Every product has a story.
It begins with a sketch, a model, a design file. Then comes prototyping, revisions, approvals, and finally, the moment when a product makes it to the shop floor.
But this process faces a major challenge: keeping track of every version, every change, and every document so that production always runs on the right information.
That’s where Odoo’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) app comes in, as the link between design, engineering, and manufacturing.
In this article, we break down how the Odoo PLM app works, how to set it up, and how it connects your design-to-production workflows.
Table of contents
How Odoo PLM fits into the bigger product journey picture
Odoo PLM connects product design and manufacturing
Odoo PLM manages product changes without chaos
Integration with the wider Odoo suite
How to set up your Odoo PLM workflow with ECOs
How Odoo PLM fits into the bigger product journey picture
In manufacturing, a CAD system is where designs are created, and Odoo Manufacturing (MRP) is where orders are executed.
Odoo PLM sits as a bridge between the two:
PLM is the bridge between CAD systems and manufacturing. CAD creates, PLM controls & approves, and Manufacturing executes.
The result is an integrated flow from design desk to shop floor, without the risk of outdated files or unclear instructions derailing production.
Integrating CAD systems with your Odoo PLM
Odoo PLM is not a replacement for a CAD system.
But they can be integrated to provide you with a powerful combined solution.
Odoo can be integrated with major CAD systems for seamless information exchange.
Our integration allows users to access your 3D models and 2D drawings directly in Odoo, by connecting with CAD software like SolidWorks, AutoCAD or ThinkDesign.
Users can easily customise parts lists, improve them or create them from scratch, and they will directly link to their Odoo system.
Odoo PLM connects product design and manufacturing
When design teams upload a new drawing into Odoo PLM, it doesn’t just sit there as an attachment.
It automatically links to the Bill of Materials (BOM), updates the version history, and signals production teams that new instructions are ready.
For example, if an engineering team revises a machine part in Odoo Manufacturing, production doesn’t have to wait for an email or a handover meeting. The BOM is instantly updated, and assembly teams see the new version in their workspace.
This shared environment ensures everyone is working on the same data at the same time, from engineers to shop floor operators.
Odoo PLM manages product changes without chaos
Products evolve constantly.
A new circuit board design, a switch in materials, a routing update: each of these needs to be recorded, approved, and rolled out in a controlled way.
Odoo PLM manages this through Engineering Change Orders (ECO).
Every ECO follows a clear workflow: proposal → review → approval → release.
Each stage is visible in a Kanban view, giving teams transparency over who is responsible and what comes next.
For compliance-heavy industries, the audit trail this creates is crucial. For fast-moving manufacturers, it keeps changes under control without slowing them down.
Track all ECOs in your Odoo PLM Kanban view, from updates to approvals.
Integration with the wider Odoo suite
Odoo PLM is an integral part of the manufacturing process.
It becomes most powerful when used alongside other Odoo Manufacturing suite apps.
This integration ensures the entire organisation works on the same data, from engineering to production. Here’s how it looks in your Odoo:
Manufacturing (MRP)
Odoo PLM links directly to Manufacturing.
When an ECO is approved, updated BOMs and routings flow into production orders,
The shop floor always works with the latest version.
Inventory
Component changes in BOMs automatically adjust Inventory.
Substituted parts, new materials, or discontinued items are reflected in stock levels.
The latest design is always available for production.
Quality
Approved ECOs can trigger quality checks.
Revised designs meet standards, and any new components pass inspections before they can be used in manufacturing.
Documents
Design files, CAD drawings, and technical manuals are stored centrally in the Odoo Documents app.
Versioning keeps a history of every update, while engineers and operators always access the latest approved file.
Maintenance
Process or equipment changes recorded in PLM can link to Maintenance.
Machines are serviced or adjusted in line with new product designs, which reduces unplanned downtime during transitions.
Purchase
When an ECO introduces new materials or suppliers, the Purchase app is automatically updated.
Requests for Quotations (RFQs) and vendor price lists are aligned with the latest approved design, avoiding delays in sourcing.
How to set up your Odoo PLM workflow with ECOs
To manage product versions and engineering changes, Odoo PLM must be configured with the right workflows.
See how to configure settings and create an ECO in the Odoo PLM app:
Configure your ECO Types and ECO stages
- Go to PLM → Configuration → ECO Types
- Click New and enter the ECO Type name (e.g. BOM Change, Process Update, etc).
- Go to PLM → Configuration → ECO Stages
- Define the Approval Stages for each one of your ECO types.
Note: Approvals ensure that only validated ECOs move into production.
- In the ECO Stage form, assign Responsible Users or Roles.
Create an ECO
1. Create a new ECO
- In the PLM dashboard, select your ECO Type.
- Click New to open the creation form. There you will:
- Choose the product and specific BOM if there are multiple
- Set an Effective Date in the Effective field
- Add a description of the change in Notes
- Then, click on Start Revision.
2. Move ECO to In Progress
- Upload any new documents and replace outdated ones if needed
- Open the smart button Revision V2 → the old version is flagged as Archived.
- Go to Miscellaneous → product version shows 2
- Update the Components (add/remove items)
- Update the Operations (adjust routing or durations).
3. Validate the ECO and make it Effective
- Activities are automatically assigned to the approver set in the ECO Stages
- The approver reviews the change, approves the stage, and marks the activity as done
- Once the ECO is validated, click Apply Changes
- The old BOM is archived, and the revision becomes active
- Version 2 is now the live BOM until the next ECO.
Benefits of product lifecycle management in Odoo
Odoo PLM’s features go beyond version tracking. Connecting design, documentation, and manufacturing workflows creates clear advantages across the entire product lifecycle.
Ensure production always runs on the right version
Every approved design change is pushed to the Bill of Materials. This means shop floor operators never work with outdated drawings or instructions.
Maintain a full audit trail of changes
Each ECO records what changed, who approved it, and when. This traceability is essential for compliance and provides a clear history of your product development.
Shorten the cycle from idea to implementation
Approval workflows are structured but fast. Instead of chasing signatures or sending files around, changes move smoothly from engineering to production.
Meet regulatory and industry standards
Document versioning and approvals provide the documentation needed for ISO, FDA, or industry-specific audits without extra effort.
Reduce errors and material waste
Controlled updates prevent production from starting with obsolete components. This avoids costly rework, scrapped materials, and downtime.
Keep teams aligned across departments
Designers, engineers, and production managers share the same information in real time. This improves collaboration and reduces miscommunication.
A smoother path for your product journey
In practice, PLM prevents costly mistakes.
Outdated drawings never reach the shop floor. Errors and material waste drop. Teams across departments collaborate on the same version of a product. And when auditors come knocking, the documentation trail is already there.
For manufacturers, that means faster cycles from idea to implementation, fewer headaches in compliance, and production that can adapt quickly without losing oversight.
It’s the connective bridge that ensures products evolve in a structured, transparent way from first sketch to final assembly.
Discuss your PLM needs with our Odoo experts
Reach out to our experts to set up your product lifecycle management workflows in Odoo.