Quality Control Points on Work Order Operations in Odoo 18

Manufacturing defects discovered after assembly cost 10x more to fix than catching them during production. A faulty weld found after painting requires disassembly, rework, repainting, and reassembly—wasting materials, labor, and time. Quality Control Points (QCPs) in Odoo 18 solve this by embedding automated quality checks directly into work order operations, catching issues the moment they occur.

This comprehensive guide shows you how to configure Quality Control Points on specific manufacturing operations, integrate them with the Shop Floor interface, and create a proactive quality assurance system that prevents defects instead of discovering them later.

Prerequisites: Module Installation

Before configuring quality control points, ensure both required modules are installed and enabled.

Step 1: Install Modules

1. Navigate to Apps: Access the Apps menu from Odoo's main dashboard
2. Install Manufacturing: Search for "Manufacturing" and click Install
3. Install Quality: Search for "Quality" and click Install
4. Wait for Installation: Both modules will install with dependencies

Step 2: Enable Features

1. Open Settings: Navigate to Manufacturing → Configuration → Settings
2. Enable Work Orders: Check the Work Orders option
   • This breaks manufacturing into step-by-step operations
   • Each operation becomes a separate work order
3. Enable Quality: Check the Quality option
   • Activates quality control features
   • Enables integration with work orders
4. Save Configuration: Click Save

Step 1: Define Production Operations

Operations represent individual manufacturing steps like Cutting, Welding, Assembly, or Painting. Each operation will later appear as a separate work order in the Shop Floor interface.

Creating Operations

1. Access Operations: Navigate to Manufacturing → Configuration → Operations
2. Create New Operation: Click Create
3. Configure Operation Details:
   • Operation Name: Descriptive name (e.g., "Cutting OPRN")
   • Work Center: Select the production station/machine
   • Bill of Materials: Link to product BoM (CRITICAL - see below)
   • Default Duration: Expected time to complete
   • Apply on Variants: Optional, for product variants
4. Save Operation
5. Repeat for All Steps: Create Welding, Assembly, Painting operations

Example: Cutting Operation

Step 2: Create Quality Control Points

Quality Control Points define WHAT to check, WHEN to check it, HOW OFTEN to check, and WHO performs the inspection.

Accessing QCP Configuration

1. Navigate to Quality → Quality Control → Control Points
2. Click Create

Configuration Fields

Control Frequency Options

Control Per Options

• Product: Check each individual unit
• Operation: Check once per work order (regardless of quantity)
• Quantity: Check after specific number produced

Instructions Field

The Instructions field is where operators see WHAT to check and HOW to check it. Be specific:

Step 3: Test with Manufacturing Order

Create a manufacturing order to verify that quality checks trigger correctly during production.

Creating Manufacturing Order

1. Navigate: Go to Manufacturing → Operations → Manufacturing Orders
2. Create: Click Create
3. Configure MO:
   • Product: Select product (e.g., Table Top)
   • Quantity: Number to produce (e.g., 1)
   • Bill of Materials: Select BoM with operations
   • Scheduled Date: Production start date
4. Confirm: Click Confirm button

Once confirmed, Odoo automatically generates work orders for each operation in the routing (Cutting, Welding, Assembly, etc.).

Step 4: Execute Quality Checks in Shop Floor

The Shop Floor interface provides an operator-friendly view for executing work orders and quality inspections.

Accessing Shop Floor

1. From Manufacturing Order, click Shop Floor smart button
2. Shop Floor displays each operation as a visual card
3. Cards show operation name, product, quantity, and status

Performing Quality Inspection

1. Start Operation: Click Start on operation card
2. Quality Check Triggers: If operation has QCP, inspection prompt appears automatically
3. View Instructions: Read detailed inspection instructions from QCP
4. Perform Inspection: Follow instructions, take measurements, verify quality
5. Record Result: Mark inspection as Pass or Fail
6. Visual Feedback: Interface shows:
   • Green "passed" indicator for successful checks
   • Elapsed time for operation
   • Operator name who performed work
7. Complete Operation: Click Mark as Done
8. Next Step: System unlocks next operation in routing

Example Workflow

Benefits of Operation-Level Quality Control

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Quality Control Points in Odoo 18 Manufacturing transform quality assurance from a final-inspection bottleneck into an integrated production workflow. By embedding quality checks directly into work order operations, you create a proactive system that prevents defects instead of discovering them after expensive rework.

The combination of clear inspection instructions, operator-friendly Shop Floor interface, and automatic documentation ensures consistent quality standards while maintaining full traceability for compliance and continuous improvement.