Work Centers Configuration in Odoo 18
By Braincuber Team
Published on December 26, 2025
Production managers tracking capacity in spreadsheets create bottlenecks: Assembly line 1 shows 100% utilization in Excel but sits idle 30% of time because nobody updates when machines down for maintenance, costing wrong because labor rates changed 6 months ago but sheet never updated, and schedulers overbook drill stations not knowing setup/cleanup times vary by product—causing missed delivery dates when reality doesn't match outdated planning data.
Odoo 18 Work Centers eliminate manual tracking with centralized configuration storing capacity, cost rates, efficiency percentages, OEE targets, setup/cleanup times, and equipment assignments. Block work centers during maintenance preventing scheduling, calculate accurate costs using current rates, assign specific employees, track productivity losses with reasons, and monitor real-time availability.
Work Center Features:
- Real-time capacity tracking
- Cost per hour configuration
- OEE target setting & monitoring
- Equipment integration
- Productivity loss tracking
- Alternative work center routing
- Specific capacities per product
Enabling Work Centers
- Go to Manufacturing → Configuration → Settings
- Enable Work Orders
- Click Save
Creating Work Centers
- Navigate to Configuration → Work Centers
- Click
New - Configure fields:
Basic Configuration:
- Name: Work center identifier (e.g., "Assembly Line 1")
- Code: Short reference (e.g., "AL1")
- Working Hours: When work center operational
- Alternative Work Centers: Backup stations with same capabilities
Key Configuration Parameters
Time Efficiency
How it works:
- If operation takes 1 hour and efficiency = 100%, estimated time = 1 hour
- If efficiency = 200%, estimated time = 30 minutes (double speed)
- If efficiency = 50%, estimated time = 2 hours (slower)
Use case: Veteran operators work at 150% efficiency vs new trainees at 75%
OEE Target
Overall Equipment Effectiveness target percentage considering:
Availability
Uptime vs downtime
Performance
Actual vs ideal speed
Quality
Good vs defect rate
Setup & Cleanup Time
| Parameter | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | Minutes to prepare work center before production | 15 min to load tools, calibrate |
| Cleanup Time | Minutes to clean/reset after operation | 10 min to clear parts, clean station |
Costing Configuration
Separate cost tracking:
- Cost per Hour (Work Center): Equipment depreciation, utilities ($50/hr)
- Cost per Hour (Employee): Labor rate ($25/hr)
- Total Operation Cost: Both combined × operation duration
Work Center Status Management
Blocking Work Centers
- Click status icon on work center card
- Select Block
- Add Loss Reason (Maintenance, Material Shortage, etc.)
- Add description
- Work center turns red, no new work orders scheduled
Best Practices
Set Realistic Efficiency
Don't assume 100%—measure actual vs planned times over 2 weeks, calculate average efficiency percentage to match reality.
Configure Alternative Work Centers
When primary station busy/down, system auto-routes to backup with same capabilities preventing delays.
Track Productivity Losses
Use Loss Reason dropdown when blocking—identify if downtime from maintenance, material shortage, or operator training.
Link Equipment to Work Centers
Associate machinery in Equipment tab—enables maintenance scheduling integration, MTBF/MTTR tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Odoo 18 Work Centers centralize production station management with capacity tracking, cost calculation, efficiency monitoring, and maintenance integration. Configure once with accurate parameters, schedule confidently knowing system reflects actual production reality—eliminating spreadsheet chaos and missed delivery commitments.
Need Manufacturing Optimization?
Our manufacturing specialists can configure work centers, optimize routing, implement OEE tracking, integrate maintenance schedules, and build complete shop floor management systems.