Global manufacturers lose 50% more because of production inefficiencies, delays, and unnecessary downtime. In an age where speed is as crucial as performance, disintegrated workflows and legacy systems are no longer viable. Operations leaders today require real-time output, traceability, and control of every phase of the production process. The window for error is smaller, and the demand for quickness, compliance, and lean execution has never been greater.
This is where the Odoo Manufacturing Module comes into play. Way more than a standard MRP or ERP, it consolidates fundamental manufacturing processes such as production planning, quality control, maintenance, and product lifecycle management, into one unified system that’s designed for today’s high-performance teams. In this blog, we’ll unpack the full depth of Odoo for Manufacturing, walk through its end-to-end capabilities, features, and explore how industry leaders are using it to drive efficiency, resilience, and measurable growth.
Odoo’s Approach to Lean Manufacturing
The essence of lean manufacturing is not just about reducing waste—it’s about building systems that learn, improve, and adapt with minimal friction. Odoo offers a platform that embeds lean thinking into every layer of the manufacturing process. From configurable work order flows to tablet-based shop floor dashboards, the system encourages streamlined communication, continuous feedback, and real-time decision-making—without adding operational complexity.
What makes this architecture so strong is that it allows for structured improvement loops. Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), Quality Alerts, and Maintenance Feedback are not separate functions; in Odoo, all of these can initiate pre-programmed steps—new instructions, revised routings, or corrective maintenance—that directly impact future orders. It’s a system that logically follows along Kaizen philosophies and Six Sigma guidelines, allowing teams to respond to observations, streamline workflows, and enhance quality without interrupting operations.
With the unification of MRP, MES, PLM, Maintenance, and Quality under one interoperable platform, Odoo does away with fragmentation, which retards improvement cycles. Manufacturers are able to access insight where it happens, on the shop floor, and force disciplined change with minimal lag.
The Odoo Manufacturing Process: From Idea to Delivery
The Odoo Manufacturing Process:From Idea to Delivery
Odoo Manufacturing process mirrors how modern production works—fluid, multi-layered, and deeply dependent on timing, materials, and traceability. Whether you’re producing in batches, to order, or managing complex routings across multiple workstations, Odoo brings each step under coordinated control. Here’s how the typical manufacturing flow unfolds in Odoo:
Define the Bill of Materials (BoM): Begin with specifying each component, sub-component, and by-product needed. Odoo BoMs handle version control, nested hierarchies, and even product kits, allowing for standardization and customization.
Configure Routings and Work Centers: Define where and how the product will be assembled. Routings can specify sequencing, work instructions, and time estimates, and each work centre monitors availability and capacity.
Schedule Production with MPS and Gantt Tools: With Master Production Schedule and real-time planning capabilities of Odoo, manufacturers can test capacity, review material availability, and optimize production schedules—all prior to the start of execution.
Launch Manufacturing Orders (MOs): MOs can be generated manually, from sales orders, or via replenishment rules. These tie directly to BoMs, routings, and work orders, providing clear execution instructions on the shop floor.
Execute Work Orders on the Floor: Operators use the Workshop app on tablets to see worksheets, scan barcodes, adhere to predetermined steps, and initiate quality checks—online or offline.
Monitor Quality and Maintenance in Real Time: Quality control checkpoints, notifications, and statistical checks may be inserted at any step. Feedback from operators or machine performance can trigger maintenance workflows or corrective actions.
Track Outputs, Costs, and Traceability: Every run of production includes complete cost outturns—material, labour, overhead—with traceability in full through batch or serial numbers. These metrics complete the loop for analysis, regulatory compliance, and constant improvement.
Key Capabilities & Features
Following is a systematic outline of Odoo Manufacturing module’s fundamental capabilities, each designed to accelerate planning, execution, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
Core Manufacturing (MRP & MES)
The foundation of Odoo Manufacturing lies in its robust support for both Make-to-Order and Make-to-Stock workflows, with flexible controls for managing production complexity.
Manufacturing Orders: Create and manage production runs, triggered by demand or stock rules.
Work Orders: Break down operations by routing steps for parallel or sequential execution.
Editable Production Orders: Modify orders even after they’ve been completed, for retroactive accuracy.
Unbilled Orders: Disassemble products and recover components as needed.
Kits: Sell products delivered as individual components for post-sale assembly.
By-products: Track and account for secondary materials or outputs.
Manual vs Assembly Line Setup: Choose between discrete or flow-based configurations based on your process.
Workshop App (MES)
The Workshop App brings paperless execution to life with real-time dashboards and workstation-specific control panels.
Tablet-Ready Control Panel: Operators can see tasks, capture production, and view work instructions without any hindrance.
Offline Mode: Ensures that operations run without a hitch even when network connectivity is lost.
Paperless Operations: Substitute printed worksheets with real-time, context-relevant digital steps.
Real-Time Work Order Steps: Define and trigger multi-step operations like barcode scanning, checks, or images.
Feedback System for Kaizen: Workers can flag inefficiencies or suggest improvements from the shop floor.
Barcode App
Barcode scanning is integrated across manufacturing functions to increase speed and minimize errors.
Scan Serial Numbers, Lots, Products: For traceability, inventory checks, and quality steps.
Trigger Actions: Initiate/pause timers, flag operations as complete, or initiate maintenance requests.
Accelerates Production: Decreases manual data entry, enables hands-free workflow, and decreases errors.
PLM (Product Lifecycle Management)
Odoo’s PLM features guarantee that engineering changes are properly controlled and versioned.
ECOs (Engineering Change Orders): Organize and monitor BoM, routing, or document changes.
Version Control: Manage and compare past versions to follow the evolution.
Document Attachments to BoM: Embed drawings, test instructions, or manuals directly in product records.
Change History Tracking: Visualize the progression and approval path of each product change.
Quality Control
Quality is embedded. Inspections and alerts are triggered contextually within the production flow.
Checkpoints and Alerts: Automatically initiate checks at critical points in the routing.
Quality Control Points: Customize for each product, stage, or operation.
Six Sigma Tools: Deploy statistical methods for variance analysis and process monitoring.
Statistical Process Control: Capture and track quality metrics over time for each work centre.
Maintenance Management
Maintenance is linked to production—proactively planned and reactively initiated from the shop floor.
Preventive & Corrective Actions: Time, usage, or performance-based.
Calendar-Based Scheduling: Schedule interventions visually and allocate resources accordingly.
KPI-Triggered Actions: Initiate maintenance automatically based on thresholds (e.g., temperature, run-time).
MTBF & OEE Tracking: Track key reliability and efficiency metrics at workstations.
Planning Tools
Odoo offers dynamic tools for short-term planning and long-term capacity planning.
Master Production Schedule (MPS): Plan against demand with forecasted production.
Gantt Chart for Planning: Reschedule or reprioritize operations in an interactive environment.
Workstation Capacity & Scheduling: Allocate based on availability and efficiency scores.
Finite Capacity Planning: Avoid over-commitments by simulating load in advance.
Routing & Optional Flows: Create primary and alternate paths for adaptable manufacturing sequences.
Advanced Configurations
Designed for growing and evolving operations, these tools bring configurability to product setup and repair.
Version Changes: Manage evolving products and trigger new workflows as needed.
Flexible Reference Data: Modify routings, materials, and options on the fly.
Create Multi-Level BoMs: Build nested assemblies with component-level traceability.
Custom Routes for Sequencing: Define conditional flows depending on batch, order, or product.
Repair Orders & Reverse Logistics: Manage warranty repairs or disassembly workflows directly.
These features continue to evolve with every Odoo release. In Odoo 19, users benefit from enhanced planning performance, a cleaner control panel interface, and smoother offline capabilities—refinements that further support agile, real-time production environments.
Read the full blog and find dashboard screenshots here.
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