 02Extensions and integrationsSource code and documentation
- 03Migrated dataReconciled entity by entity
- 04Process documentation and trainingBy business process
- 05Six-month warrantyFree bug fixing after delivery
Success metrics
How success is measured
| Measure | Outcome | How it is measured |
|---|---|---|
| To trace a batch | Minutes | Instead of hours of paper records |
| Faster quality release | 20–40% | Target range; depends on lab workflow |
| Yield improvement targeted | 1–3% | Target range; achieved by process teams using the data |
Verified reviews
What clients say about our Dynamics work
Verified reviews from our clients on the same kind of work, published on Clutch.
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Custom Software Development
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The work produced by the team was of exceptional quality.
Jon Thies
CTO, Model Rocket Feb 2022 – Mar 2023
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Custom Software Development
Mobile & Web Platform Development & Design
Silver Scintilla was responsive, respectful, and enjoyable to work with, quickly addressing any questions or requests.
DeShawn Brown
CEO & Founder, Lithios Jun 2021 – Nov 2022
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Custom Software Development
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Silver Scintilla provided the best solution with scalable functionality, personalized features, and robust security.
Suheb Khan
Director, Collaborative Insight Technologies Jul 2020 – Jun 2022
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