Zoho implementation for Automotive Components Manufacturing
Zoho for automotive components manufacturing: RFQs, part approval, customer schedules, lot traceability, quality and dispatch in one setup.
Business process workflow
How automotive components manufacturing work flows in Zoho
Zoho connects RFQs, new part approval, customer schedules, production, lot traceability, quality records and billing.
Common problems we fix
- Customer schedules change weekly and planning cannot keep stock and capacity in line
- Part approval documents, gauges and control plans are scattered across folders
- Tracing a defective part back to its material lot, machine and shift takes days
The process, step by step
- 1
Quote the RFQ
Customer RFQs are costed with material, cycle time, tooling and packaging.
- 2
Develop and approve
The new part goes through tooling, trials and the customer's part approval process.
- 3
Load customer schedules
Customer releases and forecasts are loaded and turned into a production plan.
- 4
Produce with traceability
Each lot is produced with material heat numbers, machine, shift and inspection results.
- 5
Check and ship
Final inspection, packing per customer standard and dispatch with shipment notice.
- 6
Invoice and handle claims
Shipments are invoiced and customer complaints are handled with root cause and corrective action.
Zoho WorkDrive
Zoho DeskDepartment by department
How every department of a automotive components manufacturing business works in Zoho
An automotive components maker supplies vehicle makers and Tier 1 suppliers on tight schedules, with strict part approval, traceability and quality rules. In Zoho, sales, engineering, planning, the shop floor, quality, procurement, accounts and HR share one part number, one customer schedule and one lot record, so every part is approved, built, traced and billed.
How the departments hand work to each other
Each arrow is a handover. Because every team works on the same Zoho records, the next department picks up the work without re-entering it.
- 1Sales and Customer Programs to Engineering and New Part Development: Awarded parts with drawings and timing
- 2Sales and Customer Programs to Production Planning and Dispatch: Customer schedules and forecasts
- 3Engineering and New Part Development to Production Planning and Dispatch: Approved part with routing and cycle times
- 4Engineering and New Part Development to Quality Assurance: Control plan and inspection points
- 5Production Planning and Dispatch to Shop Floor: Work orders by machine and shift
- 6Production Planning and Dispatch to Procurement and Stores: Material requirements
- 7Production Planning and Dispatch to Finance and Accounts: Shipments to invoice
- 8Shop Floor to Quality Assurance: Lots for inspection
- 9Shop Floor to Production Planning and Dispatch: Output against plan
- 10Quality Assurance to Shop Floor: Lots released or rejected
- 11Quality Assurance to Finance and Accounts: Customer debit notes for defects
- 12Procurement and Stores to Quality Assurance: Received lots for incoming inspection
- 13Procurement and Stores to Finance and Accounts: Supplier bills
- 14Finance and Accounts to Management and Reporting: Monthly plant P&L and cash
- 15HR and Payroll to Finance and Accounts: Payroll summary
- 16HR and Payroll to Shop Floor: Shift rosters
- 17Management and Reporting to Sales and Customer Programs: Capacity available for new programs
- 18Management and Reporting to HR and Payroll: Staffing plan
Each department in detail
Open a department to see its workflow, its own entity diagram, who does the work, what needs approval, the reports it watches and what it hands over.
Sales and Customer ProgramsWins new part programs and manages customer schedules, prices and scorecards.
Workflow
- 1
Log RFQs
Customer RFQs are logged with part drawings, annual volumes, start of production and target price.
- 2
Cost the part
Material, cycle time, machine rate, tooling, packaging and freight are costed.
- 3
- 4
Manage prices
Annual price downs and raw material price changes are recorded per part.
- 5
Watch scorecards
Customer delivery and quality scorecards are recorded and reviewed.
Zoho SignEntity diagram: Sales and Customer Programs
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho CRM
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Customer Program includes RFQ (1:N)
- RFQ costed in Part Costing (1:1)
- Customer Program rated in Scorecard (1:N)
Who does the work
- Key account manager
- Cost engineer
- Sales head
Approvals and controls
- Quotes below target margin need the sales head
- Price changes need customer approval in writing
Reports they watch
- RFQ win rate
- Revenue by customer and program
- Scorecard trend
Hands over to
- Engineering and New Part Development: Awarded parts with drawings and timing
- Production Planning and Dispatch: Customer schedules and forecasts
Engineering and New Part DevelopmentDevelops tooling and processes and gets each new part approved by the customer.
Workflow
- 1
- 2
Build tooling
Dies, moulds and fixtures are tracked with supplier, trial dates and status.
- 3
Prepare documents
Process flow, PFMEA, control plan and work instructions are kept by revision.
- 4
- 5
Submit for approval
The part approval package is submitted and the customer decision is recorded.
Entity diagram: Engineering and New Part Development
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Projects
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho WorkDrive
Read the relationships as text
- Launch Project develops Tool (1:N)
- Launch Project produces Control Plan (1:N)
- Launch Project ends with Part Approval (1:1)
Who does the work
- Development engineer
- Tooling engineer
- Program manager
Approvals and controls
- Mass production starts only after customer part approval
- Process or material changes need customer approval before use
Reports they watch
- Launches by phase
- Tooling status
- Approvals pending with customers
Hands over to
- Production Planning and Dispatch: Approved part with routing and cycle times
- Quality Assurance: Control plan and inspection points
Production Planning and DispatchTurns customer schedules into a production plan and ships on time.
Workflow
- 1
- 2
Plan production
Work orders are planned by machine and shift against capacity and finished stock.
- 3
- 4
Pack and dispatch
Parts are packed to customer standard, labelled and shipped with a shipment notice.
Entity diagram: Production Planning and Dispatch
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Inventory
Read the relationships as text
- Customer Release planned as Work Order (N:N)
- Work Order adds to Finished Stock (1:N)
- Finished Stock shipped in Shipment (N:N)
Who does the work
- Production planner
- Dispatch supervisor
Approvals and controls
- Premium freight to meet a schedule needs the plant head
Reports they watch
- Schedule attainment
- Finished stock against releases
- Premium freight cost
Hands over to
- Shop Floor: Work orders by machine and shift
- Procurement and Stores: Material requirements
- Finance and Accounts: Shipments to invoice
Shop FloorRuns machines and lines to plan and records output, scrap and downtime by lot.
Workflow
- 1
- 2
Record output
Good parts, rejects and downtime reasons are recorded per hour or per shift.
- 3
Tag lots
Each lot is tagged with material heat number, machine, shift and operator.
- 4
Entity diagram: Shop Floor
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Production Entry creates Lot (1:N)
- Machine logs Downtime (1:N)
- Machine produces Production Entry (1:N)
Who does the work
- Shift supervisor
- Machine operator
- Maintenance technician
Approvals and controls
- Production runs only after first-off approval by quality
- Tool changes over their life limit need the tooling engineer
Reports they watch
- OEE by machine
- Scrap by part and reason
- Downtime by reason
Hands over to
- Quality Assurance: Lots for inspection
- Production Planning and Dispatch: Output against plan
Quality AssuranceKeeps parts within specification and handles customer complaints with corrective action.
Workflow
- 1
Inspect incoming
Raw material and bought parts are checked against certificates and sampling plans.
- 2
Inspect in process and final
Inspections follow the control plan, and failed lots are put on hold.
- 3
- 4
Handle complaints
Customer complaints are logged with containment, root cause and 8D corrective action.
- 5
Audit the system
Internal audits against the quality system, such as IATF 16949, are planned and findings closed.
Entity diagram: Quality Assurance
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Desk
Read the relationships as text
- Inspection traced from Customer Complaint (N:N)
- Customer Complaint resolved by Corrective Action (1:1)
- Gauge used in Inspection (1:N)
Who does the work
- Quality engineer
- Inspector
- Quality manager
Approvals and controls
- Lots on hold are released only by the quality manager
- Deviations need customer approval
Reports they watch
- Customer PPM
- Complaints and 8D status
- Gauges due for calibration
Hands over to
- Shop Floor: Lots released or rejected
- Finance and Accounts: Customer debit notes for defects
Procurement and StoresBuys steel, aluminium, resins and bought-out parts and controls stock by lot.
Workflow
- 1
- 2
Receive with certificates
Material is received with mill certificates and heat numbers recorded.
- 3
- 4
Entity diagram: Procurement and Stores
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Inventory
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Purchase Order received as Material Lot (1:N)
- Material Lot issued in Material Issue (1:N)
- Purchase Order rated in Supplier Rating (N:N)
Who does the work
- Purchase officer
- Storekeeper
Approvals and controls
- New suppliers need quality approval
- Orders above the set value need the plant head
Reports they watch
- Stock cover in days
- Supplier delivery rating
- Material price trend
Hands over to
- Quality Assurance: Received lots for incoming inspection
- Finance and Accounts: Supplier bills
Finance and AccountsInvoices customers, pays suppliers and costs each part.
Workflow
- 1
Invoice shipments
Invoices are raised per shipment with GST in India, VAT in the UK and Europe, or sales tax where it applies.
- 2
Handle debit notes
Customer debit notes for rejects and price changes are matched and settled.
- 3
Bill tooling
Tooling amortisation or one-time tooling payments are tracked per part.
- 4
Cost parts
Material, labour, machine hours and scrap are compared with the quoted cost.
Entity diagram: Finance and Accounts
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Books
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Analytics
Read the relationships as text
- Invoice adjusted by Debit Note (1:N)
- Tooling Recovery billed in Invoice (1:N)
- Invoice counted in Part Cost (1:N)
Who does the work
- Plant accountant
- Costing analyst
Approvals and controls
- Debit notes are accepted only after quality review
Reports they watch
- Receivables by customer
- Part cost against quote
- Tooling recovery status
Hands over to
- Management and Reporting: Monthly plant P&L and cash
HR and PayrollStaffs shifts with skilled operators and pays wages, overtime and allowances.
Workflow
- 1
- 2
Track skills
A skill matrix records which operators can run each machine and process.
- 3
- 4
Pay
Wages, overtime and shift allowances are paid through Zoho Payroll where it is available, or your local payroll provider.
Zoho Recruit
Zoho People
Zoho Learn
Zoho Shifts
Zoho PayrollEntity diagram: HR and Payroll
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho People
- Zoho Shifts
- Zoho Payroll
Read the relationships as text
- Employee holds Skill Record (1:N)
- Employee assigned to Shift Roster (N:N)
- Employee paid by Payslip (1:N)
Who does the work
- HR manager
- Training coordinator
Approvals and controls
- Operators can be rostered only on machines they are qualified for
Reports they watch
- Skill matrix coverage
- Overtime by department
- Absenteeism
Hands over to
- Finance and Accounts: Payroll summary
- Shop Floor: Shift rosters
Management and ReportingGives plant leaders one view of delivery, quality, productivity and profit.
Workflow
- 1
- 2
Hold the daily review
Yesterday's output, scrap, delivery and complaints are reviewed each morning.
- 3
- 4
Entity diagram: Management and Reporting
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Analytics
Read the relationships as text
- Daily Review feeds Customer KPI (N:N)
- Customer KPI informs Capacity Plan (N:N)
Who does the work
- Plant head
- Managing director
Approvals and controls
- Capital spending on machines and tooling is approved by the managing director
Reports they watch
- OTD and PPM by customer
- OEE trend
- Plant profit by month
Hands over to
- Sales and Customer Programs: Capacity available for new programs
- HR and Payroll: Staffing plan
Zoho AnalyticsWhat to expect when you start
A typical plan for a focused project of one to three apps. Larger scope or messy data takes longer; we confirm the timeline after discovery.
Week 1 to 2
Map and agree
We walk through your automotive components manufacturing process from "Quote the RFQ" to "Invoice and handle claims", list the records and fields you really need, and agree the scope.
Week 3 to 4
Build the core
We configure Zoho CRM and Zoho Creator with your stages, roles, approvals and templates.
Week 5 to 6
Connect and migrate
We clean and import your data, connect email, payments or other tools, and build the reports you will use every week.
Week 7 to 8
Test and go live
Your team tests with real cases, we train each role, and we cut over with a checklist.
Mistakes to avoid
- Copying the old spreadsheet column for column. Keep only the fields that help someone decide or act.
- Leaving out exceptions such as returns, changes and cancellations. Model them early so the team does not work around the system.
- No owner per stage. Name one person for "Quote the RFQ" and one for "Invoice and handle claims".
- Going live without checking reports against numbers you already trust.
A good first win
Start with the problem that hurts most: Customer schedules change weekly and planning cannot keep stock and capacity in line. Fixing one visible problem in the first month builds trust and adoption for everything after it.
What you can measure
- On-time delivery to customer schedule
- Customer PPM
- Overall equipment effectiveness
- Scrap cost
Questions about Zoho for automotive components manufacturing
Which Zoho apps suit automotive components manufacturing businesses?
A typical automotive components manufacturing setup uses Zoho CRM, Zoho Creator, Zoho Projects, Zoho WorkDrive, Zoho Inventory, Zoho Books, Zoho Desk. We confirm the exact apps after mapping your own process in a discovery call.
How does the business process flow in Zoho for automotive components manufacturing?
1. Quote the RFQ; 2. Develop and approve; 3. Load customer schedules; 4. Produce with traceability; 5. Check and ship; 6. Invoice and handle claims.
Which departments does a Zoho setup for automotive components manufacturing cover?
A full setup covers Sales and Customer Programs, Engineering and New Part Development, Production Planning and Dispatch, Shop Floor, Quality Assurance, Procurement and Stores, Finance and Accounts, HR and Payroll, Management and Reporting. Each department works in its own Zoho screens, but they share the same customer, order and finance records, so work moves from one team to the next without being retyped.
Zoho apps we set up for automotive components manufacturing
Zoho CRM
Zoho Creator
Zoho Inventory
Zoho Books
Not sure which apps fit your business? Book a free 30-minute call or see all Zoho products we implement
Zoho services for automotive components manufacturing
All Zoho services →- Zoho ERP implementationBooks, Inventory, CRM and HR connected as one system
- Zoho workflow automationBlueprints, approvals and Deluge scripts that remove manual steps
- Zoho implementationZoho CRM live within 2 weeks, fixed price agreed in writing
- Zoho support100-hour support packs, first reply within 1 hour
- Zoho consultingChoose the right apps and plan before you build
- Data migration to ZohoMove from Salesforce, HubSpot, Tally, QuickBooks or spreadsheets
More industries we build Zoho workflows for
Zoho adapts to almost any business that has leads, orders, projects, people and money to track. A few examples are below; the industries page lists all 179 with a typical process flow and the Zoho apps behind each.
- Construction and ContractingControl tenders, project costs, subcontractors, site materials and progress billing from one system.
- Wholesale and DistributionRun orders, stock across warehouses, credit limits and collections for dealers and retailers.
- Food and BeverageTrack outlet and central kitchen stock, recipes, suppliers and daily sales with branch-wise accounts.
- Fitness and WellnessConvert enquiries into members, manage bookings and recurring fees, and keep members engaged.
- Staffing and RecruitmentManage client job orders, candidate pipelines, placements and invoicing in one flow.
- Travel and TourismTurn enquiries into itineraries, bookings and payments with supplier and customer tracking.
- Telecom and ISPsRun activation, installation, support and recurring billing for subscribers and enterprise accounts.
- Media and AdvertisingManage clients, briefs, campaign projects, approvals and retainer billing for agencies and media firms.
- Import and Export TradingHandle enquiries, proforma invoices, shipments, documentation and multi-currency accounting.