Odoo PLM: Engineering Change Orders Explained
How engineering change orders work in Odoo PLM: ECO types, approval stages, BOM versions, effective dates and how changes reach production without errors.
When a bill of materials changes, purchasing must buy the new part, production must build to the new revision and stock of the old part must be used up or written off. If any of that is missed, you get scrap, delays and unhappy customers. Odoo PLM puts a process around these changes.
What an ECO contains
An engineering change order (ECO) in Odoo records:
- The product, BOM or routing being changed
- The type of change, such as a new component or a design update
- The reason and the person responsible
- An effective date, either as soon as possible or a specific date
- Attached drawings and specifications
ECO types and stages
ECO types group changes by kind, each with its own stages. A simple setup has: new, in progress, approval, done. Approval stages can require sign-off from named users or groups, for example engineering and quality.
Keep the number of stages small. A process with eight stages will be bypassed.
How changes are made
Once an ECO is started, Odoo creates a draft new version of the BOM. Engineers edit that draft, not the live BOM. Odoo then shows a comparison of what was added, removed or changed. When the ECO is approved and applied, the new version becomes active and the old one is archived.
What happens in production
Manufacturing orders already created keep their original BOM. New orders after the effective date use the new version. Planners should check open orders when a change is urgent, for example a safety issue, and update them manually where needed.
Purchasing and stock
A BOM change often means a component is no longer needed. Before applying the ECO, check:
- Open purchase orders for the old component
- Stock on hand and whether to use it up first
- Reorder rules that would keep buying the old part
Documents and revisions
Drawings attached to the ECO travel with the new version, so the shop floor always sees the right revision on the work order. If you use a CAD or PDM system, keep part numbers consistent so changes can be linked.
When to start with PLM
PLM adds steps, so it pays off only when changes are frequent or risky. Signs you need it:
- Production has built to an outdated drawing
- More than one person edits BOMs
- Customers or regulators ask for revision history
Read our Odoo manufacturing guide or learn how we implement Odoo PLM.
Frequently asked questions
What is an engineering change order in Odoo?
An ECO is a controlled request to change a product, bill of materials or routing. It goes through approval stages and creates a new version when applied.
Do I need PLM if I already have Odoo Manufacturing?
Not always. PLM is worth it when BOMs change often, several people edit them, or customers require revision control.
Written by
ERP Builders Team · ERP consultants and engineers
Articles written and reviewed by the ERP Builders delivery team — functional consultants, solution architects and developers who implement, integrate and support ERP systems.
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