Resource Capability and Property Basics in AX 2012

By Wally Carr | January 28, 2015

Resource Properties in AX 2012 allows a legal entity to define distinct characteristics that distinguish a resource. These characteristics can vary by time period. For example: a web coating machine might use slurries of different colors. Using a light colored mixture after a dark colored one would require cleaning the machine so that the lighter color is not effected by the dark. But using a dark color after a light one might not require the downtime for cleaning. Assigning Light one shift, and Dark the next, will aid in scheduling and minimize downtime.

Resource Properties

Resource Properties are set up along with the calendars and working periods to aid in the setting up resources for optimum scheduling.

To create the properties, start at Production Control:

Rescource Capability Setup

Select New (or Ctrl-N) for a new property:

Production Control Setup

Assigning Properties Dark Mix

When a property is assigned to a working period on a calendar, only operations with that property (or no property) can be scheduled into that work period.

Resource Capabilities

Resource Capabilities is a new feature in Dynamics AX 2012. Capabilities describe what a resource can do. Resource capabilities are maintained in the Organization Administration module:

Resource Capabilities

You can set an expiration date for a capability. Also, you can set priorities to assign resources in priority order when more than one resource has a capability. The Level column can be used to determine a gradient of the capability in question: Operations can be set to only use resources with a capability rating of 200 or above. Scheduling will not use resources with a level below that. The column has no units – levels are relative to the other resources with the capability.

The Capability map button opens the capability map form. This is a summary form showing capabilities associated with resources. The form includes tabs for skills, courses, certificates and titles as well that will be addressed in another post on employee and work setup.

Capability Map

Resources are also entered in the Organization Administration module: They will be the subject of the next post in this series.


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