When looking to get ahead of the competition, one of the best methods is to provide a better product than anyone else. But the process of creating a better product is not easy and frequently requires much trial and error.
Matters get more complicated when ideas turn out to be dead ends, or when multiple developments are being tested at once. And that's all before ensuring that everything being produced meets a minimum level of quality.
There is no stopping progress, though, which means there's always a way to deal with these complications. Odoo's answer comes through two powerful companion apps: the PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) app and the Quality app.
PLM: Track Every Version of Your Products
The PLM app works alongside the Manufacturing app. Its primary purpose is to keep a record of the different versions of products and the bills of materials (BoMs) used to produce them.
The primary method of managing these versions is through ECOs (Engineering Change Orders). You can compare and assign changes to different versions of a BoM, organize by type with customizable categories based on the kind of change being made, and track progress through stages based on how far along their implementation is.
If your product development process involves frequent iteration, ECOs give you a clear, structured way to manage it all.
Quality: Ensure Every Product Meets the Standard
The Quality app is a companion to both the Manufacturing and Inventory apps. It's designed to verify that manufactured or stored products are meeting a minimum level of quality.
The core of this app is QCPs (Quality Control Points), which are predetermined points during any operation where a quality check is automatically created. QCPs can be configured based on a variety of conditions:
- A specific operation is performed
- A specific product is involved
- A specific quantity is reached
QCPs also define:
- What type of quality check is performed
- Who should perform it
- What happens on failure, including instructions for how that failure should be handled
By implementing QCPs, the Odoo Quality app ensures that every product not only meets but exceeds the established quality standards. This proactive approach to quality management not only minimizes the risk of defects but also enhances overall operational efficiency.
Ready to Improve Your Product Workflow?
Odoo is a full suite of advanced business tools, and the PLM and Quality apps are just two of the many that our Navigate team can help you put to work. If you'd like to learn more about what Odoo can do for your business, reach out to us here at Lighthouse IT Solutions. We'd love to give you a hands-on demonstration of everything Odoo has to offer.