How Manufacturers Can Modernize Maintenance with Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&SCM Asset Management 

Manufacturing maintenance teams often remain stuck in a reactive mode, fighting fires while larger problems accumulate. Equipment breaks unexpectedly, and repair logs go missing, and no one can say for sure how much asset downtime is costing the business. 

Limited system support and blurry visibility are common roadblocks for many manufacturers. Downtime eats into profit margins and damages customer trust. Without a centralized way to manage maintenance, even the most skilled technicians operate without the data they need to prevent problems from escalating. 

It doesn’t have to stay this way. 

Maintenance Headaches That Shouldn’t Be Standard 

Work orders still get lost on clipboards. Spare parts sit unused in one department while another team waits for a critical component. Preventive maintenance plans often reside in unreviewed spreadsheets or in disconnected systems. That makes it hard to track asset history, prioritize repairs or plan work. 

Other pain points include maintenance not aligning with operations; for example, maintenance may be skipped to meet deadlines. Maintenance plans may be unstructured, letting assets run to failure rather than scheduling preventive maintenance.  

Teams should be able to answer questions such as: 

• How often does this asset fail?  
• What’s our cost per repair?  
• Are we improving over time? 

In one facility where Sikich implemented Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management’s Asset Management module, work orders were still being logged on paper. No one could quickly tell when the last inspection occurred or which parts they used. Without accurate records, minor fixes slipped through the cracks, and maintenance timelines stretched. That lag contributed to delays in production and increased costs. 

The Foundation: What Microsoft Dynamics 365’s Asset Management Delivers 

Before looking at AI, manufacturers need to go back to basics with a solid operational foundation. The Asset Management module in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management (D365 F&SCM) provides the structure and visibility that manufacturing maintenance teams need to make informed decisions. 

A centralized system allows teams to: 

• Track assets, lifecycle states, work orders, and cost history by type, location, status, and history. 
• Automate preventive maintenance plans with clear checklists, assignments, and reminders. 
• Align maintenance windows with production schedules to prevent unplanned downtime. 
• Tie parts and labor costs directly to each work order for traceability. 
• Ensure spare parts are available when needed with an integrated MRP, without overstocking. 
• Leverage mobile access for technicians so they won’t need to return to a workstation to access asset history, update a repair log or confirm the completion of a task.  

One manufacturer working with Sikich used Asset Management to digitize their break-fix process. When a machine went down, staff created a work order and routed it to the right technician. That technician used a handheld device to record time and materials. The result is a searchable record with repair details that can inform planning. 

Another manufacturing client took it a step further, introducing maintenance plans that automatically generated work orders according to a schedule. Greasing bearings, inspecting belts, or tightening components happened on time, not just when something failed. 

With D365 F&SCM, parts management joins that streamlined process. When workers need a part that isn’t in stock, they can generate a purchase order from within the work order itself. That request links to vendor records and MRP, helping teams anticipate lead times and plan their labor accordingly. 

This also means manufacturers can track the cost of every part. Over time, you build a complete picture of each asset’s total cost and see which regularly drains resources. 

Smarter Maintenance Starts with Better Data 

Once the basics are in place, the real power takes effect. Microsoft Dynamics 365 supports Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) integrations that help manufacturers anticipate and prevent equipment failure. 

IoT sensors stream real-time data on equipment performance. If a condition changes, such as a rise in temperature or a fluctuation in pressure, the system detects the issue and generates a work order. If a reading falls outside of the normal range, a rule-based alert can trigger a work order before a failure occurs. 

With AI and machine learning, Dynamics 365 can also detect failure patterns over time and recommend interventions based on usage, not just time intervals. Predictive maintenance reduces emergency work orders and keeps production running smoothly. The U.S. Department of Energy says shifting from a reactive approach to routine maintenance saves manufacturers 25% to 30%.  

Dashboards in the system help teams identify which assets are most prone to failure or costly to maintain. With that clarity, maintenance managers can redirect efforts toward high-risk equipment before it fails, and finance leaders can justify capital requests with hard data. 

Start Small and Build 

As maintenance becomes more proactive, teams spend less time reacting to urgent issues. That shift gives technicians more control over their schedules and creates space to improve routine processes that keep production stable. 

However, it doesn’t require going all in from day one. Get the basics down first. The platform allows configuration, so there is room to grow. 

Start with one site or a single asset category and focus on digitizing the core maintenance tasks. Once the team is comfortable working within the system, you can introduce more advanced capabilities such as AI-driven alerts or condition-based monitoring tied to shop floor sensor data. 

Give Maintenance a Seat at the Table 

For too long, manufacturers treated asset maintenance as an afterthought. But when equipment fails without warning and costs spike, that mindset becomes too expensive to ignore. 

Maintenance directly influences how reliably assets run and how much it costs to keep them in service. When it’s managed well, production stays on track, and unexpected expenses are easier to avoid. 

Asset Management gives manufacturing companies the structure to systematically manage maintenance and the flexibility to layer in intelligence over time. If your team still relies on manual tracking or standalone systems, consider a unified approach that delivers better visibility and control. 

Ready to improve your plant performance? 

The Asset Management module in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management gives your team a clearer view. Contact Sikich to get started.