LONDON, May 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- Global medical gum manufacturer implements FDA-validated technology.

Microsoft Corp today announced that Fertin Pharma A/S, the world leader in the development and manufacture of medical chewing gum, has gone live with Life Sciences for Microsoft Dynamics(TM) AX at its medical gum manufacturing plant in Denmark. The software has been implemented to help Fertin meet the stringent regulatory requirements set out by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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The Life Sciences for Microsoft Dynamics AX enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution will enable Fertin to automate its internal back-office processes, helping the firm to increase staff efficiency, reduce plant and production costs, and optimise quality control. With Life Sciences for Microsoft Dynamics AX, Fertin's supply chain will be integrated throughout the medical chewing gum product life cycle.

The technology includes functionality to comply with the FDA's 21 CFR Part 11 regulation, ensuring that any electronic records and signatures flowing through the organisation are reliable. In addition, Fertin is benefiting significantly from the validation documentation component of Life Sciences for Microsoft Dynamics AX. This helps Fertin to provide documented evidence that its chewing gum products are meeting predetermined specifications and quality attributes.

"We are very excited about the results that have come from this partnership with Fertin Pharma," said Rudiger Dorn, industry lead at Microsoft EMEA for process industry. "Together we have been able to fine-tune Life Sciences for Microsoft Dynamics AX to develop a solution that will help the entire pharmaceutical industry to undertake regulatory validation processes with greater ease. In the past, life sciences manufacturers would have spent significant sums to gather the necessary validation documentation to meet the requirements of the FDA and other regulatory bodies. With Life Sciences for Microsoft Dynamics AX, Fertin has been able to validate its processes quickly at a much lower price point."

"We wanted the technology to be precise and customised specifically for the pharmaceutical industry and, more importantly for us, for medical chewing gum manufacturing," said Soren Seerup, senior vice president of IT at Fertin Pharma. "This was the first time we were able to put on a PC a large-scale manufacturing solution that was cost-effective and very easy to integrate with existing systems."

"This is a very interesting example of how a Life Sciences for Microsoft Dynamics AX implementation can be the driver and enabler of business process optimisation and business application consolidation in the pharmaceutical industry," said Thomas Parbst, manufacturing marketing lead for Microsoft Business Solutions EMEA.

About Microsoft in Manufacturing

Microsoft, in conjunction with its team of industry leaders, delivers enterprise solutions to a range of manufacturers including those in vertical industries such as automotive, chemical, consumer packaged goods, high technology, and oil and gas. These industry-specific solutions provide a flexible, scalable and reliable platform that helps to enable businesses to be more agile and connected. As a result, manufacturers can shorten product development cycles, integrate operations with partners and suppliers, acquire and share intelligence in real time, and more easily communicate with customers. More information about Microsoft in manufacturing can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/manufacturing.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft employs more than 12,000 people in 60 subsidiaries, delivering products and services in 138 countries and territories.

This material is for informational purposes only. Microsoft Corp disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to use of the material for other purposes. Microsoft Corp shall not, at any time, be liable for any special, direct, indirect or consequential damages, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other action arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of the material. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting any kind of warranty.

Microsoft and Microsoft Dynamics are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp in the United States and/or other countries.

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Web site: http://www.microsoft.com

Chanda Gathani, +44-20-7959-5400 or chanda.gathani@write-image.co.uk, or Simona Cotta-Ramusino, +44-20-7959-5400 or simona.cotta-ramusino@write-image.co.uk, both of Write Image, for Microsoft Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft in EMEA, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/emea or the EMEA Press Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at the time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact the Microsoft(R) EMEA Press Office at +44-870-243-0515 or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/contactus. If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft Corp, please visit the Microsoft web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages.