By the end of 2023, Odoo, the open-source ERP solution, was updated to version 17. This user-friendly and affordable ERP system is now widely recognised and supported by a large, active community.
Odoo version 17 introduces a range of new features, many of which are designed to meet the needs of manufacturing businesses.
In the constantly changing manufacturing industry, staying ahead is essential for growth and success. Manufacturers often have to come across challenges like optimising production, meeting strict quality standards, and managing inventory efficiently. The new Manufacturing Module in Odoo ERP Software version 17 can help in optimising and streamlining these business hurdles.
This blog will let you explore the new features and enhancements in Odoo 17 for Manufacturing, showing how these innovations can greatly benefit the industry in 2024 and beyond.
Odoo 17 Features for the Manufacturing Sector
Work Centre Planning:
Odoo’s Manufacturing module now includes a combined work center load feature in the Work Centre Planning View. This update allows users to consolidate workload data from multiple work centers into a single, unified view within the Odoo ERP Software.
Having all workload information in one place helps you better manage resource allocation and plan production more effectively. This is particularly beneficial for manufacturing businesses with multiple production centers or complex operations, as it provides a clear overview of the workload across different areas. With this comprehensive view, you can easily identify any potential bottlenecks or resource shortages, ensuring that your production processes run smoothly and efficiently. The feature enhances your ability to coordinate and optimise manufacturing operations by presenting all relevant data in an organised and accessible manner.
Components Demand Propagation:
Odoo ERP Software now has a feature that automatically updates changes in the demand for materials or components needed for manufacturing orders, directly affecting the pre-production picking phase. This means that if there are any changes in the quantities or types of materials needed for an order, these changes are automatically reflected in the picking phase before production starts.
This new capability helps prevent problems like having too many or too few materials on hand, which can cause delays or inefficiencies. By ensuring that material needs are accurately updated and synchronised throughout the process, it helps to avoid material shortages or excess inventory. This makes the manufacturing process smoother and more efficient, as all the necessary components are in the right place at the right time. Overall, this feature streamlines operations by keeping all data in sync and reducing the chances of production issues related to material availability.
UX Improvements:
Odoo 17 has introduced significant enhancements to its manufacturing module by integrating manufacturing lead times directly into the Bill of Materials (BOM). Previously, lead times were tracked separately, but now, when you view the BOM for a specific product, you can also see the associated manufacturing lead times. This integration provides a clearer picture of the production timeline, allowing you to better estimate and manage the time required to complete manufacturing orders. By having both the material details and lead times in one place, you can more effectively plan and coordinate your production schedules, ensuring that you meet deadlines and optimise workflow efficiency.
Manufacturing Orders Overview:
The Odoo manufacturing module now features a unified report that offers a detailed overview of every aspect related to manufacturing orders. This new report acts as a central hub, providing a comprehensive view of all the critical information associated with a manufacturing order. With this centralised report, you can easily access and interpret various details, such as order status, components, and production stages, from a single location. This streamlined approach simplifies the process of tracking and managing orders, enhancing your ability to oversee manufacturing operations effectively. By consolidating all relevant data into one report, Odoo ERP Software helps you stay organised and informed, ultimately improving your manufacturing management and decision-making processes.
Updated Work Orders List View:
Odoo 17 has introduced a new and improved Work Orders List View in its manufacturing module, designed to make managing manufacturing tasks much easier. This updated view is more user-friendly, allowing you to handle tasks with less effort and manage work orders more efficiently. You can now quickly assign tasks to employees and easily keep track of who is working on what.
The new feature includes a ‘My Work Orders’ filter, which gives you quick access to all your assigned work orders, making it simpler to stay organised and on top of your tasks. With this streamlined approach, you can ensure that manufacturing operations run more smoothly, as it helps in reducing the time spent on managing and tracking work orders. This enhancement aims to improve overall productivity by making task management and employee coordination easier, ultimately leading to more efficient and well-organised manufacturing processes.
Simplified BOM (Bill of Materials) Management:
The latest version of Odoo ERP Software enhances the way you manage Bills of Materials (BOMs) within its manufacturing software. Now, you can generate BOMs directly from manufacturing orders, streamlining the process and making it more efficient. This new feature allows you to easily create, modify, and adjust BOMs as production needs and requirements change.
With this improvement, you gain greater control over your BOMs, ensuring that they can quickly adapt to new or shifting production demands. This flexibility helps maintain an agile manufacturing process, allowing your operations to respond swiftly to changes without unnecessary delays or complications. By integrating BOM creation into the manufacturing order process, Odoo ERP Software makes it easier to keep your production on track and aligned with current requirements.
These are the key features expected in Odoo 17 for the manufacturing industry. In addition to these, manufacturing businesses can also take advantage of other Odoo ERP Software modules like Localisation, Sales, Purchase, Marketing, and CRM.
Once the update is officially released, more detailed information will be available. This will provide a clearer picture of which features of the Odoo ERP Software are included at no extra cost and which are part of the Enterprise edition.
Click here to also read about
“Why Should You Hire an Odoo ERP Consultant for Your Business?”
Wrapping Up
The launch of Odoo 17 introduces a range of cutting-edge features and improvements that have the potential to revolutionise the manufacturing industry in 2024 and beyond. These updates, including enhanced BOM management, comprehensive work order monitoring, and better integration of manufacturing lead times, reflect Odoo’s dedication to providing manufacturers with tools for increased efficiency, precision, and adaptability.
With Odoo, you can now manage production complexities more effectively. The centralised manufacturing orders overview offers crucial insights into replenishments, active work orders, and component needs, simplifying your workflow.
Additionally, the capability to create BOMs directly from manufacturing orders, make real-time updates to BOMs impacting confirmed orders, and seamlessly initiate ECOs provides manufacturers with greater flexibility and responsiveness to evolving production requirements.
Looking towards 2024, these features in Odoo 17 are set to drive productivity, reduce lead times, and optimise resource use in the manufacturing sector. By adopting these innovations, manufacturers can stay ahead of the curve, meet changing customer expectations, and achieve greater operational success.
Interested in implementing Odoo ERP Software for your manufacturing needs?
As an official Odoo gold partner in Australia, Envertis can ensure to address your manufacturing challenges and help you leverage the latest Odoo 17 features. Contact our Odoo experts for a consultation and start transforming your manufacturing processes today!
