From optimizing production and ensuring quality to meeting tight deadlines, the manufacturing cycle is a constant balancing act. Between that, automation and coordination of shop floor operations are crucial to achieve efficiency, which manufacturing software can help accomplish.
However, finding the right manufacturing tool requires businesses to consider various aspects, including cost, compatibility with existing systems, and long-term benefits. To help choose the right tool, we've highlighted the top seven manufacturing software, in alphabetical order, based on verified software reviews. Read more.
We've categorized these products into two groups: stand-alone manufacturing tools and enterprise resource planning (ERP) suites with manufacturing capabilities. Irrespective of the category, all tools include the core manufacturing software features—bills of materials, inventory management, order management, and production scheduling.
1. Cin7 Core
Cin7 Core is a dedicated manufacturing platform with inventory and warehouse management capabilities. It offers a 360-degree view of production operations and inventory posture to help calculate manufacturing timelines and split orders into multiple production runs. Additionally, it automates stock transfers and reordering to help maintain adequate inventory levels at all times.
Product features of interestBill of materials (BOM) traceability: Get a detailed breakdown of all the materials required for the final product, and track every material as it moves through the manufacturing flow, from ordering to quality control. This feature helps trace the origin of each material and ensure production compliance.
Component management: Track and manage components or parts of your bestselling products, ensuring accurate inventory control and production planning. This feature simplifies identifying and sourcing components necessary for manufacturing operations.
Automated assembly and disassembly: Automate the assembly of bundled products or kits by identifying and allocating required components from your inventory. You can also set up automated workflows to disassemble products into their component parts.
Customer support options: Email and knowledge base
Who should consider Cin7 Core?
Cin7 Core is worth considering for manufacturing businesses that primarily deal in bundled products and want to accelerate their production cycle. The software can automatically identify the components required to assemble products and allocate them from the inventory, reducing manual intervention or error. The software is also suitable for firms looking to reuse components from their manufactured products. It can automate the disassembling and cataloging of reusable product parts, which is particularly useful in industries such as automotive or electronics where component reuse is common.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
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2. Fishbowl
Fishbowl is an inventory and manufacturing management solution that helps organize manufacturing tasks by breaking them into clear production stages. It captures labor costs and the time spent at each production stage to calculate the manufacturing expense for every work order. Additionally, it automates material requirements planning by analyzing factors such as historical production data, consumption rate, forecast percentage, safety stock, and optimal stock.
Product features of interestCustomizable BOM: Create BOMs with detailed lists of raw materials, sub-assemblies, and components needed for production. This feature helps calculate manufacturing costs and allocate resources as per product assemblies.
Capacity planning: Analyze factors such as seasonality and growth projections to determine how much resources (raw materials, equipment, labor, etc.) will be required to meet demand. This process lets you adjust production schedules to meet peak demand during specific seasons and reduce production during slower periods.
Variable and configurable items: Customize your products based on customer preferences to create variations in size, color, and additional features. The software makes real-time adjustments to your inventory based on customer choices and records what was ordered and what needs to be produced or procured.
Customer support options: Chat, call, email, and knowledge base
Who should consider Fishbowl?
Manufacturing companies that customize items or offer product variations based on customer preferences can consider Fishbowl. This tool enables businesses to define and set up configurable builds for multiple product variations, including custom sizes, colors, or features. Also, when a customer requests a custom product variation, the tool automatically updates the inventory to reflect changes in real time and maintain accurate stock levels.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
/ Pro tip
Look for manufacturing tools that offer production scheduling flexibility. This functionality allows you to adjust production schedules easily in case of disruptions or demand changes. Additionally, some software solutions include optimization algorithms to help schedule production based on demand patterns and resource availability, improving efficiency and reducing lead times.
3. NetSuite
As a dedicated ERP system with manufacturing capabilities, NetSuite enables order management, procurement planning, shop floor control, and quality management. It helps optimize inventory management by automating the order promising, allocation, and execution processes. It offers a real-time view of the production process and the status of its various stages. For quality control, you can define inspection plans, set up pass or fail criteria, and collect and monitor results. Additionally, you can use a Gantt chart or traditional calendar view to schedule and manage upcoming production.
Product features of interestSupply chain management: Get end-to-end visibility and control over your supply chain, from procurement and production to distribution. This feature helps optimize inventory levels, track the movement of goods in real time, and manage demand fluctuations.
Procurement planning: Standardize procurement processes by optimizing your supply chain. This feature allows you to forecast demand, track inventory levels, and generate purchase orders as per changing demand.
CRM and marketing: Manage the customer lifecycle by maintaining a database of customer records. This data helps track customer interactions and gain insights into their preferences and buying patterns.
Customer support options: Chat, call, email, and resource center
Who should consider NetSuite?
Businesses looking for a manufacturing tool with CRM capabilities can consider NetSuite. Its CRM feature helps capture and store customer information in a centralized repository, including their contact details, purchase history, and communication history. Businesses can use this data to identify customers' purchase trends and patterns, understand preferences, anticipate future needs, and adjust their production schedules and inventory levels accordingly.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
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4. Odoo
Odoo is an open source ERP software suite with manufacturing capabilities, including inventory optimization, material resource planning, and product lifecycle management. It lets you create work orders for specific tasks, such as materials tracking and quality checks. You can also define critical checkpoints or control points to ensure quality inspections are conducted at specific stages of production. Control points facilitate data collection related to product quality, including measurements, test results, and observations.
Product features of interestControl panel: Use a centralized dashboard with customizable widgets to get an overview of the manufacturing process, including the status of work orders, levels of existing inventory, and production performance metrics.
Quality checks: Collect and analyze production data using checks or statistical process control (SPC). These checks help detect quality deviations, prevent defects, and ensure consistent product quality. Odoo's SPC includes real-time monitoring and immediate corrective actions for maintaining product quality and minimizing rework.
Product lifecycle management: Monitor the journey of a product, from conceptualization and design through development, testing, and manufacturing. Quality engineers can create test plans, record results, and ensure the product meets quality and safety standards. Any issues discovered during testing are documented and addressed within this module.
Customer support options: Call, knowledge base, and support ticket
Who should consider Odoo?
Companies looking for an open source manufacturing solution can consider Odoo. Its open source nature makes it cost-effective and highly customizable, enabling businesses to tailor the software to their specific manufacturing workflows and requirements. The software also combines various manufacturing functions within a single system, including inventory management, material resource planning, purchase management, quality control, maintenance management, and product lifecycle management. This means less time spent switching between different software systems and reducing manual data entry and potential errors.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
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- Free Version
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Device compatibility
5. ProShop
ProShop is a machine shop and ERP solution with a manufacturing execution system (MES) and quality management features. It offers a drag-and-drop editor to allocate jobs or work orders and monitor their real-time progress. It tracks logged labor hours, costs versus budget, various production stages, and the location of parts/components required for production. It also lets you create purchase orders for different commodity types as well as track outstanding, late, and time-sensitive orders.
Product features of interest- Manage components off-the-shelf (COTS): Track the inventory quantity, location, and status of parts or components that are ready to be used off the shelf. You can add COTS items in a BOM, indicate approved vendors for each component, track pricing and lead timeLead time is the total time taken for an item to be delivered or sourced from when an order is placed until it's received and ready for use. This includes the time required for order processing, shipping, and delays that may occur during transit.for vendors, and assign EDP numbersAn EDP (Electronic Data Processing) number, or an EDP code, is a unique identifier assigned to an item or product in a company's inventory or catalog. It tracks and manages inventory, orders, and products in a computerized system.for identification.
Time tracking: Allow employees to record the orders they work on and the type of work they do, such as setup, programming, or troubleshooting. Your staff can make multiple time entries to log hours for operating multiple pieces of equipment or completing multiple work orders at the same time.
Rotating tool assembly (RTA): Standardize and manage common tool assembly configurations. This feature helps companies that perform machining work track all the parts needed for tools, including the tool holder, collet, cutting tool, and inserts.
Customer support options: Chat, call, email, and knowledge base
Who should consider ProShop?
ProShop is worth considering for assembly-based manufacturers. The tool simplifies COTS management, allowing manufacturers to easily track and monitor inventory for the various COTS parts required for assembling a product. It also enables COTS procurement tracking and vendor qualification. Likewise, the RTA feature standardizes tool assembly configurations, ensuring consistency in setups and precision in machining operations.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
/ Pro tip
If your manufacturing process heavily relies on machines and equipment, consider software with real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities. Real-time monitoring checks machine health, allowing proactive maintenance during planned downtimes and minimizing production disruptions. Predictive maintenance helps address issues before they become critical, ensuring equipment is well maintained and reducing repair/replacement costs.
6. Sage 100
Sage 100 is an ERP suite with manufacturing functionality. It lets you track manufacturing costs, the status of inventory items, and the material quantities required to meet demand. You can also monitor labor and other job-related attributes, including overhead expenses and the amount you owe to vendors/suppliers. Its reporting feature provides a 360-degree view of your monthly finances and helps forecast future sales and cash flow.
Product features of interestCustom dashboard: Customize the manufacturing dashboard and add data fields such as production cycle time, quality control metrics, and supplier performance. These custom fields collect the specific information required to optimize your workflows. You can also create automation workflows to auto-populate the fields, such as condition checking, basic alerts, and calculations.
Inventory requirements planning: Assess current supply and demand by considering factors such as inventory levels, open purchase and sales orders, and production material requirements. You can combine the build time, lead time, and supply and demand functions to calculate the necessary inventory for each item.
Reporting and analytics: Use the built-in business insights explorer to create and customize reports tailored to your manufacturing needs. Analyze sales, inventory, production, and other data to gain valuable insights into your manufacturing operations.
Customer support options: Call and knowledge base
Who should consider Sage 100?
Sage 100 can be a viable option for manufacturers who frequently engage in fixed-bid projects and require real-time insights into individual project costs. This tool helps track costs beyond just BOMs. It monitors labor expenses and other project-related attributes, including overhead costs and accounts payables. It offers a budgeting and planning module to estimate production expenses. It also monitors inventory, materials, and production costs in real time, allowing manufacturers to compare actual costs against budgeted amounts and enable necessary adjustments.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
7. SAP Business One
SAP Business One is an ERP solution with manufacturing capabilities. It offers various costing models, such as standard, moving average, and first-in first-out (FIFO), to monitor and set product costs. It enables you to create multilevel BOMs manually or through backflush methods. You can initiate, modify, or cancel work orders based on changing production requirements, customer demand, or unforeseen issues. Additionally, you can use the reporting tool to compare suppliers and prices to negotiate better deals and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Product features of interestProcurement management: Manage the order-to-pay cycle to procure the products, materials, and goods required for manufacturing. You can create purchase requests, orders, and receipts; link purchasing documents; view document trails for audit purposes; and manage returns and additional expenses.
Report creation and customization: Create sales, inventory, production, and customer reports to get insights into your top-selling products, sales trends, turnover rates, profitability, etc. These insights allow you to make informed decisions to optimize future manufacturing strategies.
Bin or storage location management: Optimize the stock in warehouses by dividing each warehouse into subzones. You can set up specific rules or guidelines that dictate how items are assigned to specific storage locations within a warehouse. This process helps optimize stock movement, reduce item picking time, and enhance warehouse efficiency.
Customer support options: Chat, call, email, and knowledge base
Who should consider SAP Business One?
SAP Business One is worth considering for industrial manufacturing firms that want to reduce supply chain costs. It offers multiple product costing models, allowing manufacturers the flexibility to choose a suitable costing method based on their production processes and industry standards. This process fosters transparency in cost calculations, enabling manufacturers to identify cost-saving areas and reduce production expenses. The tool also lets businesses compare suppliers and prices to negotiate better deals.
To present the most up-to-date information, the product information below shows the latest real-time ratings, which may differ from the ratings values at the time this report's analysis was conducted, since new reviews may have been left in the meantime.
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
/ Pro tip
Look for real-time inventory management and tracking functionality. This feature ensures your stock level information is always up to date, preventing overstocking or shortages of critical components. If your business has multiple locations or warehouses, prioritize manufacturing software that manages inventory across these sites.
How much does manufacturing software cost?
Manufacturing software tools can cost as low as $7.99 per user, per month, or more than $999 per month, depending on various factors—features, number of users, number of warehouses, process requirements, business size/type, and integrations. Most manufacturing ERP software tools typically offer the following pricing plans:
Free trials: No-cost plans range from a week to a month and offer access to all or limited software features. These are ideal for businesses that want to try a tool before investing.
Free versions: Free plans offer limited access to basic software features. These are ideal for small-business owners on a budget.
Entry-level plans: Start at $7.99 per user, per month, and offer limited features. These are suitable for manufacturing firms that need basic features such as inventory tracking, supply chain management, and production management.
Mid-tier plans: Range from $12.99 to $599 per month and offer advanced features such as multiple inventory management options, unlimited dashboards, quality management, and advanced resource management. These are suitable for manufacturing teams that have outgrown entry-level tools but don't require the full range of functionality offered by enterprise-level software.
High-end plans: Advanced plans can cost more than $999 per month and offer a range of advanced features, including financial management, custom training sessions, priority support, and advanced reporting. These plans are suitable for businesses with cross-functional manufacturing and production planning teams.
Hidden costs associated with manufacturing software
Besides the software license price, additional costs associated with manufacturing software include:
Implementation and integration costs: Integrating the manufacturing platform into your existing systems might require specialized expertise and resources, leading to implementation costs. These include expenses related to data migration, training, and configuration.
Maintenance and support fees: You may incur ongoing maintenance and support fees, essential for keeping the software up to date, resolving issues, and accessing customer support.
Hardware and infrastructure upgrades: Depending on the software's requirements, you may need hardware upgrades or additional infrastructure to support its optimal performance. This involves expenses for servers, network enhancements, and other hardware components.
Frequently asked questions when selecting manufacturing software
Here are some questions to ask manufacturing software vendors before making a final purchase:
How does the software handle quality control?
Most tools auto-schedule inspections to check manufacturing quality and record the data gathered during production. The software solution you choose should allow you to record production processes, including materials used, production dates, and test results. It should also enable you to create and execute quality tests, generate reports on test results, and trigger alerts or actions when quality issues are detected.
How does the software ensure compliance with industry regulations?
The manufacturing system should be able to integrate regulatory requirements into your manufacturing processes. This means it should allow you to define and configure your workflows to stay compliant with standards specific to the manufacturing industry, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations. Additionally, it should provide tools for monitoring and ensuring adherence to these standards throughout the production cycle. Furthermore, the software solution should generate compliance reports and documentation required for audits or regulatory submissions.
Does the software offer data visualization functionality?
The software should offer data visualization capabilities to create charts, graphs, and dashboards. These visual representations should be customizable to suit your specific manufacturing needs and preferences. You should be able to visualize data related to production output, quality control, inventory levels, equipment performance, and more. Furthermore, the feature should support real-time updates. As new data gets generated on the shop floor, it should be automatically integrated into your visualizations, providing up-to-the-minute insights into your manufacturing operations.