Odoo practice
Odoo implementation partner for manufacturers
Metam implements Odoo for manufacturers across Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland and France. We configure production, inventory and costing around how your plant runs, not around a standard deployment template.
Headquartered in Montreal, with teams across Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, France and Tunisia
Implementation and recovery
Where Odoo works, and where it needs care
Odoo is a capable platform and it is not the right answer for every manufacturer. Knowing which you are before you sign a licence is worth more than any sales pitch.
It works well when you want ERP, CRM, ecommerce and field service in one environment rather than integrated across several vendors. When you are moving off spreadsheets, entry-level accounting software or a system that is no longer supported, and you want to add modules in stages as budget allows. And when your production processes are specific enough that you need software shaped around them rather than the reverse.
Three areas need care, and we raise them during scoping rather than after signature.
Customization has a running cost
Odoo's open extension model is a strength, but heavy customization adds maintenance and upgrade work. We scope customization carefully and use standard functionality wherever possible.
Financial depth needs checking
Multi-entity consolidation, dimension-based reporting and demanding audit requirements should be tested against Odoo during scoping. For many manufacturers it fits; for some, we identify gaps early.
Upgrade discipline matters
Odoo releases annually. A clean build makes upgrades straightforward, while neglected customizations make them expensive. We plan the upgrade path from the start.
What we build in Odoo for manufacturers
Most partner pages list Odoo's modules back to you. Here is the work as it actually sits.
Bills of materials and product structure
Multi-level BOMs, variants, phantom and kit structures, revision control, and change order handling, so the shop floor is always building to the current version rather than the one printed last quarter.
Routings and work centres
Operation sequencing, work centre capacity and cost rates, setup and cycle times. Schedules are only as good as these numbers, so we get them from your production team rather than accepting defaults.
Planning and MRP
Demand and forecast handling, replenishment rules, lead times, and reorder logic across multiple warehouses, tuned to your suppliers' actual reliability rather than their quoted lead times.
Shop floor execution
Work order tracking, tablet-based operator entry, time and material consumption, and scrap capture that feeds costing directly instead of requiring a second data entry pass.
Quality
Inspection points on receiving, in-process and final operations, control plans, non-conformance handling, and traceability by lot or serial number through to the finished item.
Costing and margin
Odoo's open extension model is a strength, but heavy customization adds maintenance and upgrade work. We scope customization carefully and use standard functionality wherever possible.
Inventory and warehousing
Multi-warehouse and multi-location structures, putaway and removal strategies, barcode operations, and cycle counting that does not require shutting the warehouse.
Maintenance and PLM
Preventive maintenance schedules tied to equipment and production calendars, plus product lifecycle handling where design and production need to stay in step.
Configure to order
Product configurators and variant logic for manufacturers who quote and build to specification rather than to stock.
How we work with you on Odoo
Implementation
A phased Odoo deployment run by consultants who have worked in manufacturing environments, from requirements through go-live and stabilization.
Migration from legacy systems
We move data and process off QuickBooks, Sage, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics GP and NAV, and in-house builds. Data mapping, cleansing and validation are part of the project rather than something you handle in parallel.
Integration
Connecting Odoo to the systems you are keeping: CAD and product data tools, shipping and carrier platforms, payment processing, EDI, and reporting environments.
Custom development
Odoo modules built for requirements the standard product does not cover, written to survive version upgrades rather than to hit a demo date.
Project recovery
If an Odoo implementation has stalled, been misconfigured, or was abandoned before go-live, we assess what exists, tell you what is salvageable, and rebuild from there. This is more common than the market admits.
Support and optimization
Post go-live support, user training, and expansion into further modules as the business grows.
How a Metam Odoo project runs
Six stages, each with something you can review before the next one starts.
Scoping
We map your processes against Odoo and give you a written view of what fits as standard, what needs configuration, and what needs custom development, with the maintenance implications of each.
Solution design
Process design, module scope, integration architecture, data migration plan, and a build backlog you can review before development starts.
Build and configure
Iterative configuration with your team reviewing working software at agreed intervals rather than at the end.
Data migration and testing
Migration dry runs, user acceptance testing against your own production scenarios, and a documented cutover plan.
Go-live
Cutover support with named consultants available through the first month-end close.
Support and expansion
Ongoing support, plus a roadmap for the modules deferred in phase one.
What we need from you
ERP projects fail on availability more often than on software. We tell you at the outset how much time we need from your process owners and when, so you can plan production around it.
Why Metam
Who you are working with
Metam is a technology consultancy and software company headquartered in Montreal, with teams across Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, France and Tunisia. We work with manufacturers and production businesses.
We build our own software as well as implementing other people's. Operate, Engy and Modley are Metam products, developed and maintained in house. That matters for an Odoo engagement in a specific way: the people writing custom modules for your build are on our product teams, not contractors assembled for the project.
Our consultants come from manufacturing. When we ask about your routings or your non-conformance process, it is because we understand what the answer changes downstream.
Is Odoo suitable for manufacturing?
For many manufacturers, yes. Odoo covers bills of materials, routings, MRP, shop floor tracking, quality and costing. Where it needs testing is demanding production planning, deep costing analysis and multi-entity financial reporting. We check those against your requirements during scoping rather than assuming.
How long does an Odoo implementation take?
Timelines depend on scope, the number of sites, and how clean your existing data is. A single-site manufacturing implementation typically runs a few months from kickoff to go-live. Multi-site or multi-entity deployments take longer. You get a milestone plan at design stage so you always know where the project stands.
How much does Odoo cost?
Three components: Odoo licensing, implementation services, and ongoing support and development. Licensing is published by Odoo and scales with users and modules. Implementation depends on scope. We quote all three at design stage, including a view of ongoing cost, because the licence figure alone tells you very little about what the system costs to run.
What is the difference between Odoo Community and Enterprise?
Community is the open source edition. Enterprise is licensed and adds functionality, hosting options and official support. Most manufacturers need Enterprise. We confirm which edition fits during scoping rather than defaulting you to the more expensive one.
Can you migrate our data from our current system?
Yes. We have migrated from QuickBooks, Sage, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics and in-house systems. Data mapping and validation are part of the implementation, and we run migration dry runs before cutover.
We already have Odoo and it is not working. Can you help?
Yes. We assess the existing build, identify what is worth keeping, and give you an honest view on whether the faster route is fixing the current implementation or rebuilding parts of it.
How much customization will we need?
Less than most partners will quote you and more than Odoo's marketing suggests. We aim to meet requirements with standard functionality first, because every custom module is something to maintain through future upgrades. Where custom development is genuinely needed, we say so and price the ongoing cost alongside the build.
Do you support Odoo after go-live?
Yes. Support covers issue resolution, user training, system optimization and expansion into further modules.
Do you work in French?
Yes. Projects are delivered in English and French.
Talk to us about your Odoo project
Book a scoping call with a Metam consultant. We will walk through your production processes, tell you what Odoo covers as standard, and be straight with you about what it does not.