How to Choose the Right Manufacturing Inventory Management Software
Why choosing the right manufacturing inventory management software deserves careful consideration
The Right Inventory System for Your Manufacturing Business
Manufacturing inventory sits at the center of your operation.
Raw materials arrive from suppliers. Components move into production. Work in progress becomes finished goods. Finished products move into warehouses and then to customers.
As production grows, your inventory system becomes closely connected to purchasing, production planning, bill of materials management, warehouse operations, sales, and costing.
That is why choosing the right manufacturing inventory management software deserves careful consideration.
A modern manufacturing system should give your team a clear view of what you have, what you need, what is being produced, and what is ready to ship.
Cin7 Core brings inventory, purchasing, manufacturing, sales, and accounting into a connected platform. Its manufacturing capabilities include BOM management, production planning, MRP, inventory visibility, scheduling, and shop-floor workflows.
This guide explains the capabilities to look for and how Cin7 Core can fit a growing manufacturing business.
What Is Manufacturing Inventory Management Software?
Manufacturing inventory management software is designed to manage the movement of materials and products throughout the production cycle.
That usually means tracking:
- Raw materials
- Components
- Work-in-progress
- Finished goods
- Production orders
- BOMs
- Inventory by location
- Purchasing requirements
- Production costs
A manufacturing operation can be viewed as one connected flow:
Supplier→Raw Materials→Production→Work-in-Progress→Finished Goods→Warehouse→Customer
A capable production inventory system keeps information connected across each stage.
Instead of looking at inventory as a simple stock count, manufacturers can use it as an operational view of what is available, committed, being produced, and required for upcoming production.
What Should Manufacturing Inventory Software Do?
Every manufacturer has different workflows, but several capabilities form the foundation of a strong inventory system.
1. Give You a Clear View of Raw Materials and Finished Goods
Manufacturers need visibility across multiple inventory stages.
You may have:
Raw Material StockSteel sheets, electronic components, packaging, fabric, chemicals, or other inputs.Work in ProgressMaterials currently being processed or assembled.Finished GoodsProducts ready for storage, sale, or shipment.
A connected system should allow your team to understand inventory at each stage.
Cin7 Core connects inventory and production information so manufacturers can track material movement and production activity in one environment.
2. Build Accurate Bills of Materials
A Bill of Materials (BOM) defines the components and resources required to make a product.
For example:
Product: Electric Control Unit
Components
- Control board — 1
- Enclosure — 1
- Wiring harness — 1
- Screws — 8
- Labels — 1
A well-structured BOM gives purchasing and production teams a common reference for what goes into each finished product.
Cin7 Core supports BOM structures that can define production steps, components, resources, durations, and work centers, while simpler assembly BOMs support straightforward assembly operations.
That makes BOM inventory management an important part of building a reliable manufacturing workflow.
3. Connect Inventory to Production
A manufacturing inventory system creates much more value when inventory and production work from the same data.
Consider a production order for 500 units.
Your team needs visibility into:
Materials Required→Materials Available→Production Schedule→Components Consumed→Finished Goods Produced
Cin7 Core production BOMs define the components and resources required for each operation. Production runs can then be planned around the quantity being manufactured, with production duration and costs calculated based on the configured operations and resources.
This creates a direct connection between your production plan and your inventory.
4. Support Material Requirements Planning
Manufacturers often need to purchase materials based on future production demand rather than current stock alone.
That is where Material Requirements Planning (MRP) becomes useful.
MRP helps answer:
- What materials do we need?
- How much do we need?
- When should they be available?
- Which purchase orders should be created?
Cin7's manufacturing production and planning tools include MRP and material planning logic designed to calculate components to purchase and the timing of those purchases.
For a growing manufacturer, this creates a more connected relationship between sales demand, production planning, inventory, and purchasing.
5. Manage Production Capacity and Scheduling
Inventory is only one part of manufacturing planning.
Your business also needs to understand when production can happen and what resources are available.
That may include:
- Machines
- Production lines
- Work centers
- Labor
- Production hours
- Lead times
- Factory calendars
Cin7 Core's production capabilities support resources, work centers, scheduling, and capacity planning.
This allows manufacturers to bring materials and production capacity into the same planning conversation.
6. Track Work-in-Progress
A finished product does not appear in inventory instantly.
It moves through multiple production stages.
For example:
Cutting→Assembly→Testing→Finishing→Packaging
At each stage, materials and resources are being consumed while the product moves closer to completion.
A production inventory system should give your team visibility into this movement.
Cin7's production workflows support operations, inputs, outputs, intermediate products, and finished products within a production BOM. This allows production information to connect with inventory and costing.
7. Track Product Costs
Manufacturing costs can include much more than the purchase price of raw materials.
Depending on the product, you may consider:
Materials+Labor+Machine Time+Overheads+Other Production Costs
Your inventory system should help you understand how those costs contribute to your finished products.
Cin7 Core's manufacturing capabilities support production cost calculations based on components, resources, production time, and applicable cost-allocation methods.
This gives finance and operations teams a stronger view of product economics.
8. Support Multi-Level Manufacturing
Many products contain subassemblies.
A finished product may require:
Product A
- → Subassembly 1
- → Subassembly 2
- → Component 1
- → Component 2
That structure creates multiple levels of inventory and production.
Cin7 Core supports multi-level BOMs and production BOMs for more complex manufacturing processes, including intermediate and semi-finished products.
For manufacturers with multiple production stages, this structure can create clearer visibility from component to finished product.
9. Integrate Sales and Inventory
Your manufacturing plan starts with demand.
That demand may come from:
- Ecommerce
- Wholesale
- B2B
- Retail
- Distributors
- Sales teams
- Customer-specific orders
When sales and inventory data connect with manufacturing, your production team gets a clearer view of upcoming requirements.
Cin7's manufacturing platform connects inventory, production, and sales workflows, while its broader platform supports integrations across ecommerce, accounting, warehouse, and other business systems.
That creates a shared operational picture for sales, purchasing, production, and fulfillment.
What Is BOM Inventory Management?
BOM inventory management is the process of connecting the components required for a product with the inventory needed to manufacture it.
Consider a company manufacturing office chairs.
Finished Product
Ergonomic Office Chair
BOM
- Seat assembly — 1
- Backrest — 1
- Armrests — 2
- Gas lift — 1
- Base — 1
- Wheels — 5
- Fastener set — 1
If the business receives an order for 100 chairs, the inventory system should provide visibility into the components required to fulfill that production demand.
This gives purchasing and production teams a shared reference for materials, quantities, availability, and production requirements.
Cin7 Core uses Production BOMs to define components, operations, resources, and outputs for manufactured products.
How Cin7 Core Fits a Manufacturing Business
Cin7 Core brings several core manufacturing processes into one connected system.
A typical workflow can look like this:
Customer Demand
↓
Sales Order / Forecast
↓
MRP & Production Planning
↓
Purchase Materials
↓
Receive Raw Materials
↓
Production Order
↓
Work-in-Progress
↓
Finished Goods
↓
Warehouse
↓
Customer
Around this workflow, your business can connect inventory, purchasing, manufacturing, sales, accounting, and fulfillment.
Manufacturing Inventory Software for Different Types of Manufacturers
The right setup depends on the products you make and how you produce them.
Discrete Manufacturing
Discrete manufacturers produce identifiable products such as:
Electronics, machinery, furniture, appliances, equipment, and components.
These businesses often need:
BOMs+Components+Work Centers+Production Orders+Inventory+Costing
Assembly Manufacturing
Assembly businesses combine existing components into finished products.
For example:
Laptop+Charger+Packaging=Retail Kit
Cin7 supports assembly BOMs alongside more detailed production BOMs, allowing businesses to structure inventory around different production requirements.
Complex Manufacturing
Complex manufacturers may have:
- Multiple production stages
- Subassemblies
- Multiple BOM levels
- Production resources
- Capacity requirements
- Intermediate products
- Multiple finished outputs
Cin7's Advanced Manufacturing capabilities include multi-level BOMs, MRP, production planning, work centers, resources, and shop-floor control.
A Practical Example: A Growing Furniture Manufacturer
Imagine a furniture company producing 200 dining tables each month.
Each table requires:
Tabletop+Frame+Legs+Hardware+Packaging
The business has:
- Two warehouses
- Several suppliers
- A production facility
- Wholesale customers
- An ecommerce store
The inventory workflow could look like this:
Step 1: Demand
The business receives customer orders and reviews expected demand.
Step 2: Planning
Production planning determines how many tables need to be manufactured.
Step 3: Material Requirements
The BOM identifies the quantity of wood, hardware, packaging, and other components required.
Step 4: Purchasing
The purchasing team reviews available inventory and required materials.
Step 5: Production
Production orders move materials through the manufacturing process.
Step 6: Finished Goods
Completed tables are added to finished-goods inventory.
Step 7: Fulfillment
Orders are allocated and shipped to customers.
A connected production inventory system gives each team visibility into the same overall workflow.
How to Choose Manufacturing Inventory Management Software
Before selecting a system, evaluate it around your real manufacturing processes.
Inventory
Look for support for:
- Raw materials
- Work-in-progress
- Finished goods
- Multiple warehouses
- Stock transfers
BOMs
Consider whether you need:
- Assembly BOMs
- Production BOMs
- Multi-level BOMs
- Subassemblies
- BOM revisions
Production
Check for:
- Production orders
- Production runs
- Work centers
- Resources
- Scheduling
- Capacity planning
Planning
Evaluate:
- MRP
- Demand forecasting
- Material requirements
- Reorder planning
Costing
Consider whether the system can help you track:
- Material costs
- Labor
- Resource costs
- Overheads
- Production costs
Integrations
Think about the systems your manufacturing operation already uses:
- Accounting
- Ecommerce
- WMS
- 3PL
- Shipping
- EDI
- Business intelligence
A platform should fit into the wider technology environment rather than operate as an isolated inventory tool.
Why Cin7 Core Is a Strong Fit for Growing Manufacturers
A manufacturing business needs its inventory system to understand the relationship between materials, production, demand, and finished goods.
Cin7 Core brings those areas together through:
Inventory Management
Track materials, components, WIP, and finished goods.
BOM Management
Structure products and their required components.
Production Management
Plan and manage production orders, operations, resources, and output.
MRP
Connect material requirements with production planning and purchasing.
Warehouse Management
Manage inventory across locations and warehouse processes.
Sales Integration
Connect customer demand with inventory and production planning.
Reporting
Give teams visibility into inventory and operational performance.
Cin7's manufacturing offering brings together BOM management, inventory visibility, production planning, MRP, scheduling, and manufacturing workflows.
Getting More from Cin7 with the Right Implementation
Selecting manufacturing inventory software is only the beginning.
The way your system is configured determines how well it supports your actual operation.
Before implementation, it helps to map:
Products
What are your finished products, components, subassemblies, and raw materials?
BOM Structure
Which products use assembly BOMs, production BOMs, or multi-level structures?
Production
What are your operations, work centers, resources, and production stages?
Inventory
Where are materials, WIP, and finished goods stored?
Purchasing
How do you purchase materials and plan replenishment?
Sales
Which channels and customers generate production demand?
Integrations
Which accounting, ecommerce, warehouse, shipping, EDI, or 3PL platforms need to connect?
Reporting
Which production, inventory, purchasing, and financial metrics does your team need?
A well-planned setup gives your team a consistent operating model across inventory, purchasing, production, sales, and fulfillment.
Build Your Cin7 Manufacturing Setup with SymConverge
SymConverge helps businesses implement, integrate, migrate, customize, and optimize Cin7 Core.
Our Cin7 services include:
- System setup and implementation
- Data migration
- Ecommerce integrations
- Accounting integrations
- Workflow automation
- Reporting
- Training
- Ongoing optimization
For a manufacturing business, that can mean designing a connected Cin7 environment around:
Materials+BOMs+Production+Inventory+Purchasing+Sales+Accounting
The objective is a system that reflects your production process, gives teams shared visibility, and provides a scalable foundation for growth.
Ready to Find the Right Manufacturing Inventory System?
The right manufacturing inventory management software should connect the entire production journey from raw materials and purchasing to production, finished goods, and customer orders.
Cin7 Core provides the inventory and manufacturing capabilities to support that connected workflow, while the right implementation approach brings those capabilities into your specific business processes.
Talk to SymConverge about your manufacturing workflow, inventory requirements, and Cin7 Core implementation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is manufacturing inventory management software?
Manufacturing inventory management software helps manufacturers manage raw materials, components, work-in-progress, finished goods, production orders, BOMs, purchasing, and inventory throughout the production cycle.
What is BOM inventory management?
BOM inventory management connects the components required to manufacture a product with the inventory needed to produce it. This gives purchasing and production teams visibility into required materials and finished-product structures.
Does Cin7 support manufacturing?
Yes. Cin7 Core supports manufacturing workflows including BOM management, production planning, inventory management, MRP, production operations, and manufacturing resources.
Does Cin7 support multi-level BOMs?
Yes. Cin7 Core supports multi-level BOM structures, including production BOMs for complex manufacturing processes with multiple operations and intermediate products.
Does Cin7 support MRP?
Yes. Cin7's manufacturing capabilities include Material Requirements Planning (MRP) for calculating material requirements and supporting purchasing and production planning.
Can Cin7 manage production costs?
Yes. Cin7 Core's production and manufacturing capabilities support production cost calculations based on components, resources, production time, and applicable cost-allocation methods.
Can SymConverge help implement Cin7 for a manufacturer?
Yes. SymConverge provides Cin7 Core implementation, migration, integration, workflow customization, reporting, training, and ongoing support.
Final Takeaway
The right manufacturing inventory management software should connect the full production lifecycle.
Raw Materials→BOMs→Production→Work-in-Progress→Finished Goods→Warehouse→Customers
When inventory, production, purchasing, and sales operate from the same connected system, your teams gain a clearer view of materials, production requirements, inventory levels, and finished goods.
For manufacturers evaluating Cin7, Cin7 Core provides a connected foundation for BOM management, production planning, MRP, inventory visibility, and manufacturing operations.
The right system gives your manufacturing business a clear operational foundation today and a scalable platform for tomorrow.