---
title: "Project Management Software for Manufacturing | Orangescrum"
description: "Coordinate new product introduction, plant projects, maintenance shutdowns, and changeovers. Orangescrum is the project layer that sits alongside your ERP."
canonical: https://www.orangescrum.com/solutions/manufacturing
---

# Project Management Software for Manufacturing | Orangescrum

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.orangescrum.com/llms.txt).

[Home](/) / [Solutions](/solutions) / Manufacturing

Manufacturing

# The Project Layer _Around the Plant_

New product introduction, line changeovers, maintenance shutdowns, and capex work in one place. Your ERP runs production. This runs the projects around it.

Recommended editions[Cloud](/pricing "Cloud - included")[Self-Hosted](/self-hosted "Self-Hosted - included")Open Source

[Start Free Trial →](/sign-up?utm_source=website&utm_medium=feature&utm_content=solutions/manufacturing)[Book a Demo](https://calendly.com/orangescrum)

Free forever plan · No credit card required · Set up in minutes

## What manufacturing project management covers

An ERP tells you what is being made and what it costs. Neither an ERP nor an MES is good at the work around production: bringing a new product to the line, planning a changeover, running a shutdown, or getting a capex project through approvals. That work crosses engineering, quality, maintenance, and procurement, and it usually lives in spreadsheets and a weekly meeting. Orangescrum is the project layer for it, and it does not try to be your ERP.

The problem

## Why plant projects _slip_

NPI runs on a spreadsheet and a meeting

The gate review is the only moment anyone sees real status, and by then a launch date has already moved.

✓ A live plan with milestones for each gate.

Changeovers overrun

Steps that must happen in order are tracked on a whiteboard, so one slip is discovered on the day it bites.

✓ A Gantt schedule where linked work moves together.

Engineering and the floor are apart

Per seat licenses mean the people doing the work never see the plan, and hear about changes second hand.

✓ Unlimited users with role based access.

Quality evidence is chased afterwards

Sign offs are collected once an auditor asks, from people who have moved on to the next job.

✓ Approvals and activity history recorded as the work happens.

What matters here

## Sequence, sign off, and _every function included_

-   ### NPI and stage gates
    
    Run new product introduction as a project with a milestone for each gate, so status is visible between reviews.
    
-   ### Sequenced work
    
    A Gantt timeline with dependencies for changeovers and shutdowns, so one slip shows you everything behind it.
    
-   ### Checklists and sign off
    
    Handover, safety, and quality steps captured on the task rather than on a clipboard that gets filed.
    
-   ### Capex and project cost
    
    A budget per project with actual cost building from logged work. Pro and above in Cloud.
    
-   ### Controlled documents
    
    Versioned documents with approvals, so which procedure is current is not open to debate. Self-Hosted.
    
-   ### Everyone on the plan
    
    Unlimited users on every plan, so maintenance, quality, and production staff are inside the tool.
    

How it works

## How a plant project _is run_

1

Pick the project types

NPI, shutdowns, changeovers, and capex. Each one gets a template rather than a fresh spreadsheet.

2

Build the sequence

Lay the work on a timeline and link what genuinely has to happen in order.

3

Bring in the other functions

Engineering, quality, maintenance, and procurement, each with access to their own part.

4

Keep the evidence

Approvals and a permanent activity history are recorded while the work happens, not afterwards.

Who it's for

## Where manufacturers _use it_

New product introduction

Stage gates and cross function work in one plan.

[Learn more →](/program-management-software)

Maintenance and shutdowns

Sequenced work where a slip is visible immediately.

[Learn more →](/gantt-chart)

Capex and plant projects

Budget, committed spend, and variance against it.

[Learn more →](/budget-and-cost-management)

Availability

## Which edition includes _what_

Orangescrum runs as managed cloud, self-hosted on your own servers, or as the open-source Community Edition. Here is exactly what each one includes.

Available in Cloud and Self-Hosted. Cost tracking is Pro and above in Cloud.

| Capability | CloudManaged SaaS | Self-HostedOn-premise / private cloud | Open SourceCommunity Edition |

| Projects, tasks, and boards | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Milestones for stage gates | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gantt schedule and dependencies | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Budget and project cost | Pro | ✓ | ✗ |
| Resource management | Premium | ✓ | ✗ |
| Document management with approvals | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Risk management | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Runs on your own infrastructure | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |

Frequently asked questions

## Manufacturing project management _FAQ_

### Is Orangescrum an ERP or an MES?

No, and it does not try to be. There is no MRP, no inventory or stock control, no warehouse management, no shop floor control, and no production scheduling against machines or work centres. Orangescrum manages the projects around production, and it sits alongside whatever runs your plant.

### Can we run NPI stage gates in it?

Yes. Each gate becomes a milestone, the work for each phase sits underneath it, and checklists capture the criteria that have to be met before the gate is passed. Because the work is live rather than in a deck, status between reviews is visible instead of being assembled the night before.

### Can we plan a shutdown or a line changeover?

Yes. Build the sequence on a Gantt timeline with real dependencies, so when one task runs long you can see exactly what moves behind it. Critical path shows which chain of work actually decides when the line restarts, and that is Premium in Cloud or included in Self-Hosted.

### Do we pay for every person on the plant floor?

No. Every plan includes unlimited users on a flat monthly price, which is the point for manufacturing: maintenance technicians, quality inspectors, and shift supervisors can all be in the plan instead of being told about it later.

### Can we track project cost?

Yes, at the project level. Set a budget, define rates, and actual cost builds from logged work, with variance visible while there is still time to act. This is project cost, not product costing or standard cost accounting, and it is not a general ledger, so it does not replace your finance system.

### Can we keep everything on our own servers?

Yes. The Self-Hosted edition installs on your own infrastructure, including a restricted or air gapped plant network, with SSO, LDAP, and Active Directory sign in. Many manufacturers choose this because customer and design data cannot leave the site.

### Can we manage risk on a project?

Yes, in the Self-Hosted edition, which includes a risk register where risks are recorded, owned, scored, and tracked with mitigation actions. Risk management is not available in the Cloud edition, so it is worth factoring into your deployment choice.

### Can we reuse a plan for the next line or site?

Yes. Project templates let you carry a proven plan into the next installation or changeover instead of rebuilding it, and programme management groups the projects across sites so you can see the whole rollout with progress and cost rolled up.

## Run the projects around production in one place

Free 14 day trial, no credit card. Unlimited users on every plan, plant floor included.

[Start Free Trial →](/sign-up?utm_source=website&utm_medium=feature&utm_content=solutions/manufacturing_cta)[Book a Demo](https://calendly.com/orangescrum)

## Related capabilities

[Gantt chartSequence and critical path](/gantt-chart)[Budget and costCapex and project spend](/budget-and-cost-management)[Risk managementA risk register you can own](/risk-management)[Self-Hosted editionRuns inside the plant network](/self-hosted)