Map of business processes and a product-centric manufacturing journey

2025-06-26

This article describes what a product-centric manufacturing organization is and the end-to-end business processes these types of organizations typically manage and how Dynamics 365 can support these processes.

In a product-centric manufacturing organization, the primary focus is on efficiently designing, producing, and delivering high-quality products that meet evolving customer demands. These organizations rely on streamlined, interconnected processes that span the entire product lifecycle—from ideation to customer support. Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers a comprehensive suite of tools that empower manufacturers to optimize these processes, enhance agility, and drive innovation.

What is a product-centric manufacturing organization?

A product-centric manufacturing organization is structured around the creation and continuous improvement of physical goods. These companies prioritize product quality, production efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Their operations are typically aligned with a make-to-stock or make-to-order model, depending on market demands and business strategy.

Key end-to-end processes in product-centric manufacturing

The following diagram shows a typical sequence of end-to-end processes that product-centric manufacturing organizations follow in a make-to-stock scenario.

The diagram shows the end-to-end processes in sequence. Here's a breakdown of the end-to-end processes that define the product-centric manufacturing journey.

1. Concept to market

This end-to-end process covers ideation, design, and launch of new products. It includes these areas:

Market research and trend analysis
Product design and prototyping
Go-to-market planning and marketing

Learn more at Concept to market introduction

Dynamics 365 has capabilities that help organizations with their Concept to market processes, like product lifecycle management and marketing features in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management and Dynamics 365 Customer Insights. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Concept to market processes at Concept to market business process areas.

2. Design to retire

This end-to-end process covers the entire lifecycle of a product from initial design to retirement. It includes these areas:

Product development and testing
Quality assurance and compliance
Continuous improvement and phase-out

Learn more at Design to retire introduction.

Dynamics 365 has capabilities that help organizations with their Design to retire processes, like engineering change management, product versioning, product catalogs, and quality control features in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Dynamics 365 Business Central, and Dynamics 365 Sales. Learn more about the capabilities of Dynamics 365 that support the Design to retire processes at Design to retire business process areas.

3. Forecast to plan

This end-to-end process covers demand forecasting and production planning. It includes these areas:

Sales and operations planning (S&OP)
Inventory optimization
Capacity planning

Learn more at Forecast to plan introduction.

Dynamics 365 has capabilities that help organizations with their Forecast to plan processes, like AI-driven forecasting and master planning tools in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Dynamics 365 Project Operations, and Dynamics 365 Business Central. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Forecast to plan processes at Forecast to plan business process areas.

4. Hire to retire

This end-to-end process covers the employee lifecycle. It includes these areas:

Recruitment and onboarding
Training and development
Performance management and retirement

Learn more at Hire to retire introduction

Dynamics 365 includes capabilities to help organizations with their Hire to retire processes, like workforce planning, skills tracking, and employee engagement in Dynamics 365 Human Resources. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Hire to retire processes at Hire to retire business process areas.

5. Acquire to dispose

This end-to-end process covers the lifecycle of physical assets. It includes these areas:

Asset acquisition and deployment
Maintenance and utilization
Decommissioning and disposal

Learn more at Acquire to dispose introduction

Dynamics 365 includes capabilities to help organizations with their Acquire to dispose processes, like fixed assets, asset leasing, and asset management in Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics 365 Finance, and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Acquire to dispose processes at Acquire to dispose business process areas.

6. Source to pay

This end-to-end process covers procurement and supplier management. It includes these areas:

Supplier selection and contract negotiation
Purchase order management
Invoice processing and payment

Learn more at Source to pay introduction

Dynamics 365 includes capabilities to help organizations with their Source to pay processes, like procurement tools, supplier management, and cost control in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics 365 Commerce, Dynamics 365 Finance, and Dynamics 365 Project Operations. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Source to pay processes at Source to pay business process areas.

7. Plan to produce

This end-to-end process covers production execution. It includes these areas:

Production scheduling and resource allocation
Shop floor control and quality checks
Lean manufacturing and automation

Learn more at Plan to produce introduction

Dynamics 365 includes capabilities to help organizations with their Plan to produce processes, like support for manufacturing execution systems (MES), IoT integration, real-time visibility, and control in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics 365 Finance, and Dynamics 365 Project Operations. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Plan to produce processes at Plan to produce business process areas.

8. Prospect to quote

This end-to-end process covers early sales engagement. It includes these areas:

Lead generation and qualification
Customer needs analysis
Quotation and pricing

Learn more at Prospect to quote introduction

Dynamics 365 includes capabilities to help organizations with their Prospect to quote processes, like guided selling, CPQ (configure, price, quote), and opportunity management in Dynamics 365 Sales and Dynamics 365 Business Central. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Prospect to quote processes at Prospect to quote business process areas.

9. Order to cash

This end-to-end process covers order fulfillment. It includes these areas:

Order entry and processing
Invoicing and payment management
Collections management

Learn more at Order to cash introduction

Dynamics 365 includes capabilities to help organizations with their Order to cash processes, like integrated order management and finance modules for accurate billing and timely collections in Dynamics 365 Sales, Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Dynamics 365 Commerce, Dynamics 365 Finance, and Dynamics 365 Business Central. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Order to cash processes at Order to cash business process areas.

10. Inventory to deliver

This end-to-end process covers inventory and logistics. It includes these areas:

Warehouse management
Inventory tracking and replenishment
Shipping and delivery

Learn more at Inventory to deliver introduction

Dynamics 365 includes capabilities to help organizations with their Inventory to deliver processes, like advanced warehouse and transportation management in Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics 365 Finance, and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Inventory to deliver processes at Inventory to deliver business process areas.

11. Case to resolution

This end-to-end process covers post-sales support. It includes these areas:

Customer inquiries and complaints
Issue resolution and returns
Service management

Learn more at Case to resolution introduction

Dynamics 365 includes capabilities to help organizations with their Case to resolution processes, like case management, knowledge bases, and omnichannel support in Dynamics 365 Customer Service. Learn more about the capabilities in Dynamics 365 that support the Case to resolution processes at Case to resolution business process areas.

12. Record to report

This end-to-end process covers financial oversight. It includes these areas:

Transaction recording
Financial reporting and compliance
Business performance analysis

Learn more at Record to report introduction

Dynamics 365 includes capabilities to help organizations with their Record to report processes, like embedded analytics and financial reporting tools in Dynamics 365 Commerce, Dynamics 365 Field Service, Dynamics 365 Finance, Dynamics 365 Human Resources, Dynamics 365 Project Operations, Dynamics 365 Sales, Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, and Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Adapt to make-to-order scenarios

The diagram and this article show the general sequence for a make-to-stock environment. In a make-to-order environment, the sequence shifts to align production with specific customer orders. Here, the Prospect to quote and Order to cash processes come before Source to pay, so organizations get materials only after confirming customer demand. Dynamics 365 supports this flexibility with configurable workflows and real-time data integration across departments.

Key challenges in product-centric manufacturing

Product-centric manufacturing offers a structured approach to delivering high-quality goods, but it also presents operational and strategic challenges. Understanding these challenges helps organizations stay competitive and resilient in a dynamic market.

Volatility in demand

Fluctuating customer demand can lead to overproduction or stockouts, especially in make-to-stock environments. Accurate forecasting is critical but often difficult because of market unpredictability.
Complex supply chains

A supply chain quickly grows complex when you must manage global suppliers, transnational logistics, and compliance requirements. Disruptions like geopolitical events or raw material shortages can significantly affect production timelines.
Product lifecycle management

Coordinating product development, updates, and retirements across departments and geographies requires robust collaboration and version control mechanisms.
Operational efficiency

Balancing cost, quality, and speed is a constant challenge. Inefficiencies in production scheduling, resource allocation, or maintenance can lead to increased costs and reduced output.
Regulatory compliance

Manufacturers must navigate a web of industry-specific regulations, environmental standards, and safety requirements, which vary by region and product type.
Technology integration

Integrating legacy systems with modern digital tools can be difficult. A lack of real-time data visibility and siloed systems hinders decision-making and responsiveness.
Talent shortages

Skilled labor shortages, especially in areas like advanced manufacturing and automation, can limit growth and innovation.
Sustainability pressures

There is growing pressure to reduce environmental impact through sustainable sourcing, energy-efficient production, and waste reduction—often requiring significant investment.

How Dynamics 365 helps you overcome these challenges

Dynamics 365 addresses these challenges by offering capabilities such as the following list:

AI-driven forecasting to manage demand volatility
Integrated supply chain visibility for proactive risk management
Unified product data for streamlined lifecycle management
Real-time analytics and automation to boost operational efficiency
Built-in compliance tools to support regulatory adherence
Cloud-based architecture for seamless integration and scalability
HR and talent management solutions to attract and retain skilled workers
Sustainability insights to track and reduce environmental impact

Conclusion

A product-centric manufacturing organization thrives on the seamless integration of its end-to-end processes. Dynamics 365 provides the digital backbone to support this integration, enabling manufacturers to innovate faster, operate more efficiently, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.