Despite the type, running a business is complex and requires a lot more effort, but there are a few types which are even more challenging to operate and one such is manufacturing business. About 2 decades ago, the manufacturing business was done very differently, but with the introduction of modern technologies, things have changed for the better. ERP systems are the best when it comes to managing manufacturing business, out of several options, Odoo manufacturing ERP is unbeatable.
Benefits of Odoo for Manufacturing
Manufacturing business is a process where raw materials are turned into finished goods and everything goes through a set of steps. With the Odoo implementation, you can easily manage the operation just by sitting at one place. If you are entering this world of technology and still confused about why you should choose Odoo for manufacturing business, we have your back.
1. Simplified Product Management
The manufacturing business comparatively has more products to manage as it deals with raw materials. With Odoo, product management becomes easier as you can create new products and update their details. You can manage everything right from the units, pricing, measurements, bills of materials, routes and other things.
When you have all the products listed out with their details, the manufacturing process becomes easier. This entire process lessens the burden of checking things manually and gives you more time to focus on other aspects, resulting in better outputs. All you need to do is review things on your own.
2. Integrated Multiple Processes
For running business, there are multiple processes that go behind the curtains, and managing each of them individually becomes a hectic task, but the implementation of Odoo can ease out these hectic tasks by integrating into one process.
Odoo ERP is implemented for creating things and linking up with other parts like managing products, checking quality, selling things, keeping track of the customer, managing inventory and other things. Under one system, you can manage all processes with ease.
3. Managing Inventory
Inventory plays a major role in any business, but its importance doubles up when it comes to manufacturing business as you have to keep track of raw materials purchased and prices at which the finished goods are priced at. Keeping track of each of them is a task where making mistakes and messing up the calculations is common, but not something that a company can bear at regular intervals.
Odoo ERP can be a saviour when it comes to managing inventory of different places. You can easily know where the items are, which items have been received and which ones are out of the stock. The chance of making errors is also lesser and you save a lot of time and energy.
4. Better Quality Checks
Providing quality products is every company’s foremost aim, but when things are managed individually and manually, quality is often compromised. When you are adapting the Odoo ERP system with your business, you get a hold of quality checks.
You can set quality control points And Checks at different stages of manufacturing which ensures that all your products are of the quality you have set. If any product fails the measures set by you, it will send the system alerts. Keeping the quality of the manufacturing products at topmost priority even promises repeated customers.
5. Product Lifecycle Management
One of the features of Odoo is PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) which is the crucial aspect of the manufacturing business. You can keep track of the products as they go through production, keep the list of the raw materials in check, update the items you need, and keep your finances arranged in advance so you don’t face any unpredictable issues.
Odoo also offers a feature where you can understand the demand and life for a product by analysing and studying the history of any product, which helps you in planning about a product.
6. Constant Maintenance Support
For manufacturing businesses, the workload is little more to manage than other businesses. You have to deal with the machinery and equipment and their regular maintenance and you have to ensure that they are always in running condition. When you manage them manually, you are more likely to call for maintenance when they stop working, which can delay the manufacturing process.
With the Odoo implementation services, you can set a schedule for the maintenance of the machinery and equipment. You can list out the maintenance tasks and fix a date for it and when the time comes, it will send you alerts for the same. Regular check-ups prevent the breakdown of the machines which means you will not face any out of order situation, and the manufacturing will run smoothly.
7. Analytics and Reporting
Detailed analytics and reports of any business make it better to understand the different aspects like which area is doing better, which one is lacking, which step is consuming more time and which one is finance-driven. You can keep track of every single penny invested, better allocation of resources and the condition of the machinery.
With a detailed report in your hand, you can manage your business, and pay attention to each sector and nothing will do this job better than Odoo.
Steps to Implement Odoo For Manufacturing
With a determination to implement Odoo for manufacturing business, you are ready to take your next step and that is to implement it. But, it too comes with its set of things and steps which you must be aware of. Don’t bother much as we have discussed those key areas here:
1. Selecting a Partner
Choosing a right partner is the most crucial step and it can’t go wrong. You must look for partners who have an established career in Odoo with track records of serving clients in manufacturing sectors so that they know in and out of your business. The partner must understand how your business is run and operated and should work as per its needs not otherwise.
Check for the technical expertise in your Odoo partner as it will be an additional benefit for your business. Also, when hiring a partner, ensure that their job is not done just after the implementation, but stay there to provide post-implementation support and also train your employees to manage the software when there is a need.
2. Planning Before Implementation
Implementation is not the most crucial part, the proper planning is. The planning of the implementation will decide on how the future of the business will be. You must discuss everything about your business, its nature, operations, aims, pros, and cons with your partner for a better understanding of your business. They can share some of their expertise which can be helpful for you as well.
While discussing everything, document every important aspect of the business like inventory, resources, milestones and others. Discuss with your partner what your aim is and they will be able to decide which module and features will align best with your business and if there is a need for any customization.
3. Customization
Customization is unarguably the best feature of Odoo and it guarantees that you get everything on the terms of your business. Your partner will customize the modules and features that only enhance the manufacturing process and ease the workflow like processing the order, managing the inventory, quality checks, and production planning.
The customization also helps in scheduling of the products which automatically sets the products availability and out of stock status. You can also get a detailed analysis and report of the availability of the raw materials and inform you once they are in shortage, which is crucial to operate any business. Not just this, you can also customize the interface to match your team’s preference and ease of use.
4. Training and Testing
Your team must adapt itself to work with the new interface and for this; training is offered by the Odoo partner. You must form a team who will go through the specifically designed session so that it can operate the system and manage the operations. These training consist of entering data, performing tasks, managing inventory, and creating reports.
The training sessions from the experts ensure that your employees get acquainted with the interface quickly and let them do the dummy management of the modules. Ask the end users about the experience of navigating the final results and if required, make the changes before it goes LIVE.
5. GO LIVE
Post the training session, now is the time that you GO LIVE with the final product. Ensure to migrate the essential data and eliminate the ones which have gone obsolete and do not add any value to the final product. Keep a team ready to fix any issues immediately that arise after the system has gone LIVE.
Keep a team ready to fix any queries and provide customer support if needed with prompt solutions. Always stay updated with the latest updates that keep rolling out regularly from the official Odoo platform.
Managing manufacturing business is not everyone’s cup of tea and needs more from you as you have to deal with raw materials, manufacturing process, and the final goods. Odoo can turn your business successful in no time and make it more manageable by keeping everything in place and you will not have to dive deeper into information and other things.