Solutions — Project-based manufacturing
Manufacturing software built for project-based and custom fabrication operations
ALIX is a manufacturing management system (MRP) that helps small and mid-size custom manufacturers manage quotes, project phases, labour, material costs, and invoicing in one real-time platform, from the first estimate to the final invoice.
Estimates & quotes
Project management
Cost tracking
Labour & time
Purchasing
Inventory
See it live in 30 minutes. Go live in weeks.
The problem
Why spreadsheets break down in custom and project-based manufacturing
Custom manufacturers face a different set of challenges than product manufacturers. Every job is unique, costs are hard to predict, and nothing is repeatable in quite the same way. These are the four walls most hit before switching to ALIX.
Quotes built on gut feel
Estimating material, labour, and overhead for a custom job is manual and inconsistent — leading to underbidding or losing work on price.
No visibility on project costs
You don't know if a project is profitable until it's done and by then, it's too late to adjust. Actual vs. estimated costs are never compared in real time.
Labour is invisible
Time spent on each project is tracked on paper or not at all. You can't bill accurately or identify which jobs consume too many hours.
Project status lives in someone's head
Phases, tasks, and milestones aren't tracked anywhere formal. When a key person is absent, nothing moves and no one knows where the job stands.
The flow
How does quote-to-cash work in a project-based manufacturing operation?
In a project-based manufacturing environment, each job starts with an estimate and ends with an invoice. ALIX connects every step, from quoting to production to close, without manual data re-entry or disconnected tools.
Estimate
→
Orders
→
Plan Project
→
Produce
→
Invoice & Close
Key modules
What modules does ALIX include for project-based manufacturers?
ALIX includes six interconnected modules that cover the full scope of a project-based operation, from building accurate estimates to tracking actual costs, labour, and materials through every phase of the job.
Estimates & quotes
ALIX lets you build detailed job estimates that account for materials, labour, operations, and overhead. Then convert accepted quotes directly into production projects without re-entering data.
- Line-by-line material and labour estimation
- Overhead and margin rules per job type
- Quote-to-project conversion in one click
- Estimate vs. actual comparison at close
Project management
Each job in ALIX is structured as a project with defined phases, tasks, and milestones. Every phase has assigned resources, scheduled dates, and material requirements, so the shop floor always knows what to do next.
- Project phases and task breakdown
- Resource and operator assignment per phase
- Scheduled start and end dates per task
- Real-time project status on the shop floor
Cost tracking
ALIX tracks actual project costs — materials consumed, labour hours logged, and purchased items, against the original estimate in real time. You know where you stand on every job before it closes, not after.
- Real-time actual vs. estimated cost view
- Material, labour, and overhead by project
- Cost variance alerts during production
- True job profitability in real-time
Labour & time tracking
Operators log time directly against project tasks on their shop floor tablets. ALIX captures actual hours per operation, per worker, and per job, giving you the data to bill accurately and improve future estimates.
- Time entry per task on tablet
- Actual hours vs. estimated hours per job
- Labour cost calculation by employee rate
- Productivity reporting by operator or team
Purchasing
ALIX links purchasing directly to project material requirements. Purchase orders are generated from what each job needs, tracked against delivery, and received with lot capture, so nothing gets charged to the wrong project.
- PO generation from project material needs
- Supplier management and lead times
- Receiving against PO with lot capture
- Actual purchase cost posted to project
Inventory management
ALIX tracks materials consumed per project in real time. When components are issued to a job, inventory is updated automatically, so your stock levels stay accurate across all active projects without manual reconciliation.
- Material issuance tracked per project
- Real-time stock levels across all jobs
- Lot and serial number traceability
- Remaining material returned to stock on close
Frequently asked questions about project-based manufacturing with ALIX
Answers to the questions custom manufacturers ask most when evaluating ALIX for a project-based operation.
What is project-based manufacturing software?
Project-based manufacturing software manages the full lifecycle of custom production jobs, from estimating and quoting through planning, production, cost tracking, and invoicing. Unlike product-based systems that manage repeatable SKUs, project-based software is designed for operations where every job has a unique scope, bill of materials, and cost structure. ALIX supports project-based manufacturers who need more than spreadsheets but don't want a full ERP.
How does ALIX track actual costs against estimates during production?
As production progresses, ALIX accumulates actual costs in real time, materials issued to the job, labour hours logged by operators, and purchased items received. These actuals are compared against the original estimate at any point during the project, not just at close. This gives project managers and shop supervisors the visibility to identify cost overruns early and take corrective action before the job is done.
Can ALIX handle both project-based and product-based manufacturing?
Yes. ALIX supports both quote-to-cash (project-based) and order-to-cash (product-based) manufacturing models within the same platform. Some manufacturers run custom projects and standard products on the same floor. ALIX manages both without requiring separate systems. You can also run hybrid configurations where some products are make-to-order and others are make-to-stock.
What is quote-to-cash manufacturing?
Quote-to-cash is the end-to-end process a custom manufacturer follows from the first customer estimate to the final payment. It covers estimating, quoting, order acceptance, production planning, shop floor execution, cost tracking, project close, invoicing, and payment collection. ALIX manages this entire flow in one system, so data entered at the quote stage flows through production and into the invoice without re-entry.
How do operators log time in ALIX on the shop floor?
Operators log time directly on their shop floor tablets/pc in ALIX, no paper timesheets or manual data entry at the end of the day. Each time entry is linked to a specific task and project, so labour costs are posted accurately and in real time. This data feeds both project cost reporting and future estimating, helping you build more accurate quotes over time.
Is ALIX suitable for metal fabrication and custom job shop?
Yes. ALIX is specifically designed for the operational reality of custom metal fabricators and job shops where every order has unique specs, lead times vary by job, and profitability depends on accurate labour and material tracking. Key features like tablet-based time entry, project-level cost visibility, lot traceability, and quote-to-invoice flow are built for this environment. ALIX is deployed on tablets/pc directly on the shop floor, not just in the office.