Lotus F1 Team deploys second phase of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 solution for design, manufacturing

The Lotus F1 Team have completed the second phase of their Microsoft Dynamics AX implementation, deploying AX 2012 R2 for use in the team's aerodynamics division. 

According to Microsoft Dynamics GM Fred Studer, the new phase will bring in some complex new capabilities that feel a bit closer to the race track than to the back office. For example, there is an integration to the team's product lifecycle management (PLM) system. Studer writes:

"This now enables them to associate a design drawing to its constituent parts that need to be manufactured.  They can employ material requirement planning on the item requirements,  provide detailed and integrated planning to bring their design, manufacture and wind tunnel departments onto one unified platform as well as consolidate all of the content, communications and information from Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to project plans to email and have it all work seamlessly on one platform - Microsoft Dynamics AX."

The AX 2012 R2 system replaces less structured data and communications that had been managed through Excel spreadsheets, Microsoft Project plans, and email communications, according to Microsoft.

The solution also includes To-Increase's advanced discrete manufacturing (ADM) solution.  To-Increase representatives tell us they are also building a Lotus-specific ECOBOM interface utilizing the To-Increase PLM integration framework. PLM integration is expected to be completed by the end of the year, setting the team up for its mainstream Manufacturing implementation ...