Subcontracting of embroidery, printing and outside sewing in Odoo

The purchase order to the subcontractor creates the subcontracting order. Components go to the subcontractor’s location, the processed piece comes back on a receipt, and the cost of the service enters the product cost.

The process, step by step

Declare the subcontracting billThe service, for instance an embroidered piece, has a bill of materials of the Subcontracting type, with the components sent and the list of subcontractors who perform it.
Order from the subcontractorThe subcontractor is a supplier with its supplier list for the processed article. The purchase order follows the normal purchasing flow.
Create the subcontracting orderWhen the purchase order is confirmed, Odoo creates the receipt and the article’s subcontracting manufacturing order, with the components of the bill. The order and the purchase are linked by buttons.
Send the componentsWith resupply of the subcontractor on order, Odoo prepares the outgoing transfer of components to the subcontractor’s location. With direct delivery, components can go from their supplier to the subcontractor.
Receive the processed pieceValidating the receipt registers the subcontractor’s production, with the finished product lot if the article is tracked by lots. The components are consumed from the subcontractor’s location.
Value the costThe cost of the product received adds the components consumed and the value of subcontracting, taken from the purchase order and then from the subcontractor’s invoice. Additional costs can be spread through landed costs.

From purchase to receipt of the processed piece

Two lanes: the company and the subcontractor. Components leave, the processed piece comes back.

Company

Purchase orderTo the subcontractorpurchase.order

Subcontracting orderCreated on confirmationmrp.production

Component transferTo the subcontractorstock.picking

ReceiptProcessed piecestock.picking

CostComponents and servicemrp_subcontracting_account

Subcontractor

LocationReceives the componentsproperty_stock_subcontractor

PortalReceipts to handle/my/productions

ProductionQuantities and lots

What the user sees and does

Subcontracting bill

The bill type, the subcontractors who perform it and the components to send.

Purchase order

Buttons for the subcontracting orders and the component transfers, from the purchase order itself.

Receipt

The subcontracting details show components and quantities; the warehouse registers production on validation.

Subcontractor portal

A portal user of the subcontractor sees the receipts that concern it in the portal and opens each one’s production screen.

The data handled

mrp.bom with type Subcontracting and subcontractor_ids: the bill and the authorised subcontractors.
res.partner with property_stock_subcontractor: the subcontractor’s stock location.
product.supplierinfo of the subcontractor for the processed article.
purchase.order with the stock.picking receipt and the subcontracting mrp.production order.
stock.warehouse with subcontracting_to_resupply: the Resupply Subcontractor on Order route.

Odoo modules

Community or Enterprise, according to the Odoo edition that ships the module.

Technical module	Edition	Role
`mrp_subcontracting`	Community	Subcontracting bill, subcontractor location, resupply on order and portal.
`mrp_subcontracting_purchase`	Community	Buttons between the purchase order and the subcontracting orders.
`mrp_subcontracting_dropshipping`	Community	Components delivered directly by their supplier to the subcontractor.
`mrp_subcontracting_account`	Community	Valuation of the received product with the subcontracting cost.
`mrp_subcontracting_landed_costs`	Community	Identifies subcontracting orders when spreading landed costs.
`purchase_stock`	Community	Purchasing tied to stock and receipts.
`textys_base`	Community	Switches on subcontracting and the modules above on a new database.

Limits and what does not exist yet

The subcontractor is created as a supplier and, for the portal, as a contact with a portal user. Portal access is configured per subcontractor.
The portal shows receipts and lets the subcontractor register production. It is not a planning or quality dashboard for the subcontractor.
Transport and other additional costs are not added to the piece’s cost by themselves: they are spread with Odoo’s landed costs, which are recorded separately.
Quality control on receipt of the subcontracted piece, with sampling plans, is in development and not available yet.

Frequently asked questions

Does Odoo manage sending components to the subcontractor?

Yes. With resupply on order active on the warehouse, confirmation prepares the outgoing transfer of components to the subcontractor’s location, and the stock there stays visible by location.

Can components go straight from the supplier to the subcontractor?

Yes, with direct delivery: the component’s purchase order names the subcontractor as the destination, and the component does not pass through your warehouse.

Does the subcontractor need a user in Odoo?

Only to use the portal: a portal user linked to the subcontractor’s contact, who sees the receipts that concern the subcontractor. Without the portal, the company registers the receipt itself.

How do I follow what is under way at the subcontractor?

Through the open subcontracting orders, linked to the purchase order, and through the stock at the subcontractor’s location, which shows what is there still to be consumed.

Does this require Odoo Enterprise?

No. The subcontracting modules listed are Odoo Community.

See a subcontracting flow from start to finish

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