Manufacturing software for furniture makers
A dining table comes in three sizes and four finishes, half your orders are custom, and the polishing is done by someone down the road. Ellibo Manufacturing handles variants, made-to-order work and subcontracting, and shows what each piece really cost.
Start on the Free plan - shop floor operators are free. Works on any device.
| Teak planks 1 inchScrap 8% | 2.4 cu ft | $14,400 |
| Table legs, turnedSub-assembly | 4 | $3,200 |
| Screws, glue, hardware | 1 set | $420 |
| Cutting + joineryCarpentry bench | 6 h | $2,700 |
| Polishing (subcontract)Job charge | 1 | $2,500 |
Where furniture margins disappear
Wood is expensive, every piece takes hours, and custom work hides its real cost. Here is where it usually slips.
A BoM for every size and colour
Each size and finish needs its own list, so nobody keeps them up to date and the costs drift apart.
Make one BoM for all variants of an item group. A line can apply only to some variants, such as walnut stain only for the walnut finish.
Custom orders are priced on hope
A customer wants the sofa 20 cm longer, and the quote is a guess. You find out at delivery that it lost money.
Copy the standard BoM, change it, and see material, labour and overhead before you say yes. The finished order shows planned against real.
The polisher has your stock
Tables go out for polishing and upholstery, and nobody is sure how many are still with them.
Subcontract orders send materials on a delivery document, keep them as your stock at the subcontractor, and show what is still with them.
Off-cuts and wastage are ignored
Planks are cut, the off-cuts pile up, and the wood cost on paper never matches the wood that was bought.
A scrap percentage on each component allows for waste, and scrap records what was thrown away and why.
From a customer order to a delivered piece
- The order is placed
A sales order for a made-to-order item can start its manufacturing order by itself.
- Carpentry begins
Cutting, joinery and assembly appear as steps on the shop floor tablet.
- Out for finishing
The piece goes to the polisher on a subcontract order and comes back at material plus job charge.
- Ready to deliver
The finished piece enters stock at its real cost, ready to invoice.
Built for workshops that make furniture
BoMs for variants
One BoM for all sizes and finishes, with lines that apply only to some.
Sub-assemblies
Legs, frames and drawers with their own BoMs, ordered when they run short.
Subcontracting
Send pieces for polishing or upholstery and track every trip and job charge.
Scrap allowance
Allow for wood lost in cutting, and record what is really thrown away.
Make to order
Sales orders for custom pieces start their own manufacturing orders.
Engineering changes
Change a design on a copy with approvals, without touching orders already running (Business).
Get your first range in
- Add your most popular range as items with variants.
- Make one BoM per range, with lines for each finish.
- Add carpentry, assembly and finishing as work centres.
- Add your polisher or upholsterer as a vendor and a subcontract BoM.
- Mark custom pieces as make-to-order.
Add more Ellibo apps when you need them
One account, the same customers, items and team in every app.
InventoryWood, hardware and finished pieces across your stores and showroom. CRMQuote custom pieces and follow the deal to a sales order. POS RetailSell from the showroom using the same stock.Manufacturing for furniture makers: FAQ
Do I need a separate BoM for each size and colour?
No. For items with variants you can make one BoM for all variants of an item group, and mark lines that are only for some of them.
Can we send work out for polishing or upholstery?
Yes, on Professional and above. A subcontract order sends materials, records what comes back, and makes a bill for the job charge. The product comes in at material plus job charge.
Can I cost a custom piece before I accept it?
Yes. Copy a BoM, change it, and the BoM shows material, labour, overhead and cost each for any quantity before you start.
How do I allow for wood wasted in cutting?
Give the component a scrap percentage. When something is really thrown away, record it as scrap with the reason and cost.
Will the showroom see the new stock?
Finished pieces always show in Inventory and Accounting. Ellibo POS sees them once shared stock is on in POS, usually within about five minutes.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. The Free plan has 2 office users and 30 orders a month. Subcontracting and make-to-order come with Professional, and the 14-day trial has everything.
Manufacturing for other businesses
More Ellibo apps for manufacturing & making
Make every piece pay its way
Start on the Free plan - shop floor operators are free. Add more apps whenever you are ready.