Zoho implementation for Plastics and Rubber
Zoho for plastics and rubber: plan moulds, materials and production runs, and cost each job accurately.
Business process workflow
How plastics and rubber work flows in Zoho
Plan moulds, materials and production runs, and cost each job accurately.
Common problems we fix
- Mould and machine usage is not tracked
- Scrap and rejection cost is hidden
- Order status is unclear to buyers
The process, step by step
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Zoho AnalyticsDepartment by department
How every department of a plastics and rubber business works in Zoho
A plastics or rubber processor turns resin and compound into moulded, extruded or calendered parts against customer drawings and schedules. In Zoho sales, planning, the moulding floor, tool room, quality, stores, accounts and HR share one part master and one order, so resin, mould and machine data line up.
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 Engineering to Production Planning: Sales orders and monthly schedules per part
- 2Sales and Customer Engineering to Tool Room and Mould Maintenance: Approved mould orders and part drawings
- 3Production Planning to Moulding and Extrusion Floor: Daily production orders
- 4Production Planning to Purchase, Stores and Dispatch: Resin and insert requirements
- 5Moulding and Extrusion Floor to Quality Assurance: Batches for inspection and first-off requests
- 6Moulding and Extrusion Floor to Tool Room and Mould Maintenance: Mould faults and shot counts
- 7Moulding and Extrusion Floor to Purchase, Stores and Dispatch: Finished goods booked to stock
- 8Tool Room and Mould Maintenance to Production Planning: Mould availability and blocks
- 9Tool Room and Mould Maintenance to Finance and Accounts: Tooling milestones ready to bill
- 10Quality Assurance to Purchase, Stores and Dispatch: Released batches cleared for dispatch
- 11Quality Assurance to Moulding and Extrusion Floor: Process corrections from complaints
- 12Purchase, Stores and Dispatch to Finance and Accounts: Supplier bills and dispatch details for invoicing
- 13Finance and Accounts to Management and Reporting: Monthly profit, margin and cash
- 14HR and Payroll to Finance and Accounts: Payroll and statutory dues
- 15Management and Reporting to Sales and Customer Engineering: Capacity available and pricing guidance
- 16Management and Reporting to Production Planning: Priorities for late customers
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 EngineeringWins part business from OEMs and brand owners and sets realistic prices, tooling terms and schedules.
Workflow
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Receive RFQs
RFQs with drawings, material grade and annual volume are logged as deals in Zoho CRM with files attached.
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Cost the part
The estimator works out shot weight, cavities, cycle time, resin cost and machine rate to build the piece price.
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Quote part and tooling
Quotes show piece price, mould cost, resin price basis and the formula for resin price changes.
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Get samples approved
First samples and PPAP or sample reports go to the customer and approval is recorded before mass production.
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Receive schedules
Purchase orders and monthly delivery schedules are entered as sales orders.
Zoho WorkDriveEntity diagram: Sales and Customer Engineering
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 Part Costing (1:1)
- Part Costing prices Quote (1:N)
- Quote becomes Sales Order (1:N)
Who does the work
- Sales engineer
- Cost estimator
- Sales head
Approvals and controls
- Quotes below target margin need sales head approval
- Resin price escalation claims to customers are approved by management before sending
Reports they watch
- RFQ pipeline by customer and status
- Quote win rate
- Monthly schedule against capacity
Hands over to
- Production Planning: Sales orders and monthly schedules per part
- Tool Room and Mould Maintenance: Approved mould orders and part drawings
Production PlanningLoads moulds onto the right machines and plans resin so schedules are met with minimum changeovers.
Workflow
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Explode the schedule
Customer schedules are converted into production quantities per part after stock is netted off.
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Match mould to machine
Each part is planned on a press whose tonnage and shot size suit its mould.
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Plan resin and masterbatch
Resin, masterbatch and inserts are calculated from the bill of materials and shortages are flagged.
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Release production orders
Daily production orders go to the floor with machine, mould, shift and target quantity.
Entity diagram: Production Planning
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Inventory
Read the relationships as text
- Machine runs Production Order (1:N)
- Mould used in Production Order (1:N)
- Production Order needs Material Plan (1:N)
Who does the work
- Production planner
- PPC manager
Approvals and controls
- Running a mould on a press outside its approved list needs PPC manager and quality approval
Reports they watch
- Machine loading for the week
- Schedule adherence per customer
- Resin requirement versus stock
Hands over to
- Moulding and Extrusion Floor: Daily production orders
- Purchase, Stores and Dispatch: Resin and insert requirements
Moulding and Extrusion FloorRuns presses and lines to plan, records output, rejects and downtime every shift.
Workflow
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Set up the mould
The setter loads the mould and process sheet with temperatures, pressures and cycle time.
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Log hourly output
Operators record good parts, rejects by defect such as short shot, flash or sink, and downtime by reason.
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Handle regrind
Runners and rejects are ground and the regrind percentage is recorded against the batch.
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Book finished goods
Packed good parts are booked into finished stock with batch labels.
Entity diagram: Moulding and Extrusion Floor
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Process Sheet governs Shift Production (1:N)
- Shift Production records Downtime (1:N)
- Shift Production records Reject Log (1:N)
Who does the work
- Machine operator
- Mould setter
- Shift supervisor
Approvals and controls
- Process parameter changes outside the approved window need quality approval
- Production starts only after first-off approval
Reports they watch
- OEE by machine and shift
- Reject rate by defect and part
- Downtime by reason
Hands over to
- Quality Assurance: Batches for inspection and first-off requests
- Tool Room and Mould Maintenance: Mould faults and shot counts
- Purchase, Stores and Dispatch: Finished goods booked to stock
Tool Room and Mould MaintenanceBuilds, maintains and repairs moulds and dies so they run without breakdowns.
Workflow
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Track new mould builds
New moulds are tracked as projects with design, machining, trial and approval stages.
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Schedule preventive maintenance
Moulds are serviced after a set shot count and blocked from planning when due.
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Repair breakdowns
Mould damage from the floor becomes a repair job with cause and spares used.
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Record ownership
Customer-owned moulds are recorded with ownership and insurance details.
Zoho ProjectsEntity diagram: Tool Room and Mould Maintenance
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Projects
Read the relationships as text
- Mould Asset undergoes Mould Repair (1:N)
- Mould Build creates Mould Asset (1:1)
Who does the work
- Tool room engineer
- Toolmaker
Approvals and controls
- Modifications to customer-owned moulds need written customer approval
Reports they watch
- Moulds due for maintenance
- Mould breakdown hours
- New mould build status
Hands over to
- Production Planning: Mould availability and blocks
- Finance and Accounts: Tooling milestones ready to bill
Quality AssuranceMakes sure every batch meets drawing, material and customer requirements before it ships.
Workflow
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Inspect incoming resin
Resin lots are checked for MFI, moisture and certificate of analysis before use.
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Approve first-off and patrol
First-off and patrol checks record dimensions and visual defects against the control plan.
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Release batches
Final inspection releases or holds each batch, and held stock cannot be dispatched.
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Handle complaints
Customer complaints are investigated with 8D reports and corrective actions.
Zoho DeskEntity diagram: Quality Assurance
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Resin Lot Test part of Inspection (1:N)
- Inspection leads to Batch Release (1:N)
- Complaint 8D traces to Batch Release (1:N)
Who does the work
- Quality inspector
- Quality engineer
- QA manager
Approvals and controls
- Deviation or concession for out-of-spec parts needs customer approval
- Held batches are released only by the QA manager
Reports they watch
- Customer PPM by part
- Batches on hold
- Open 8D actions
Hands over to
- Purchase, Stores and Dispatch: Released batches cleared for dispatch
- Moulding and Extrusion Floor: Process corrections from complaints
Purchase, Stores and DispatchBuys resin, masterbatch and packing, controls stock by lot and ships on schedule.
Workflow
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Buy resin and consumables
Purchase orders for resin grades, masterbatch, inserts and cartons are raised against plan.
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Receive by lot
Each resin lot is received with its supplier lot number and certificate.
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Issue to machines
Material is issued to production orders by lot so usage and wastage can be tracked.
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Dispatch to customer
Released parts are packed, labelled and shipped with invoice and e-way bill or delivery note.
Entity diagram: Purchase, Stores and Dispatch
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Inventory
Read the relationships as text
- Purchase Order receives Material Lot (1:N)
- Material Lot issued as Material Issue (1:N)
- Shipment traces to Material Lot (N:N)
Who does the work
- Purchase executive
- Storekeeper
- Dispatch executive
Approvals and controls
- Resin purchases above the plan quantity need PPC and purchase manager approval
- Unreleased batches cannot be dispatched
Reports they watch
- Resin stock and days of cover
- Material yield per part
- On-time dispatch by customer
Hands over to
- Finance and Accounts: Supplier bills and dispatch details for invoicing
Finance and AccountsInvoices parts and tooling, tracks resin price changes and knows the real margin per part.
Workflow
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Invoice dispatches
Sales invoices are raised from dispatch with GST in India or VAT in the UAE and UK.
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Bill tooling
Mould costs are billed on milestones or amortised in the piece price as agreed.
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Handle resin price revisions
Resin price changes are tracked and customer price revisions raised as debit or credit notes.
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Cost parts
Actual resin, regrind, machine hours and rejects are compared with the quoted cost per part.
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
- Price Revision adjusts Invoice (1:N)
- Tooling Bill billed as Invoice (1:1)
- Part Margin uses Invoice (1:N)
Who does the work
- Accounts executive
- Cost accountant
- Finance manager
Approvals and controls
- Credit notes for price revisions need finance manager approval
Reports they watch
- Receivables by customer
- Margin per part and customer
- Resin cost trend against price
Hands over to
- Management and Reporting: Monthly profit, margin and cash
HR and PayrollStaffs three shifts, tracks attendance and overtime and pays operators and contract labour correctly.
Workflow
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Hire operators and setters
Openings are tracked and skills such as mould setting are recorded on the employee.
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Track attendance and overtime
Biometric attendance and overtime feed payroll, with contract labour tracked separately.
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Run payroll
Wages, shift allowance and overtime are paid in Zoho Payroll where it is available, or your local payroll provider.
Zoho Recruit
Zoho People
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 records Attendance (1:N)
- Employee assigned to Shift Roster (1:N)
- Employee receives Payslip (1:N)
Who does the work
- HR executive
- Payroll officer
Approvals and controls
- Overtime beyond the weekly limit needs plant head approval
Reports they watch
- Absenteeism by shift
- Overtime hours and cost
- Skill matrix coverage
Hands over to
- Finance and Accounts: Payroll and statutory dues
Management and ReportingGives owners one view of OEE, rejects, schedule adherence and margin.
Workflow
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Combine data
Production, quality, stores and accounts data sync into Zoho Analytics.
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Review daily
The plant head reviews yesterday's OEE, rejects and dispatch each morning.
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Act on alerts
Alerts for high rejects, late schedules and held stock go to managers in Cliq.
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 Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Plant KPI triggers Action Item (1:N)
- Customer Scorecard triggers Action Item (1:N)
Who does the work
- Managing director
- Plant head
- Finance head
Approvals and controls
- New press or capacity investments are approved by the managing director
Reports they watch
- OEE trend by machine
- Customer PPM and on-time delivery
- Margin per part
Hands over to
- Sales and Customer Engineering: Capacity available and pricing guidance
- Production Planning: Priorities for late customers
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 plastics and rubber process from "RFQ and quote" to "Cost analysis", 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 "RFQ and quote" and one for "Cost analysis".
- Going live without checking reports against numbers you already trust.
A good first win
Start with the problem that hurts most: Mould and machine usage is not tracked. Fixing one visible problem in the first month builds trust and adoption for everything after it.
What you can measure
- Rejection rate
- Machine utilisation
- On-time delivery
Questions about Zoho for plastics and rubber
Which Zoho apps suit plastics and rubber businesses?
A typical plastics and rubber setup uses Zoho CRM, Zoho Creator, Zoho Inventory, Zoho Books, Zoho Analytics. We confirm the exact apps after mapping your own process in a discovery call.
How does the business process flow in Zoho for plastics and rubber?
1. RFQ and quote; 2. Tooling and moulds; 3. Material planning; 4. Production run; 5. Dispatch and invoice; 6. Cost analysis.
Which departments does a Zoho setup for plastics and rubber cover?
A full setup covers Sales and Customer Engineering, Production Planning, Moulding and Extrusion Floor, Tool Room and Mould Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Purchase, Stores and Dispatch, 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 plastics and rubber
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 plastics and rubber
All Zoho services →- 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
- Zoho auditA scored review of your current Zoho setup
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.