Zoho implementation for Electronics Manufacturing
Zoho for electronics manufacturing: handle BOMs, component stock, assembly runs, serial numbers and warranty.
Business process workflow
How electronics manufacturing work flows in Zoho
Handle BOMs, component stock, assembly runs, serial numbers and warranty.
Common problems we fix
- Component shortages stop lines
- Serial and batch traceability is weak
- Warranty claims are handled over email
The process, step by step
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Zoho DeskDepartment by department
How every department of a electronics manufacturing business works in Zoho
In an electronics or PCB assembly business, sales, engineering, supply chain, SMT and assembly, test, RMA, finance and HR all work on the same customer BOM and build lot. In Zoho each team has its own screens, but they share one part master, one revision and one serial record from quote to field return.
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 Program Management to NPI and Engineering: New assemblies and revisions for NPI review
- 2Sales and Program Management to Production Planning and SMT Assembly: Confirmed orders and forecasts by revision
- 3NPI and Engineering to Production Planning and SMT Assembly: Released assembly and revision for production
- 4NPI and Engineering to Supply Chain and Component Stores: Production BOM with approved parts and alternates
- 5Supply Chain and Component Stores to Production Planning and SMT Assembly: Complete kits ready for the build
- 6Supply Chain and Component Stores to Finance and Accounts: Goods receipts matched to supplier bills
- 7Production Planning and SMT Assembly to Quality and Test: Built serials for test and inspection
- 8Production Planning and SMT Assembly to Supply Chain and Component Stores: Material consumed and scrap by reel
- 9Quality and Test to Sales and Program Management: Packed units with certificates and ship status
- 10Quality and Test to Customer Support and RMA: Serial history for field returns
- 11Customer Support and RMA to Quality and Test: Root causes for corrective action
- 12Customer Support and RMA to Finance and Accounts: Chargeable repairs for invoicing
- 13Finance and Accounts to Management and Reporting: Monthly margin, stock and cash results
- 14HR and Payroll to Finance and Accounts: Payroll summary for posting
- 15HR and Payroll to Production Planning and SMT Assembly: Available certified operators by shift
- 16Management and Reporting to Sales and Program Management: Customer and programme priorities
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 Program ManagementQuotes and wins build programmes from OEM customers and manages each programme's forecast, orders and changes.
Workflow
- 1
Receive RFQs
RFQs with BOM, Gerbers and annual volumes are logged in Zoho CRM and files are stored with the deal.
- 2
Cost the BOM
Component prices, lead times and assembly cost per board are worked out in a costing sheet with volume breaks.
- 3
Send the quotation
The quote with price breaks, lead time and NRE charges goes to the customer and versions are kept.
- 4
Book orders and forecasts
Purchase orders and rolling forecasts from customers become sales orders and demand lines.
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Manage programme changes
Engineering changes, price updates and last-time buys are agreed with the customer on the programme record.
Zoho WorkDriveEntity diagram: Sales and Program Management
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho CRM
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Inventory
Read the relationships as text
- RFQ costed in BOM Costing (1:1)
- BOM Costing priced in Quote (1:N)
- Quote becomes Sales Order (1:N)
Who does the work
- Program manager
- Sales engineer
- Commercial head
Approvals and controls
- Quotes below the target margin or with long-lead parts not covered need the commercial head
- Orders on a revision engineering has not released are held until NPI clears them
Reports they watch
- Quote pipeline and win rate
- Orders and forecast by customer
- Backlog against ship dates
Hands over to
- NPI and Engineering: New assemblies and revisions for NPI review
- Production Planning and SMT Assembly: Confirmed orders and forecasts by revision
NPI and EngineeringPrepares each new assembly for production with DFM checks, programmes, stencils and process documents.
Workflow
- 1
Run DFM review
Gerbers and BOM are checked for footprints, panelisation and test access, and issues go back to the customer.
- 2
Build the production BOM
The customer BOM is cleaned into the production BOM with approved manufacturer part numbers and alternates.
- 3
Prepare the process
Pick-and-place programmes, stencil orders, reflow profiles and work instructions are prepared and stored.
- 4
Run the first article
The first build is inspected and the first article report is sent for customer sign-off.
- 5
Control changes
Engineering change orders update the BOM revision and the effective date for production.
Zoho SignEntity diagram: NPI and Engineering
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Inventory
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Assembly built from Production BOM (1:1)
- Assembly reviewed in DFM Issue (1:N)
- Assembly proven by First Article (1:N)
- ECO revises Production BOM (1:N)
Who does the work
- NPI engineer
- Process engineer
- Engineering manager
Approvals and controls
- Alternate parts need customer approval before they enter the production BOM
- ECOs are released only after the engineering manager and program manager approve
Reports they watch
- NPI status by assembly
- Open DFM issues
- ECOs pending implementation
Hands over to
- Production Planning and SMT Assembly: Released assembly and revision for production
- Supply Chain and Component Stores: Production BOM with approved parts and alternates
Supply Chain and Component StoresBuys components, manages reels and moisture-sensitive parts, and keeps traceable stock for every build.
Workflow
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Plan material
Order and forecast demand is exploded through the BOM and netted against stock and open orders.
- 2
Buy components
Purchase orders go to franchised distributors and suppliers, with lead times and price breaks recorded.
- 3
Receive and label reels
Reels and trays are received with lot and date code, given a reel ID and checked by incoming quality.
- 4
Control moisture-sensitive parts
MSL parts are logged out of dry storage with floor life tracked until they are baked or returned.
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Kit for the build
Components are kitted to the work order and issued by reel ID.
Entity diagram: Supply Chain and Component Stores
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Inventory
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Component stocked as Reel (1:N)
- Purchase Order received as Reel (1:N)
- Reel issued to Kit (N:N)
Who does the work
- Buyer
- Material planner
- Storekeeper
Approvals and controls
- Buying from a non-franchised source needs quality and the customer's written approval
- Stock adjustments on reels need a reason and supervisor sign-off
Reports they watch
- Shortages by work order
- Parts at end of life or on long lead
- Stock value and excess by customer
Hands over to
- Production Planning and SMT Assembly: Complete kits ready for the build
- Finance and Accounts: Goods receipts matched to supplier bills
Production Planning and SMT AssemblyBuilds boards and box builds to the route, recording every station and serial number.
Workflow
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Schedule work orders
Planners raise work orders with quantity, revision and line, and schedule them around kit status and changeovers.
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Set up the line
Feeders are loaded and the setup is verified against the BOM by reel scan.
- 3
Run SMT and reflow
Boards pass printing, placement and reflow, and AOI results are captured by serial number.
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Through-hole and box build
Manual assembly, wave or selective soldering and final assembly are logged by station.
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Record yield and defects
Defects found at each station are recorded with location and cause, and repairs are logged.
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Entity diagram: Production Planning and SMT Assembly
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Work Order builds Serial Record (1:N)
- Serial Record passes through Station Log (1:N)
- Feeder Setup builds Serial Record (N:N)
- Station Log may record Defect Entry (1:N)
Who does the work
- Production planner
- Line supervisor
- SMT operator
- Rework technician
Approvals and controls
- Starting a build without a full kit needs the operations manager
- A wrong reel on a feeder stops the line until a supervisor verifies the setup
Reports they watch
- First pass yield by line and assembly
- Defects by type and ref designator
- Output against plan by shift
- Work orders at risk of missing ship date
Hands over to
- Quality and Test: Built serials for test and inspection
- Supply Chain and Component Stores: Material consumed and scrap by reel
Quality and TestTests and inspects every unit, controls non-conformances and supports customer and ISO audits.
Workflow
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Inspect incoming parts
Incoming components are checked for labels, damage and counterfeit risk before stock.
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Run ICT and functional test
Test results are recorded by serial, and failures go to debug with symptom.
- 3
Final inspection
Units are inspected and packed only after passing all tests.
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Raise non-conformance
Repeated failures raise an NCR with root cause and corrective action.
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Release certificates
Certificates of conformance and test data are attached to the shipment.
Entity diagram: Quality and Test
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho WorkDrive
Read the relationships as text
- Test Result may raise NCR (1:N)
- Incoming Inspection may raise NCR (1:N)
- Test Result summarised in CoC (1:N)
Who does the work
- Test engineer
- Quality engineer
- Quality manager
Approvals and controls
- Shipping under deviation needs the quality manager and customer approval
Reports they watch
- Test yield by assembly
- Open NCRs by age
- Incoming rejects by supplier
Hands over to
- Sales and Program Management: Packed units with certificates and ship status
- Customer Support and RMA: Serial history for field returns
Customer Support and RMAHandles customer complaints and field returns, finds the failure and repairs or replaces units.
Workflow
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Open the RMA
Customers raise returns on the portal or by email and each RMA is linked to serial numbers.
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Receive and analyse
Returned units are received and failure analysis is done using the serial history.
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Repair or replace
Units are repaired, retested and returned, or replaced under warranty.
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Report the 8D
For serious failures an 8D report is prepared and shared with the customer.
Entity diagram: Customer Support and RMA
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Desk
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho WorkDrive
Read the relationships as text
- RMA covers Returned Unit (1:N)
- Returned Unit analysed in Failure Analysis (1:1)
- Failure Analysis summarised in Report 8D (N:N)
Who does the work
- Customer quality engineer
- RMA technician
Approvals and controls
- Out-of-warranty repairs need the customer to accept the repair quote
Reports they watch
- RMA turnaround time
- Field failure rate by assembly
Hands over to
- Quality and Test: Root causes for corrective action
- Finance and Accounts: Chargeable repairs for invoicing
Finance and AccountsInvoices shipments and NRE, pays suppliers, values stock and reports margin by customer and assembly.
Workflow
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Invoice shipments
Shipped orders become invoices in Zoho Books with GST in India or VAT in the UK and UAE.
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Bill NRE and tooling
Stencils, fixtures and programming charges are billed as agreed in the quote.
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Match and pay suppliers
Supplier bills are matched to purchase orders and goods receipts before payment.
- 4
Cost each work order
Material, labour and scrap are rolled up to give actual cost per board.
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Review excess and obsolete stock
Customer-specific excess is reviewed for liability claims under the customer agreement.
Zoho AnalyticsEntity diagram: Finance and Accounts
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Books
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Work Order Cost compared with Invoice (N:N)
- Supplier Bill feeds Work Order Cost (N:N)
- Liability Claim billed as Invoice (1:1)
Who does the work
- Accountant
- Cost accountant
- Finance manager
Approvals and controls
- Liability claims and credit notes need the finance manager and commercial head
Reports they watch
- Margin by customer and assembly
- Inventory value and excess by customer
- Receivables ageing
Hands over to
- Management and Reporting: Monthly margin, stock and cash results
HR and PayrollHires and trains operators and engineers, runs shifts and certifications, and pays people correctly.
Workflow
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Hire for shifts
Operators and technicians are recruited for each shift and line.
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Train and certify
Soldering, ESD and IPC certifications are recorded and renewal dates tracked.
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Run shifts and attendance
Shift rosters, attendance and overtime are managed per line.
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Process payroll
Attendance and overtime flow into 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 Certification (1:N)
- Employee assigned to Shift Roster (N:N)
- Shift Roster feeds Payslip (N:N)
Who does the work
- HR executive
- Training coordinator
- Payroll officer
Approvals and controls
- Operators cannot be rostered on a station without a valid certification
Reports they watch
- Certifications expiring
- Overtime by line
Hands over to
- Finance and Accounts: Payroll summary for posting
- Production Planning and SMT Assembly: Available certified operators by shift
Management and ReportingGives leadership one view of orders, yield, material risk, quality and cash.
Workflow
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Connect the data
Zoho Analytics pulls from CRM, Inventory, Creator, Desk, Books and People.
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Daily operations view
Output, first pass yield, shortages and ship dates are shown each morning.
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Monthly business review
Bookings, margin, stock and field failures are reviewed by customer.
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Zoho Flow
Zoho CliqEntity diagram: Management and Reporting
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Analytics
- Zoho Flow
Read the relationships as text
- Dashboard shows KPI (N:N)
- KPI triggers Alert (1:N)
Who does the work
- Managing director
- Operations head
Approvals and controls
- Yield and on-time delivery targets are set by management each quarter
Reports they watch
- On-time delivery by customer
- Yield and defect trend
- Margin and stock by customer
Hands over to
- Sales and Program Management: Customer and programme priorities
What 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 electronics manufacturing process from "Customer order" to "Warranty and service", 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 Inventory 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 "Customer order" and one for "Warranty and service".
- Going live without checking reports against numbers you already trust.
A good first win
Start with the problem that hurts most: Component shortages stop lines. Fixing one visible problem in the first month builds trust and adoption for everything after it.
What you can measure
- First-pass yield
- Component shortage count
- Warranty claim rate
Questions about Zoho for electronics manufacturing
Which Zoho apps suit electronics manufacturing businesses?
A typical electronics manufacturing setup uses Zoho CRM, Zoho Inventory, Zoho Creator, 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 electronics manufacturing?
1. Customer order; 2. BOM and planning; 3. Procurement; 4. Assembly and test; 5. Shipping; 6. Warranty and service.
Which departments does a Zoho setup for electronics manufacturing cover?
A full setup covers Sales and Program Management, NPI and Engineering, Supply Chain and Component Stores, Production Planning and SMT Assembly, Quality and Test, Customer Support and RMA, 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 electronics manufacturing
Zoho CRM
Zoho Inventory
Zoho Creator
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 electronics manufacturing
All Zoho services →- Zoho ERP implementationBooks, Inventory, CRM and HR connected as one system
- 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
- Zoho integration servicesConnect Zoho to payments, ads, telephony, e-commerce and more
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.