Govern Subcontracting Before It Becomes an obligation
Add a request and approval gate in front of every subcontracting purchase order, with make-vs-buy cost comparison, budget checks, and component shortage visibility — all built natively on Odoo Manufacturing.
Native Odoo jumps straight from planning to a binding subcontracting purchase order, with no window to authorize scope, vendor, or spend. Cost isn't compared against making the product in-house, budgets aren't checked, and component shortages surface only after the shipment is already committed.
Raise a subcontracting request first. See the make-vs-buy saving, flag when it exceeds budget, confirm every component is on hand, then generate the purchase order in one click once it is approved.
Everything a subcontracting buyer needs
Every capability below is implemented in the module.
Request & Approval Gate
Raise a subcontracting request before any purchase or manufacturing order commits production. Requests move through Draft, To Approve, Approved, PO Created, Rejected, or Cancelled with a clear status bar.
Role-Based Approval
Requesters submit, approvers decide. Approve, Reject, or Reset to Draft actions record who approved a request and when, giving controllers a governed spend authorization trail.
Make-vs-Buy Cost Comparison
Every request shows internal unit cost against the quoted subcontract unit cost, with unit saving, total saving, and estimated total computed automatically for the decision.
Budget Ceiling & Over-Budget Warning
Set an authorized budget on each request. An Over Budget flag and warning banner appear automatically the moment the estimated total exceeds it, before approval is granted.
Component Shortage Flagging
The Components to Ship list shows quantity to ship against on-hand quantity per component, and flags any shortfall with a warning banner before the shipment is dispatched.
One-Click Purchase Order Generation
Once a request is approved, generate the subcontractor purchase order directly from the request. A smart button links straight through to the created PO for follow-up.
Optional Mandatory Approval Setting
A per-company Manufacturing setting lets you require an approved request before any subcontracting purchase order can be issued, or leave the request step optional.
Subcontractor Performance on the Vendor Record
Every vendor gains a Subcontracting smart button showing its request count, sitting alongside Purchases, On-time Rate, and Vendor Bills for a complete sourcing picture.
Full Chatter & Activity Trail
Every request keeps a full governance record — messages, activities, and status changes — so approvers and auditors can see exactly how a subcontracting decision was made.
How it works
Raise a Request
Enter the subcontractor, product, quantity, budget, and required-by date.
Review Cost & Shortages
Check the make-vs-buy saving, budget flag, and component availability before deciding.
Approve or Reject
The approver records a decision, timestamp, and their name on the request.
Generate the PO
One click creates the subcontractor purchase order straight from the approved request.
See it in action
Real screens from the module, captured on Odoo 17.
Subcontracting Requests list — every request with its subcontractor, product, estimated total, saving, and color-coded status.
An approved request showing the full status bar, Approved By and Approval Date, and the Purchase Order smart button.
Cost Comparison tab — internal vs subcontract unit cost, saving, and an Over Budget warning when the estimated total exceeds the authorized budget.
Components to Ship tab — quantity to ship against on-hand quantity, with a shortage warning banner and flag on any short component.
Manufacturing settings — the Subcontracting Approval toggle requires an approved request before subcontracting purchase orders can be issued.
Vendor record with a Subcontracting smart button alongside Purchases, On-time Rate, and Vendor Bills for full subcontractor visibility.
Frequently asked
Does this replace Odoo's native subcontracting?
No. It sits on top of native Odoo subcontracting and purchase flows, adding a request and approval step in front of them. The generated purchase order is a standard Odoo purchase order.
Can we make the approval step mandatory?
Yes. A Manufacturing setting, Subcontracting Approval, blocks subcontracting purchase orders from being issued until a linked request has been approved. Leave it off to keep the request step optional.
Where does the internal cost used for comparison come from?
The internal unit cost is drawn from the product's standard cost, compared against the subcontract unit cost entered on the request, giving an immediate unit and total saving figure.
What happens if a component is short when I add it to the request?
The Components to Ship list compares quantity to ship against on-hand quantity for each line. Any shortfall is flagged with a shortage indicator and a warning banner so it can be resolved before approval.
Get in Touch
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Pre-commitment subcontracting requests, make-vs-buy cost comparison, and budget-governed purchase order generation — built natively on Odoo Manufacturing.
| Availability |
Odoo Online
Odoo.sh
On Premise
|
| Odoo Apps Dependencies |
•
Manufacturing (mrp)
• Inventory (stock) • Discuss (mail) • Purchase (purchase) • Invoicing (account) |
| Lines of code | 557 |
| Technical Name |
cerevantix_mrp_subcontracting |
| License | OPL-1 |
| Website | https://cerevantix.com |
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