The Challenge
The client produces:
- Custom roofing panels
- Siding panels
- Trim components
Each order requires detailed fabrication specifications, including exact dimensions and quantities for multiple pieces within a single sales line.
While Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides strong core ERP functionality, it does not natively support capturing this level of granular fabrication detail during Sales Order entry.
As a result, the client was forced to:
- Track production specifications in external Excel templates
- Print and manually distribute instructions to the production floor
- Risk inconsistencies between sales, production, and shipping documentation
This process created inefficiencies, limited visibility, and increased the potential for costly production errors.
The Solution: A Custom Fabrication Detail Worksheet
To solve this, we developed a Fabrication Detail Worksheet directly within Business Central—enabling the client to capture all required production specifications at the time of order entry.
This custom interface allows users to input:
- Length (in feet and inches)
- Width (referred to as “stretch” in the client’s terminology)
- Number of Pieces
- Fabrication Notes
- Bundle Number (used to represent pallet grouping)
Automated Quantity Calculations
One of the key enhancements is the ability to automatically calculate the total lineal footage for each Sales Line.
By combining:
- Length
- Number of pieces
…the system calculates the total quantity in lineal feet, ensuring accuracy in both pricing and production requirements—without manual math or external tools.
Seamless Production Order Generation
Once all fabrication details are entered, users can generate Production Orders directly from the Sales Order.
This creates a seamless flow from sales to production, ensuring that:
- All specifications are carried forward automatically
- No rekeying of data is required
- Production teams receive complete and accurate instructions
End-to-End Visibility Across Documents
To further streamline operations, the Fabrication Detail Worksheet was embedded across all relevant areas of the system, including:
- Production Orders
- Purchase Orders (including drop shipment scenarios)
- Key operational reports, such as:
- Work Orders
- Loading Tickets
- Pick Tickets
- Bills of Lading
This ensures that every team—from production to shipping—has access to the same detailed, consistent information.
The Result
By moving fabrication details directly into Business Central, the client achieved:
- Elimination of manual Excel-based processes
- Improved accuracy in production specifications
- Better communication between sales and manufacturing teams
- Reduced risk of errors on the production floor
- Full traceability of fabrication data across the entire order lifecycle
Final Thoughts
For manufacturers dealing with custom dimensions and complex production requirements, standard ERP functionality often needs to be extended to meet real-world demands.
This solution highlights how a tailored approach within Business Central can transform fragmented, manual workflows into a fully integrated, efficient, and scalable process—all while keeping critical data in a single system of record.
If your team is still relying on spreadsheets to manage production specifications, it may be time to bring that functionality directly into your ERP.