Revolutionizing Manufacturing in 2024 – A comprehensive guide to Odoo 18’s new features

2024 has brought a lot of exciting opportunities and daunting challenges in the manufacturing industry. 

Rising costs for raw materials and energy are squeezing profit margins. 

Customers are demanding faster product development and more customization, shortening product life cycles. Maintaining consistent quality across global supply chains is more complicated than ever. 

On top of that, market volatility means manufacturers must be agile to adapt to changing consumer trends and economic cycles.

Navigating these complexities requires tools that are not just robust but also agile and user-friendly. 

This is where Odoo 18 steps in as a game-changer. Imagine having a single platform that streamlines your entire manufacturing process—from forecasting demand and managing supply chains to customizing products and ensuring top-notch quality control. Odoo 18’s latest manufacturing features are designed to help businesses like yours overcome operational hurdles with ease and efficiency.

In this blog, we’ll explore how Odoo 18 addresses the key challenges faced by manufacturers today. We’ll delve into its innovative features that can transform your operations, making them more efficient, cost-effective and responsive to your business needs. 

Whether you’re an existing Odoo user or new to this powerful ERP solution, get ready to discover how Odoo 18 can revolutionize your manufacturing strategy.

1. NAVIGATING COST PRESSURES WITH ENHANCED FORECASTING

Manufacturers are constantly battling rising raw material prices and unpredictable energy costs. These factors can significantly impact profit margins. 

Odoo 18 introduces an improved Master Production Schedule (MPS) that helps you forecast demand more accurately.

• Flexible Forecasting Periods : You can adjust forecasting periods on the fly—be it weekly, monthly or daily—to align with your specific needs.
• Lead Time Integration : By integrating vendor lead times directly into the MPS, Odoo 18 ensures you order components just in time, reducing inventory costs and avoiding production delays.
• Automatic Replenishment : The new MPS allows for automatic replenishment, minimizing the risk of stockouts and overstocking.

This level of control over your supply chain helps in managing costs effectively, keeping you ahead of cheaper competitors.

2. ACCELERATING INNOVATION WITH FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING

Customers today expect personalized products delivered quickly. 

Odoo 18’s manufacturing module now seamlessly integrates with the product catalog, making it easier than ever to create custom products.

• Quick BOM Creation : Build a Bill of Materials (BOM) from scratch using the catalog in just a few clicks.
• Custom Notes and Instructions : Add specific customer requirements directly into manufacturing orders, ensuring clear communication to the production team.
• Employee Feedback Integration : Production employees can provide real-time feedback or suggest improvements directly from the shop floor.

This flexibility reduces errors and accelerates the time-to-market for new products, giving you a competitive edge.

3. ENHANCING QUALITY CONTROL WITH INTEGRATED TOOLS

Maintaining consistent quality is critical. 

Odoo 18 introduces advanced quality management features, such as the ability to perform quality checks on demand.

• Random Inspections : Conduct random quality checks whenever needed, ensuring only the best products reach your customers.
• Odoo Spreadsheet Integration : Design custom spreadsheets to record inspection data, making it easier to track quality metrics over time.
• Digital Record-Keeping : All quality checks are digitally stored, simplifying compliance and audits.

These tools help you maintain high-quality standards, building trust with your customers.

4. MANAGING MARKET VOLATILITY WITH AGILE PLANNING

Market demands can change overnight. 

Odoo 18’s enhanced planning tools help you stay agile.

• Revamped Planning View : Scroll through different periods effortlessly and adjust your production schedule with simple drag-and-drop functionality.
• Real-Time Overview : Get a holistic view of your manufacturing operations, allowing for quick responses to market changes.
• Expanded Views : Access detailed information about each work center and operation.

Whether you need to ramp up production or scale back, Odoo 18 gives you the flexibility to adapt swiftly.

5. IMPROVING TRACEABILITY AND COMPLIANCE

In an environment of stringent regulations, traceability is essential. 

Odoo 18 enhances product traceability with serial number tracking throughout the manufacturing and delivery process.

• Serial Number Tracking : Easily trace any product back to its components and manufacturing details.
• Integration with Projects : Link manufacturing orders directly to projects, providing a holistic view of operations and facilitating cross-departmental collaboration.
• Quality Checks in Repairs : Perform quality checks during repairs, ensuring that even after-sales services meet high standards.

This simplifies compliance with industry regulations and builds customer trust.

6. STREAMLINING EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Your employees often have valuable insights into improving processes. 

Odoo 18 empowers them to contribute through the integration of the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) app.

• Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) : Employees can create ECOs directly from the shop floor.
• Instruction Changes : Update manufacturing instructions in real-time based on employee feedback.
• Version Control : Easily manage BOM versions to keep track of changes.

By capturing and implementing employee suggestions, you enhance efficiency and product quality.

7. ACCURATE COST TRACKING FOR BETTER PROFITABILITY

Understanding your production costs is crucial. 

Odoo 18 provides detailed cost analysis by comparing expected costs with actual costs in real-time.

• Real-Time Cost Analysis : See where discrepancies occur—whether in material costs or labor.
• Reporting Tools : Gain insights into production efficiencies and cost-saving opportunities.
• Informed Decision-Making : Make better decisions about pricing, budgeting, and resource allocation.

With accurate cost data, you can improve profitability and ensure sustainable growth.

8. SIMPLIFYING REPAIRS AND AFTER-SALES SERVICE

Customer satisfaction doesn’t end at the sale. 

Odoo 18 improves the integration between manufacturing and repair modules, making after-sales service more efficient.

• Easy Repair Orders : Create repair orders directly from rental receptions or delivery orders.
• Quality Checks in Repairs : Perform quality checks during the repair process, ensuring high standards are maintained.
• Automated Movements : Repaired products can be moved back to stock automatically, streamlining the process.

This leads to higher customer satisfaction and sets you apart from competitors.

9. CENTRALIZING DOCUMENTS AND ENHANCING COLLABORATION

Keeping all product-related documents organized is a breeze with Odoo 18. 

You can now attach documents directly to BOMs, making them accessible to all relevant teams.

• Central Document Repository : Store specifications, instructions and technical drawings in one place.
• Easy Access : Teams can access the most up-to-date information with a single click.
• Reduced Errors : Avoid mistakes caused by outdated documents.

This centralization improves collaboration between departments like sales, production and R&D.

At Pragmatic Techsoft, we specialize in implementing and customizing Odoo solutions to fit your unique business needs.

1) Comprehensive Services : Our services include implementation, migration, customization, deployment, support, and training.

2) Experienced Team : Our experts understand both the technical and functional aspects of Odoo 18’s manufacturing module. 

3) Proven Track Record : We’ve helped numerous manufacturers over a period of 16+ years into Odoo solutions helping them streamline operations, reduce costs and improve product quality.

We work closely with you to ensure that Odoo 18 not only integrates seamlessly with your existing processes but also enhances them.

Manufacturing in 2024 is complex, but with the right tools, challenges become opportunities. 

Odoo 18 offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to address the specific pain points manufacturers face today.

Stay tuned to our website and blogs for more insights on Odoo 18. 

We’re committed to keeping you informed about the latest trends and how to leverage them for success.

Reach out to us  to learn more about Odoo 18 and how it can take your manufacturing venture to scale faster.