Fullscope Debuts Process Industries For Microsoft Axapta At The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference

Integrated solutions designed to help process manufacturers increase efficiency, enhance flexibility of process control, and increase competitive

Minneapolis, MN - Fullscope recently announced the launch of Process Industries for Microsoft(R) Business Solutions-Axapta(R) during the first day of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2005 in Minneapolis, Minn. The new software, developed by Fullscope as part of the Microsoft Industry Builder initiative, is designed to help food and beverage, pharmaceutical, life sciences and primary metals companies optimize their process manufacturing operations for increased profitability and competitive advantage.

Process Industries for Microsoft Axapta is designed to help manufacturers increase the speed and flexibility of their production operations; stay competitive by implementing industry best practices; increase efficiency through better communication internally and with trading partners; provide real-time insight into production processes and costs to manage resources more effectively; and respond faster to changing market conditions or new opportunities.

"Microsoft, together with ISV partner Fullscope, now offers a highly competitive business management solution tailored to the industry-specific needs of customers in the global process manufacturing market," said Mark A. Jensen, general manager of Microsoft Axapta at Microsoft. "The Industry Builder initiative delivers the best of both worlds to customers -- industry functionality based on Microsoft Axapta with Microsoft providing quality review and a single point of accountability for solution support. We're thrilled to see Fullscope join this exciting new Microsoft initiative."

"Process and discrete manufacturers face very different problems," said Russell Smith, Fullscope president and CEO. "Process manufacturers work in a flow-oriented environment, using formulas or recipes to manufacture products that must be produced to exacting standards, tracked continuously and delivered safely to price-conscious customers. Process Industries for Microsoft Axapta is a robust, enterprise system that addresses these specific problems while delivering a very low total cost of ownership.

"We are pleased by the continued level of support from Microsoft for its Industry Builder Initiative program, and also by the speed with which we've been able to bring Process Industries for Microsoft Axapta to market," he added.

"We are pleased by the continued level of support from Microsoft for its Industry Builder Initiative program, and also by the speed with which we've been able to bring Process Industries for Microsoft Axapta to market," he added.

- Manufacturing Competitiveness: optimize production processes and gain the speed and flexibility necessary to stay ahead of the competition.
- Process and Data Integration: increase connectivity and communications across processes, throughout a company and with supply chain partners to improve efficiency, order cycle time and customer satisfaction.
- Inventory Control and Visibility: receive real-time insight into production schedules, capacity, materials planning, shop floor activities and costs to better manage manufacturing resources for increased profitability.
- Operational Agility: tailor the solution to specific business processes to take advantage of changing market conditions, introduce new product lines and expand global markets.

Key Features
Process Industries for Microsoft Axapta is based on a proven business management solution, Microsoft Axapta, and incorporates additional process manufacturing and distribution capabilities in the following areas:

- Supply Chain Management: first expired/first out shelf life management, lot traceability and serialization, production process definition and management, approved vendor management;
- Process Inventory Management: catch weight/dual units of measure, process item costing, multi-dimensional inventory capabilities, container management;
- Formula and Recipe Management: formula and recipe definition, process item management, batch creation and management, co-products and by- products; and
- Quality Management: quality control and quality assurance.

Microsoft Axapta core functionality includes business analysis, enterprise portal, supply chain management, customer response management, human resource management and financial management modules.

Technology
Process Industries for Microsoft Axapta features a single, three-tiered architecture that enables businesses to customize one tier without affecting functionality of other tiers. The potential risk of customization and upgrades is reduced, helping to ensure a long-term solution with low total cost of ownership. The solutions are fully customizable using X++ or Microsoft .NET code, compliant with Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2000 and Oracle database standards, and offer Multisite Enterprise Portal and Commerce Gateway connectivity.

SOURCE: Fullscope