Why GP, NAV, and AX Manufacturers’ Data Is Not AI-Ready

pjoeckel • April 1, 2024

Why GP, NAV, and AX Manufacturers’ Data Is Not AI-Ready

Going live on a new ERP platform without clean data is like spending a fortune on a new supercar and pouring sugar and sawdust into the gas tank. 

It is an educated guess, but I will wager that the typical Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains (GP), NAV, and AX manufacturers' data is not AI or upgrade ready. 
Let us look at a recent example of the data issues I have seen in my career helping companies select, implement, and fix ERP software projects. 
I was advising a partner why his project could not go live when I found additional data issues. 
The first issue was that the client transferred hundreds of thousands of routes to the new system. Simple math told me the required routings were closer to one hundred. It turns out that the production department had created a new, unique routing for every part ever made. So, the identical part produced multiple times was not tracked on the same route but rather on a new and unique route each time. 
The second and equally significant data problem was the number of duplicate items I suspected were creating major junk-data problems in the item file. 
The client creates many engineer-to-order parts supported by a large engineering staff. When I suggested that we analyze the item file for duplicates before importing them to the new system, the VP of engineering was highly insulted and outraged. He assured me that his item master was pristine with zero duplicates because of the tight controls in his department. 
However, I have seen multiple engineering departments where the system used to create a new engineering bill of material made it easier to create a new part on the fly rather than find the part in the existing item file. 
Prepared to be proven wrong and pleasantly surprised by this group of engineers' efficiency, I asked for an export of the item file. To get ready, I brushed up on Excel's Boolean logic capabilities to find potential duplicate parts.  I could have saved myself time and effort. 
When I opened the item master in Excel, a cursory scan of the first page of the items showed SEVEN different item numbers with THE same item description. A simple sort and review of duplicate item numbers showed hundreds of thousands of duplicates.  In my experience, those are not unique dirty-data scenarios. 
Poor data quality can significantly hinder the effectiveness of AI in forecasting and analysis within manufacturing. Here is a brief list of issues that may arise: 
  • Inaccurate Predictions : AI relies on historical data to make forecasts. If the data is flawed, predictions will be unreliable. 
  • Quality Control Problems : Bad data can lead to incorrect product quality assessments, resulting in undetected defects. 
  • Maintenance Challenges : Predictive maintenance becomes problematic if the data about machine performance is incorrect or incomplete. 
  • Operational Inefficiency : AI uses data to optimize processes. Poor data can lead to suboptimal decisions and processes. 
  • Adaptation Issues : Inability to adapt quickly to market changes due to unreliable data-driven insights. 
  • Decision-Making Errors : Strategic decisions based on poor data can lead to costly mistakes, especially around product costing and sales analysis. 

These issues underscore the importance of ensuring high-quality data for AI applications in manufacturing.  Simply eliminating duplicates is just the first and simple step of a sophisticated data cleansing project that would enable meaningful and valuable data. 
Pro-Tip: During the contract negotiation phase for the implementation of your new ERP platform, the time and money-saving suggestion is made that data can be migrated via Excel templates; expect massive change orders and a reschedule of your go-live date approximately two-thirds through your original budget and project time. 
Call us for a meaningful conversation on how to clean and convert data to be AI-ready. 

HandsFree ERP We are dedicated to ERP project excellence with experienced people, innovative processes, and innovative productivity tools like GYDE365-Discover. Experience - over one hundred years of combined experience selecting and implementing strategic ERP platforms. 

Essential Microsoft GP

Peter Joeckel    With an IE/OR engineering degree and enterprise software implementation experience starting at Price Waterhouse, Peter Joeckel has been in the business application selection, implementation, and challenged project turn-around business for over thirty years. He credits his industrial engineering degree with his search for better processes and tools to implement complex business application platforms.     Most recently, he was the lead HandsFree client advisor in the Circle of ERP Excellence lounge and speaker at the Community Summit North America.   

< Older Post

Newer Post >

HandsFree ERP is dedicated to supporting clients with their ERP initiatives, enabling companies to seamlessly connect users with their ERP partners. By utilizing skilled professionals, streamlined processes, and cutting-edge tools, HandsFree ERP significantly boosts the success rates of ERP projects.

Revolutionize Your ERP Selection: Ditch the Spreadsheets and Go Data-Driven

April 25, 2025
Streamline your ERP selection process with our cloud-based, modern, data-driven evaluation tool. Simplify business process requirements, accelerate ERP implementation, and gain unbiased, real-time insights for optimal manufacturing and solution fit.

Why AI Alone Isn’t Enough to Choose the Right ERP System: A Cautionary Tale from the Field

April 25, 2025
Discover the limitations of AI tools in ERP selection through a real-world case study comparing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Finance & Supply Chain Management. Learn why expert analysis is crucial for accurate ERP requirements assessment.

Is Business Central the Right Fit for Your Great Plains Business?

April 25, 2025
Debating if Business Central is the right move for you? The key to making the right decision lies in understanding your business requirements—not just what your ERP system does for you today, but what you truly need from an ERP system now and in the future.
With our latest enhancements to Discover, you can now compare your answers to those of similar busin

Streamlining ERP Selection: How Discover Saves Time and Money

April 25, 2025
With our latest enhancements to Discover, you can now compare your answers to those of similar businesses. This means faster data collection, smarter decisions, and a smoother ERP selection process.
Overbuying mfg erp is just as bad as underbuying

Avoiding ERP Overbuying: Lessons from a Costly Mistake

April 25, 2025
Which is worse? Underbuying results in relentless and expensive change orders, or overbuying and paying for modules that you don't even need? Avoid falling into either of these traps with a Discover Assessment.
The word erp is coming out of a circle with a light coming out of it.

The ERP Wheel of Pain: Avoiding Costly Mistakes in ERP Implementation

April 25, 2025
How do you calculate a successful ERP implementation project? We base it on three aspects: on-time, on-budget, and on-spec. Learn the real cost of a manufacturing ERP implementation.
A blurred image of a city with the word erp and icons.

Making the Right ERP Choice: A Manufacturing Company's Journey

April 25, 2025
Discover simplifies ERP cost estimation by providing a detailed analysis of design and build hours, helping organizations accurately compare the implementation costs of Dynamics Business Central and FSCM to make informed, budget-conscious decisions.
A cupcake with whipped cream and a cherry on top

Choosing the Right ERP: Insights from a Discover Session

April 25, 2025
When considering an ERP system, it’s crucial to invest in a solution that aligns with your long-term goals rather than settling for what meets your immediate needs. If you anticipate your organization evolving rapidly, opting for a simple solution could lead to challenges down the road.
A computer screen with the words navigating erp selection on it

Navigating ERP Selection with REAL tool

By EzPages Support • April 25, 2025
HandsFree ERP understands the importance of unbiased data in making informed decisions. That’s why we rigorously tested the Discover tool to evaluate its impartiality and found that there is no inherent bias.
An isometric illustration of a cube with the word erp on it.

Mastering ERP Selection: The Secret to Successful Projects

April 25, 2025
Discover offers flexibility in how you view your data, allowing you to choose between a module-view or a process-view meaning you can tailor the analysis to fit your specific preferences and business context, making it easier to identify your requirements.

Unlocking the Value of Microsoft's Funding Opportunity

April 25, 2025
For a limited time, Microsoft is funding the Discover assessment, providing Dynamics GP, SL, AX, and NAV users with a detailed analysis of their business needs, a fit/gap evaluation of modern ERP solutions, and project estimates to simplify and guide their cloud transition.
A Junior Consultant's Tale - The Hilarious Truth About ERP Implementations

ERP Implementation Fails: A Junior Consultant's Hilarious Tale

April 25, 2025
Successful ERP implementations require seamless alignment between sales and implementation teams. We can help bridge this gap by clarifying business needs and providing structured execution guidance.