This detailed report expands on the configuration process for Odoo 18, tailored for discrete manufacturing, where products like automotive parts or electronics are produced as distinct items. It covers all aspects from initial setup to quality control, providing a thorough understanding for businesses looking to optimize their production processes. The following sections are based on extensive research into Odoo’s documentation and third-party guides, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
Background and Context
Odoo is an open-source ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software widely used by companies to manage business operations, including manufacturing. Discrete manufacturing, as opposed to process manufacturing, involves producing unique items with specific configurations, such as in the automotive or electronics industries. Configuring Odoo 18 for this purpose requires setting up various modules to handle bills of materials (BOMs), production orders, work centers, and quality control, ensuring efficient production tracking and management.
The research suggests that Odoo 18’s manufacturing module is designed to support both discrete and process manufacturing, with features like work order management and integration with inventory and sales modules. However, the exact configuration may vary based on business needs, and updates to Odoo could introduce new features or changes, so it’s important to consult the latest documentation.
Detailed Configuration Steps
The configuration process can be broken down into six key areas, each corresponding to a section in this guide. These steps are derived from official Odoo documentation and a detailed Slideshare presentation on Odoo manufacturing, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
1. Setting Up Products for Manufacturing
The first practical step is to configure products to be manufacture-ready. This involves enabling the "Manufacture" route for each product, which tells Odoo that the product can be produced through a manufacturing order. Additionally, you can set up lot or serial number tracking in the Inventory tab for traceability, especially important for discrete manufacturing where each item might need unique identification.
- Navigation: Inventory > Products > Your Product > Manufacturing
- Action: Enable the "Manufacture" route and configure tracking options
2. Creating Bills of Materials (BOMs)
Bills of Materials (BOMs) are essential for discrete manufacturing, acting as the recipe for each product. In Odoo, you create a BOM by navigating to Manufacturing > Master Data > Bill of Materials and clicking "Create". Add the product, specify the quantity, and list all components in the "Components" tab, including their quantities and units of measure. You can also attach a routing to define the assembly process, ensuring Odoo knows how to produce the finished product.
- Navigation: Manufacturing > Master Data > Bill of Materials
- Action: Create new BOM, add components, and attach routing
3. Configuring Work Centers and Routings
Work centers represent the physical workstations or machines where production operations occur, such as assembly lines or CNC machines. To configure, go to Manufacturing > Settings, enable the Work Order feature, and then navigate to Manufacturing > Master Data > Work Centers to create new ones. Each work center can have details like capacity, efficiency, and cost per hour. Routings define the sequence of operations at these work centers, created under Manufacturing > Master Data > Routing, specifying operation names, work centers, and durations.
- Navigation: Manufacturing > Master Data > Work Centers and Routing
- Action: Configure work centers with capacity and efficiency, create routings for operation sequences
4. Managing Manufacturing Orders
Manufacturing Orders (MOs) are the tasks that drive production, specifying what product to make, the quantity, and deadlines. Create an MO by going to Manufacturing > Operations > Manufacturing Orders and clicking "Create". Select the product, set the quantity, choose the BOM, and define the production location. You can also set a deadline and plan from a specific date, aiding in scheduling and resource allocation.
- Navigation: Manufacturing > Operations > Manufacturing Orders
- Action: Create MO, set product, quantity, BOM, and deadline
5. Handling Work Orders
Work Orders are the individual tasks within an MO, executed at specific work centers. Manage them from the MO’s Work Orders tab, where you can start, pause, or complete each task, tracking time spent and any issues. This step ensures production progresses smoothly, with real-time updates possible via shop floor tablets, enhancing shop floor management.
- Navigation: From MO, click Work Orders tab
- Action: Manage work orders, start/pause/complete tasks, track progress
6. Completing Production and Quality Control
Once all work orders are completed, mark the MO as done by clicking "Produce All" to update inventory with finished products. Quality control is crucial, and Odoo allows setting up checks at various stages, ensuring products meet standards. The module integrates with Inventory, Sales, and Purchase, facilitating a seamless flow of information across your business, reducing lead times and improving customer satisfaction.
- Action: Click "Produce All" to complete MO, set up quality checks
Additional Considerations
While the above steps cover the core configuration, additional aspects like setting up locations, defining companies, or configuring units of measure might be necessary, depending on your setup. Advanced features like master production scheduling or lot/serial number tracking can enhance functionality but were not detailed here for brevity. It’s also worth noting that Odoo 18 introduces improvements like enhanced Gantt views and automated replenishment, which could further optimize your process, as mentioned in recent blogs like Upgraded Features of Odoo 18 Manufacturing Module.
Table of Configuration Steps
For clarity, here’s a table summarizing the key configuration steps, their details, and navigation paths, based on the Slideshare presentation and Odoo documentation:
| Configuration Step | Details | Navigation/Path |
|---|---|---|
| Install Manufacturing Module | First step to enable manufacturing functionalities. | Not specified in exact path, mentioned under "Configuration" |
| Configure Work Center | Tick the Work Order checkbox, create new Work Centers with fields: Work Centre Name, Alternative WorkCentre, Code, Working Hours, Company, and performance indices (time efficiency factor, capacity, OEE target, cost per hour) under General Information Tab. | Manufacturing -> Settings -> Tick Work Order -> Save; Manufacturing -> MasterData -> Work centres |
| Configure Routing | Specify manufacturing operations for work centers, create single or multiple routings based on process. Fields include: name of routing, company name, production location, operation name, work center, duration computation (real-time or manual, default duration option), next operation. | Manufacturing -> Masterdata -> Routing; Click routings button to create new |
| Configure Bill of Material (BoM) | Create BoM with essential fields: product name, quantity, add raw materials in 'Components' tab by clicking 'Add an Item'. Attach routing to define assembly for manufacturing finished products. | Manufacturing > MasterData > Bill of Materials > Create |
This table provides a quick reference for the core steps, ensuring you can navigate Odoo effectively.
Engagement and Resources
Each section of this guide is designed to be practical, but for those who prefer visual learning, especially in Urdu and Hindi, we offer a comprehensive YouTube playlist at
This playlist includes detailed lectures covering the entire configuration process, catering to non-English speakers and enhancing accessibility for a broader audience.
Unexpected Detail
One unexpected detail is the integration capabilities of Odoo 18, which not only streamline production but also connect seamlessly with modules like Inventory and Sales, potentially reducing lead times and improving customer satisfaction, which might not be immediately obvious when focusing on manufacturing alone.
Conclusion
This guide provides a comprehensive approach to configuring Odoo 18 for discrete manufacturing, covering all essential steps from product setup to quality control. By following these posts, businesses can leverage Odoo’s capabilities to enhance production efficiency, with the flexibility to adapt based on specific needs. For further details, refer to the official Odoo documentation at Manufacturing Documentation and additional resources like the Slideshare presentation at Complete Guide to Odoo Manufacturing.