Guides for small machine shops
Written for owners of 5 to 50 person job shops and machine shops. Every price and competitor fact is sourced and dated; the templates are free to use.
Choosing software
- ERP for a small machine shop: what you actually need. What to look for, what to skip, and the common options side by side.
- How much ERP costs a small machine shop. Published prices, how the quote-only vendors price, and a 12-person worked example.
- Running a machine shop on Excel. A free open-order tracker and the five signs you've outgrown it.
Comparisons
- JobBOSS² and E2 alternative
- ProShop alternative
- Fulcrum alternative
- MRPeasy vs Katana for a job shop
- Is Odoo good for a small machine shop?
Running the shop
- Production scheduling for a small job shop, with a worked example on three machines.
- How to stop "where's my order?" calls, with update emails to copy.
- How to get suppliers to confirm their PO dates, with follow-up emails and on-time delivery math.
Free templates
- Job traveler template (Excel, PDF and a filled-in example)
- Packing slip template with partial shipments (Excel, PDF and a filled-in example)
- Open-order tracker (Excel)
Tehdo
- What Tehdo does and pricing: $500 a month for the whole shop, setup included.
- Click around a sample shop, no signup.