I'm currently finishing up some discorvery sessions with a company that is planning to go live with AX 2009 around the 1st of next year. The way they do business is pretty cut and dry....nothing too complicated in terms of the way they utilize an MRP System. However, they have presented me with a process I've never had to implement before and I'm not sure which AX 2009 Functionality would be best suited to their needs.
They are a manufacturing company that builds extremely large, expensive and complex machines with thousands of components. Because of the high cost of the machines it's customary for them to create a type of project estimate or quotation if you prefer, that documents all necessary components, man hours, etc. that will go into building whatever machine their customer wants to buy. To put it simply, they want to give their customers a detailed explanation for why they are about to spend millions and millions of dollars in one place for one thing.
Here's my questions. What's the best way to generate a quotation of that nature in AX. Keep in mind that although most of the machines they sell have definite schematics and blueprints, and their production cost will already be pretty well defined in the system; this company also manufactures a lot of custom made products. A lot of the components are generally the same, but then there are new undefined cost in terms of engineering, man hours, custom made parts, etc. that have to be calculated every time they have the opportunity to sell one of them.
Would building a quote like this be done best utilizing the Project Module? My experience with that particular module is not what I'd describe as fluent, but after taking a look around it, it seems like the Project Quotations tool would be my best bet. Any advice, comments, ideas, or past experience would be GREATLY appreciated.
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