Manufacturing inventory management software

The Best Manufacturing Inventory Software for Growing Businesses

The best manufacturing inventory software handles multi-level bills of materials (BOMs), production scheduling, real-time stock tracking, and AI-driven demand forecasting in one place. Cin7 is an IMS built for small and mid-sized manufacturers, and it checks every one of those boxes.

Juggling raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods is no small feat. We automate your production workflows and keep stock levels live across every location. You'll reduce waste and prevent stockouts, so you can scale operations without adding headcount.

Track raw materials, WIP, and finished goods in one platform
Build and manage multi-level bills of materials (BOMs)
Automate production scheduling and purchase orders
Real-time inventory visibility across warehouses and production floors
700+ integrations with QuickBooks, Shopify, Amazon, and more

Key Takeaways for Choosing Manufacturing Inventory Software

Manufacturing inventory software tracks raw materials, WIP, and finished goods in one place.

Look for multi-level BOMs, production scheduling, MRP, real-time reporting, and accounting integrations.

Spreadsheets break as you scale, and enterprise ERPs cost more and take longer to roll out. Cin7 sits in between.

Cin7 connects to 700+ apps, including QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, and Amazon.

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS

What Manufacturers Say About Cin7

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“We were able to automate jobs and save hours and hours and hours. It was someone’s full-time job at one point, just converting this particular manufacturer’s purchase orders.”

Luke Gaffey

Intalite

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“Understanding Cin7 Made to Order has enabled us to build up preliminary stock to convert into finished goods a lot faster than trying to make them from scratch every time.”

Lenny Vainber

ModaConcrete™ | TerraFlame

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“Cin7 lets you track everything, really, which can then be separated out and reported on. That was a massive thing for us for hitting our targets.”

Jesse Chalmers

Chalmers Organics

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What Is Manufacturing Inventory Software?

Manufacturing inventory software tracks the three main categories of inventory manufacturers manage: raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods. General inventory tools mostly handle buying and selling. This software is built for production, including bill of materials (BOM) management, production scheduling, shop floor tracking, and demand forecasting.

If you're a small or mid-sized manufacturer still relying on spreadsheets or basic inventory tools, you've probably felt the pain. Manual tracking breaks down once you're juggling multiple product lines, suppliers, and production runs. Manufacturing inventory software brings it all into one place, so you'll see what's on hand, what's in production, and what to order next.

The best manufacturing inventory software also connects to your accounting platform, e-commerce channels, and warehouse systems. That's where Cin7 comes in: we combine real-time tracking, flexible BOMs, automated workflows, and 700+ integrations in one cloud-based platform. It's built for manufacturers who are ready to stop firefighting and start scaling.

Happy manufacturing inventory manager

How to Choose the Best Manufacturing Inventory Software

Not sure where to start? We get it: every demo looks great until you run a real production job through it. Here are six things to check before you commit.

Multi-level BOMs let you nest subassemblies inside finished products and roll up true component costs.
Production scheduling and material requirements planning (MRP) tell you what to make, when, and which materials to order.
Real-time tracking of raw materials, WIP, and finished goods shows what's on the shelf, on the floor, and ready to ship.
Batch, lot, and serial tracking keeps you audit-ready and turns a product recall into a quick lookup.
Integrations with accounting and sales channels end double entry between your inventory, QuickBooks or Xero, and your e-commerce stores.
Total cost and setup time matter as much as features, because software you can't roll out won't help anyone.
Assembly Management That Works for You

Production Planning and Workflow Management

You'll have everything you need to manufacture without disruption, from custom BOMs and capacity planning to production scheduling. Manage stock transfers and streamline manufacturing inventory tracking in real time to keep productivity high.

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Complex manufacturing

Advanced Manufacturing for Multi-Stage Production

Making products in several stages? Cin7's advanced manufacturing tools let you set up routings, so each job moves through the right operations in the right order. Capacity planning shows which work centers are booked before you promise a delivery date.

On the shop floor, our manufacturing execution system (MES) app lets your team update production status from a phone or tablet. You'll see every stage in real time, with no clipboards required!

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Manufacturing Features That Keep You on Track

Cin7's cloud-based inventory management software supports your business far beyond the factory floor. We track everything between raw materials and shipped orders, with production analytics and AI-driven demand forecasting to help you plan ahead and cut waste.

Bill of Materials Management Made Simple

Bill of Materials (BOM) Management

Create multi-level BOMs for nested assemblies and track component costs across production runs. You'll get full traceability for every raw material and finished good. That means tighter cost control and clearer planning.

Full visibility

Real-Time Manufacturing Reporting and Analytics

Get actionable insights for tracking production costs, spotting inefficiencies, and making pricing decisions that actually move the needle on your margins. Monitor inventory health, production throughput, and cost-per-unit in real time so you can act on what's happening now.

Automate the Routine, Elevate the Strategic

Automate Production and Purchasing Workflows

Automated purchase orders, stock transfers, and production workflows help you cut down on manual effort and streamline daily operations. Set reorder points and trigger production jobs automatically.

Unify Your Entire Manufacturing Ecosystem

700+ Integrations for Your Manufacturing Stack

Cin7 connects your manufacturing, warehouses, sales channels, and accounting into one platform with more than 700 integrations. Sync with QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, Amazon, and dozens of other tools your business already uses.

Plan like a pro

Demand Forecasting and Supply Planning

Cin7's AI-driven forecasting helps you plan production, purchasing, and shipping with confidence. Know which materials you need, when, and how much to order. You'll meet demand without overstocking or costly delays.

Mobile Tools for Real-Time Production Insights

Mobile Manufacturing Inventory Management

Cin7's Manufacturing Execution System (MES) puts inventory tracking and production monitoring on your phone or tablet. Check stock levels, manage workflows, and update production statuses on the go.

How Cin7 Compares to Other Manufacturing Inventory Software

If you're still tracking production in spreadsheets, you've likely hit the limits: version conflicts, missing data, and no real-time visibility. Spreadsheets weren't built for manufacturing, so here's how the four main options stack up.

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Manufacturing Inventory Software Options Compared

What you need Spreadsheets Basic inventory tools Cin7 Enterprise ERP
Bills of materials (BOMs) Manual formulas with no multi-level structure Limited or missing, since most stop at buy-and-sell Multi-level BOMs with component cost tracking Full multi-level BOMs
Production scheduling Manual and error-prone Rarely included Built-in scheduling, MRP features, and capacity planning Advanced, but often needs heavy configuration
Real-time visibility Only as fresh as the last edit Stock levels, but usually not WIP Raw materials, WIP, and finished goods across locations Broad visibility across the whole business
Integrations Manual imports and exports A handful of common apps 700+ integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, Shopify, and Amazon Extensive, often through custom or partner-built connectors
Setup time Immediate, but you build everything yourself Quick Fast to set up for growing manufacturers Long implementation projects
Cost profile Low upfront, high hidden cost in manual work Low subscription with limited manufacturing depth Subscription plans that scale with users and features Highest, with licenses plus implementation costs

Cin7 sits right in the sweet spot. You get purpose-built manufacturing features in a cloud-based platform that's easy to use and grows with you.

Manufacturing Inventory Management Software FAQs

How does Cin7 act as my production management software?

Cin7 gives you end-to-end visibility into the manufacturing process, from raw materials to finished goods. With tools for automated job management, inventory tracking, production scheduling, and real-time updates, you can maintain control without sacrificing speed or accuracy.

Can Cin7 handle complex BOMs?

Yes! Whether you're assembling simple kits or managing multi-level BOMs, Cin7 has you covered. Track every component with ease and maintain complete traceability from start to finish.

How does Cin7 improve production scheduling?

With built-in production scheduling capabilities, you'll schedule runs, manage resources, and track order history to ensure timely deliveries and full shelves for your customers.

Does Cin7 support materials requirements planning?

Yes. Cin7's inventory management software capabilities include MRP features to track material availability, plan procurement, and avoid delays.

How does Cin7 compare to other manufacturing inventory software?

Cin7 is more than a manufacturing hub. Everything flows in one system, between receiving materials and shipping finished goods. You can focus on making great products instead of chasing stock across warehouse locations.

Can Cin7 integrate with my existing systems?

Yes. Whether you use QuickBooks, Shopify, Amazon, or a 3PL, Cin7 supports seamless integration. Our system is built to unify your business processes and support your entire supply chain.

What features does Cin7 offer for managing the manufacturing process?

Cin7 offers features such as custom production process settings, damage write-offs, capacity planning, and a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) mobile app. These features help manage the manufacturing process effectively and ensure real-time production monitoring.

How does Cin7 support small businesses in manufacturing?

Cin7 gives small manufacturers tools usually reserved for enterprise operations: real-time tracking, inventory optimization, order automation, and demand forecasting. You'll scale without losing control.

What is the best inventory software for manufacturers?

Cin7 is the best manufacturing inventory software for small and mid-sized manufacturers who need BOMs, production scheduling, and real-time tracking without enterprise-level cost. Whatever you choose, check for multi-level BOMs, MRP, batch and serial tracking, and accounting integrations. Cin7 covers all of that, plus 700+ integrations and full sales-channel support in one cloud-based platform.

Can manufacturing inventory software replace spreadsheets?

Absolutely. Spreadsheets break down once you're managing multiple product lines, suppliers, and production runs. Manufacturing inventory software like Cin7 automates what spreadsheets can't: real-time stock updates, automated purchase orders, production scheduling, and multi-location tracking.

How much does manufacturing inventory software cost?

It depends on how many users you need, which features you turn on, and any add-ons. Most tools charge a monthly or annual subscription, while enterprise ERPs usually add implementation costs on top. You can compare Cin7's pricing plans to see what fits your team.

Is there free manufacturing inventory software?

Yes, but free tools usually cap your SKUs or users and rarely support multi-level BOMs. That works for a garage operation, but it gets tight once real production kicks in. When you're ready for something sturdier, you can start a free Cin7 trial.

What are the three main types of inventory in manufacturing?

The three main types are raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods. Raw materials are the inputs you buy, WIP is anything partway through production, and finished goods are ready to sell. Good manufacturing inventory software tracks all three in one place.

What's the difference between MRP software and inventory software?

Inventory software tracks what you have and where it is. MRP software uses your BOMs, stock levels, and demand to work out which materials you need and when to order them. Cin7 includes MRP features alongside inventory tracking, so your stock counts and production plans stay in sync.

Is Cin7 an ERP?

No, Cin7 isn't a full ERP. We're an IMS (inventory management system), sometimes called ERP for Small Business. You get inventory, manufacturing, and order management with 700+ integrations, and we connect to accounting tools like QuickBooks and Xero instead of replacing them.

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Your business doesn't need to manage everything on its own. Kick off a journey to connect your inventory, sales, finances, and more with inventory management software ready to grow with you.
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