Small manufacturing companies can create their own manufacturing software for free. Free manufacturing software for small business also helps companies develop it’s manufacturing capabilities.
There are many very good manufacturing software companies out there. Below is a brief description of the top manufacturing software companies that offer free manufacturing software for small business:
Hubstaff
Manufacturing time tracking is essential for improving production.
Hubstaff Field is a trusted partner in the process of boosting your assembly line performance. Its real-time monitoring tools fuel better planning, team scheduling, and workforce management. With Hubstaff Field, you can conduct unobtrusive employee monitoring and GPS tracking. Data is automatically collected in online timesheets, which then feed into analytical reports.
It’s easy to clock in and out from any device — through Hubstaff apps — ensuring time cards are accurate and simple for your whole team to use.
Hubstaff also provides manufacturing businesses with easy online invoicing and payroll functionalities. This means you can handle timesheets and payments within the same dashboard. On the basis of the rich data collected, the platform also helps you handle better project budgeting.
For top-of-the-line tech that automatically clocks your team in and out when they get to work, try Hubstaff Field. For a simpler solution without GPS features, check out Hubstaff Time.
Pricing: There is a free plan with basic capabilities, but Time plans start at only $7/month per user. Hubstaff Field starts at $10 per user per month. There is a 14-day free trial.
NetSuite Manufacturing
Oracle’s NetSuite platform has a manufacturing solution, and it is one of the best manufacturing ERP software options on the market. It’s cloud-based and provides tools to handle all manufacturing processes, from the shop floor to the top floor. The most notable capabilities include customer relationship management (CRM), centralized product data, and efficient order handling.
NetSuite also empowers better production planning based on balancing supply and demand, procurement processing, and supply chain control. NetSuite caters to a wide variety of manufacturing businesses, from consumer goods to medical devices.
Pricing: depends on company size, but NetSuite’s base license costs $999 per month with access costs of $99 per user, per month.
Global Shop Solutions
Global Shop Solutions is another ERP option, which offers a different set of features in comparison with NetSuite. It is targeted at the heavier industries, such as machine building, aerospace, plastics, rubber, wood manufacturing, and similar fields. The production management software boasts a number of tools, which you can match and mix to your company’s needs.
The most powerful features of Global Shop Solutions include CAD interface, inventory, job costing, product configurator, shop floor management, and quality control. In addition, the platform also provides manufacturers with CRM, company messaging, and advertising, among many other extra features.
Pricing: Available upon request
Fishbowl Manufacturing
Fishbowl Manufacturing is an ERP solution targeted at small and medium-sized businesses with suitable functionalities and pricing. The suite offers work and manufacturing orders, as well as advanced handling the bill of material costs. With Fishbowl, manufacturers can track their inventory across multiple locations. Inventory management is handled with useful features such as tracking and reorder points.
The platform allows you to create multilevel work orders, so you get visibility on production stages across the board. Fishbowl also supports part tracking, shipping, and sales and purchasing functionalities. Notably, it integrates with two popular work tools for SMBs: FreshBooks and Xero. In this way, you can handle your accounting processes from the ERP while using your preferred accounting app.
Pricing: Available upon request. There is a 14-day free trial.
Prodsmart
Prodsmart is a top option for manufacturing execution system software (MES). Its motto is that it connects machines, people and processes. With Prodsmart, you can transition to digital shop floor monitoring with ease. The system is flexible so it can adapt to your operations. In addition, it processes real-time data so you get an analysis straight in your dashboard.
The platform also provides planning and manufacturing resource planning (MRP) tools. These tools are based on robust data collection, which also makes managing stock easier and more effective. Prodsmart also visualizes workflows for better overview and allows for seamless employee scheduling and tracking. You can also conduct quality management from within the tool.
Pricing: Plans start at $199/month per manager for a minimum of three managers. There is a 14-day free trial. Custom enterprise solutions are available, too.
ERP manufacturing software
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software has functions that help manufacturers manage business operations. These include inventory management, supply chain operations, procurement, project management, financial management, risk management and compliance.
Advantages: ERP centralises information and improves overall operational efficiency. It optimises inventory management, and gives real-time visibility and inventory accuracy. Diverse business units within a company can operate off the same data set, and manage finances and operations globally.
Disadvantages: ERP software systems are complex tools, which means they are expensive and complicated to set up. This means they are suited to larger corporates, and are an unnecessary investment for SMEs.
Who is ERP best for? Larger, more complex operations in the construction, manufacturing, education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and waste management sectors.
CMMS software for manufacturing
A computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) is used to ensure that maintenance work is carried out efficiently. This software centralises maintenance information, simplifies processes and automates some jobs.
A CMMS provides technicians with access to the information they need to carry out preventive maintenance. This includes step-by-step procedures and itemised lists of spare parts and tools needed.
Advantages: CMMS software ensures that physical assets like machinery, vehicles and plant infrastructure are utilised and available as much as possible. This improves productivity and reduces costs.
Disadvantages: An on-premise CMMS system can be costly and time-consuming to set up and maintain. On the other hand, some cloud-based CMMS systems are costly to customise and might not integrate well with other platforms.
Who is CMMS best for? Businesses in almost any industry that have physical assets to maintain. Facility and maintenance managers, asset planners and maintenance teams use CMMS.
Computer aided manufacturing software
Computer aided manufacturing (CAM) uses software and computer-controlled machinery (3D printers, laser cutters, milling machines) to automate the manufacturing process. CAM is a way for manufacturers to create goods directly from a computer design, rather than having to set up their equipment and operate it manually.
CAM requires three elements to function:
- Software that generates toolpaths for machines from your designs and data
- Post-processing software that translates your toolpaths so that your machines can understand these
- Machinery capable of turning raw material into a finished product
Advantages: CAM can run constantly on repetitive tasks for fast and accurate production.
Disadvantages: CAM is expensive to set up and requires a skilled workforce of engineers.
Who is CAM best for? Electrical, mechanical, and aerospace engineering and refrigeration and air-conditioning manufacturers all benefit from CAM software.
Computer aided design software for manufacturing
Computer aided design (CAD) software is used to create 2D and 3D technical designs for products. CAD software increases design productivity by:
- Improving the quality of design
- Providing comprehensive documentation
- Establishing a database for manufacturing design operations
Advantages: CAD software supports rapid innovation by allowing concepts to be quickly and accurately brought to life. CAD systems also improve communication and streamline processes. Engineers can use CAD to analyse the manufacturing process and provide better designs.
Disadvantages: CAD systems can be costly to purchase. Staff training in a CAD system can take time and be costly. Design is vulnerable to hacking risks and computer viruses.
Who is CAD best for? The aerospace and aviation, civil and structural manufacturing, consumer products, medical devices and oil & gas industries.
abas ERP
Description: abas has provided global organizations with flexible, easy-to-use ERP software solutions for over thirty-five years. Its ERP solution is tailored to the needs of mid-size manufacturers worldwide and across multiple industries, including industrial machinery, automotive, electronics, fabrication and assembly, and custom manufacturing. The company’s manufacturing ERP solutions include functionalities for customer relationship management (CRM), warehouse management, production, point of sale, scheduling, financials, business process management, and more.
Acumatica
Description: Acumatica provides cloud and browser-based business management software designed for small and mid-sized businesses across industries. The company’s manufacturing ERP solution is capable of supporting various methodologies, including make-to-order (MTO), engineer-to-order (ETO), batch processes, make-to-stock (MTS), and configure-to-order (CTO). It also includes functionality for manufacturing management, CRM, inventory, order management, and financials. It also works alongside companies across industrial machinery, equipment, metals, food, automotive, and others.
Aptean
Description: Aptean is a provider of industry-specific software for specialized manufacturers and distributors across 20 worldwide markets. The company’s ERP solutions are developed from the ground up for each of the industries they serve, including process manufacturing, industrial manufacturing, financial services, retail, distribution, and food. Features include real-time inventory management, integrated testing processes, regulatory reporting, and lot traceability. Aptean also offers a manufacturing execution system (MES) solution.
Conclusion
There are thousands of different manufacturing software companies all claiming that theirs is the best. Who do you trust? There are many different types and categories of this niche – which one is right for your business? We have put together a list of links to the top manufacturing software companies in each category.