Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Service Pack 1

In addition to a number of optimizations and Hot Fixes, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Service Pack 1 offers partners and customers a number of enhancements including Electronic Signature, Right-to-Left Date Support, and support for new GLS layers, Windows Essential Business Server 2008 add-in, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and Microsoft Dynamics Mobile Platform.

Service Pack 1 is a prerequisite for the installation and/or support of Lean Manufacturing and the Environmental Sustainability Dashboard.

Project Time Management

Project Time Management delivers time entry and approval functionality for project and professional service organizations. The flexible time periods and workflow-based approval engine enable organizations to tailor time entry and approval to their business needs. Delivered via the Microsoft Dynamics AX client or in Enterprise Portal, organizations will be able to roll out time entry to all project participants in the organization. Accurate and timely recording of hours for projects will give project and practice managers up-to-date visibility on project status and profitability. Moreover, it will be possible to invoice customers faster, which can have a positive impact on the organization‘s cash flow. Availability is planned for Q1 CY2009.

Intelligent Data Management Tool
The Intelligent Data Management Tool will help organizations to optimize the database and reduce data storage costs. The first release of this tool offers organizations the ability to analyze data storage on tables and indexes. The tool also helps removing redundant, historical data. This release will only be available in US-English, and is planned for release in Q1 CY2009. The major enhancement of the second release of this tool, planned in Q3 CY2009, is the ability to archive redundant, historical data.

Lean Manufacturing

Lean Manufacturing in Microsoft Dynamics AX empowers people in manufacturing organizations to streamline and integrate processes, minimize waste, optimize the supply chain, and manage demand-driven operations. Robust lean manufacturing functionality, delivered as an integral part of a flexible, security-enhanced, and familiar end-to-end business management solution, builds on the solution‘s collaboration tools and access to real-time business insight to facilitate value stream mapping, process integration, informed decisions, and continuous improvement. As a result, manufacturing organizations can help to effectively implement, energize, and sustain lean manufacturing strategies to reduce time-to-market, increase profitability, and gain a competitive advantage. The plan for the Lean Manufacturing module is to include elements such as:
- Value stream
- Cell concept
- Lean order schedules
- Heijunka board
- Kanban
- Manufacturing without production order
- Kanban board
- Kanban inventory overview

Lean Manufacturing will be available in US-English only. The module is planned for release in Q1 CY2009.

Environmental Sustainability Dashboard

Companies are experiencing increasing pressure from all angles to adopt environmental sustainability initiatives within their businesses. Increasing regulations, threat of exposure by NGOs, supply chain reporting, increasing risk, employee retention and brand protection are just some of the issues companies face when it comes to managing the environmental impact they have. Indeed, a company should be able to view every decision it faces in terms of its environmental impact, as well as in terms of the financial repercussions of that decision. In order to enable this, environmental information must permeate the ERP system.

Experts agree that an important first step companies must take to prepare for the market transition brought on by climate change is to determine their carbon footprint. Tracking their energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will enable them to understand their level of exposure as we move toward a seemingly inevitable carbon market. The Environmental Sustainability Dashboard for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 can facilitate the data collection required to bring a level of consistency to their GHG/carbon footprint tracking process.

The dashboard will include the four core environmental performance indicators as defined by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which is the standard in environmental reporting. The Environmental Sustainability dashboard is planned for availability in Q1 CY 2009 in over 10 languages.

More information about SP1:

https://mbs.microsoft.com/Cms/Templates/document/General.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID={0F3196F4-3ABB-4402-B43F-3F0524BE37A4}&NRORIGINALURL=/partnersource/support/selfsupport/servicepacks/DynamicsAX2009sp1&NRCACHEHINT=Guest&wa=wsignin1.0