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.

Related Posts


Under the terms of this license, you are authorized to share and redistribute the content across various mediums, subject to adherence to the specified conditions: you must provide proper attribution to Stoneridge as the original creator in a manner that does not imply their endorsement of your use, the material is to be utilized solely for non-commercial purposes, and alterations, modifications, or derivative works based on the original material are strictly prohibited.

Responsibility rests with the licensee to ensure that their use of the material does not violate any other rights.

Start the Conversation

It’s our mission to help clients win. We’d love to talk to you about the right business solutions to help you achieve your goals.

Subscribe To Our Blog

Sign up to get periodic updates on the latest posts.

Thank you for subscribing!