Getting Started with Apache OFBiz Manufacturing & MRP
Introduction
OFBiz Manufacturing & MRP is a highly functional seamless application that contains everything you need to run an efficient and successful manufacturing business.
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By the end of the document, you should have enough information to begin your manufacturing setup in OFBiz.
Target Audience
This document is written for the complete novice end user. No programming or technical experience is required.
What is Manufacturing?
Manufacturing is the “act of making something out of raw materials”. The 'something' that is manufactured is generally a product that can be on-sold to customers.
Manufacturing is not only an industrial activity carried out in a factory, but it can also be any range of tasks that result in an end product. So, even if you only assemble products you can still make use of OFBiz Manufacturing & MRP.
What is MRP?
MRP is a three-letter abbreviation that is always used in conjunction with manufacturing – so what exactly is it?
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The MRP tool comes with OFBiz ‘out of the box’.
The 5 Steps to ‘Getting Started’
This guide assumes you have read and performed the tasks in the “Getting Started with Apache OFBiz In 5 Easy Steps” document and that you have already:
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Log in using the username “admin” and password “ofbiz” to perform all OFBiz tasks.
Step 1: Understand Your Manufacturing Processes
- This first step involves taking a look at your business processes and what your manufacturing flows are.
- You need to be able to answer questions about when you manufacture your product,
- what triggers the process
- and how you manufacture.
Step 2: Decide which processes you want to use OFBiz for
If you are new to OFBiz you may want to look at starting with a simple process then when you’re more comfortable move onto your more complex processes.
Step 3: Setup your Product Data
Setup the product data you need; This will include your raw materials and your manufactured product.
Approximate Time Required to Complete: 15 minutes
Step 4: Setup your Manufacturing Data
Setup the data you need for manufacturing; This includes the Bill of Materials (BOM), Routing Tasks and a Routing.
Approximate Time Required to Complete: 15 minutes
Step 5: Run MRP
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, Review the Results and Execute Procurement and Production Run
Run MRP and take a close look at the results.
Approximate Time Required to Complete: 20 minutes
Step 1: Understand Your Manufacturing Processes
Take a look at your business processes. You need to know what your manufacturing flows are. You should be able to define and describe the type of manufacturing you do.
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Make sure to document all your responses and processes.
Step 2: Decide which processes you want to use OFBiz for
Decide on which manufacturing process (or processes) you'd like to use OFBiz for. Limiting your scope reduces your risk and makes it simpler to prototype and test.
If your initial process implementation is successful, then expand the prototyping to include additional processes.
Basic Manufacturing Concepts and Processes
There are generally two main processes that trigger when you manufacture a product. They are as follows:
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- This additional process is called “Raw Materials Purchasing”
- Make to Stock, Make to Order and Raw Materials Purchasing are all supported with OFBiz2.
Example Scenario
Each manufacturing business will be different, so for demonstration purposes, we will use an example scenario.
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We will setup this manufacturing business in OFBiz and configure MRP to prompt us when we need to make tables and when to order more raw materials.
Step 3: Setup your Product Data
Approximately 15 minutes is required to complete this step.
Using Catalog Manager to Set up the Raw Materials
- Our first task is to set up our raw materials within OFBiz.
- Use the Catalog Manager and the table below to:
- Create new products of type “Raw Materials” for wood, nails, and varnish (see Figures 1, 2 and 3)
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| Figure 4: Setting up a Supplier for a Product |
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Reminder: Before continuing, make sure you have created new products for Nails and Varnish too. |
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Using Catalog Manager to Set up the Manufactured Product
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| Figure 6: Leave the Re-Order Quantity blank for the Manufactured Product |
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This step is now complete |
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Step 4: Setup your Manufacturing Data
Approximately 15 minutes is required to complete this step.
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| Figure 10: All Raw Materials added to the Bill of Materials (BOM) for Table |
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Using Manufacturing Manager to Set up the Routing Tasks
Next, we need to create Routing Tasks. These are the individual steps that are needed to turn the raw materials into a finished product.
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| Figure 12: Entering Routing Task Details |
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Using Manufacturing Manager to Set up the Routing
The final pieces of the manufacturing setup are to:
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| Figure 17: Adding the Manufactured Product to a Routing |
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This step is now complete |
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Step 5: Run MRP
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, Review the Results, and Execute Procurement, Production Run
Approximately 20 minutes is required to complete this step.
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- When we make a table, use 5 pieces of wood, 20 nails and 1 bottle of varnish.
- Maintain a minimum stock of 5 tables and when we reach that minimum stock level then prompt me to manufacture some more table
- Maintain a minimum stock of 25 pieces of wood and when we reach that minimum stock level then prompt me to order 100 more pieces of wood.
- Maintain a minimum stock of 100 nails and when we reach that minimum stock level then prompt me to order 500 more nails.
- Maintain a minimum stock of 5 bottles of varnish and when we reach that minimum stock level then prompt me to order 20 more bottles.
Using Manufacturing Manager to Run MRP
Use Manufacturing Manager to:
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