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ERP platform · Odoo
Odoo PLM: control engineering changes before they reach the floor
Most manufacturing errors start as an engineering change that reached some people and not others. Odoo PLM puts every change to a bill of materials or routing through an engineering change order with approvals, so production always builds the current revision.
Overview
The short version
We set up PLM for engineering, production and purchasing together, because a change to a BOM affects what you buy and what you build, not just the drawing.
ERP Builders is an independent Odoo services company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Odoo S.A. “Odoo” is a trademark of Odoo S.A.
01
What Odoo PLM manages
PLM sits on top of Odoo Manufacturing and adds change control.
Engineering change orders
Proposed changes to BOMs, routings and products, with a reason, owner and effective date.
Approval stages
Stages and approvers per change type, for example engineering, quality and production sign-off.
Versions and revisions
A new BOM version is created from the change order and the previous one is archived, not overwritten.
Document control
Drawings and specifications attached to the product and versioned with the change.
Change comparison
A clear view of components and operations added, removed or changed.
02
When to bring in PLM
PLM is worth it once you have regular engineering changes, more than one person editing BOMs, or customers who require revision control. For a small shop with stable products, careful BOM permissions may be enough.
If you use a CAD or PDM system, we can link part numbers and revisions so engineering does not maintain the same data twice.
Process
How we deliver it
- 01
Change process review
How changes are requested and approved today.
- 02
Stage design
Change types, stages and approvers.
- 03
BOM clean-up
One current, correct version per product.
- 04
Configuration
PLM, Manufacturing and document links.
- 05
Training
Engineers, approvers and planners.
Related
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does Odoo PLM replace our CAD software?
No. PLM manages the change process and the BOM in Odoo. Design work stays in your CAD tool; drawings and exports are attached to the product.
What happens to open work orders when a BOM changes?
Existing manufacturing orders keep the BOM they were created with. The change order's effective date controls when new orders pick up the new version.
Is PLM part of Odoo Enterprise?
Odoo PLM has been an Enterprise app. Confirm availability for your version and plan.
Comparisons
Weighing Odoo against alternatives?
Odoo vs SAPIntegrated, extensible suite for SMB and mid-market versus the deepest enterprise ERP ecosystem on the market.Odoo vs Dynamics 365An all-in-one suite versus Microsoft's ERP ecosystem with deep Office, Teams and Power Platform integration.Odoo vs NetSuiteFlexible, lower-cost suite versus a mature cloud-only ERP with strong financials and multi-entity support.
Next step
Tired of building to the wrong revision?
Tell us how engineering changes work today and we will design an Odoo PLM process.