Make-To-Order (MTO) Manufacturing Software
What is MTO manufacturing software?
MTO manufacturing software is a specialized platform designed to manage the complexities of High-Mix, Low-Volume production, where manufacturing starts only after a customer order is confirmed. As a modular MES, 24Flow connects your ERP directly to the shopfloor, providing real-time visibility, dynamic capacity planning, and complete traceability from customer order to finished product.
Optimize Your Shopfloor with 24Flow's MTO Software
- Reduced lead times and faster delivery
- Improved planning with dynamic capacity management
- Real-time visibility on the shopfloor
- Reduced Work-In-Progress (WIP) to prevent bottlenecks
- Complete traceability of components and subassemblies
- Fully integrated tools that connect seamlessly with your ERP
The Common Challenges of MTO Manufacturers
When Make-to-Order manufacturing is mentioned, two well-known challenges always appear:
Complex Production Planning
Long Lead Times​
Make-to-Order throughput times stretch when Work-In-Progress piles up between workstations and bottlenecks go unnoticed until they cause delays. By applying QRM and Lean principles, 24Flow reduces WIP, exposes bottlenecks in real time on the shop floor, and shortens the path from confirmed order to finished product.
You're likely an MTO manufacturer if
- Production only starts once a customer order is confirmed
- You build complex products in low volumes, rarely the same twice
- Every batch has different routings, materials, or specifications
- You carry little to no finished-goods inventory
- Lead time and on-time delivery are constant pressure points
- Your ERP plans the order, but the shop floor still runs on paper or gut feeling
Industries Relying on MTO Software
24Flow brings control and flow to High-Mix, Low-Volume production across industries. Explore how it works in your environment:
FAQ
What is MTO manufacturing software?
MTO manufacturing software is a specialized platform that manages High-Mix, Low-Volume production, where manufacturing starts only after a customer order is confirmed. It connects your ERP to the shopfloor to deliver real-time visibility, dynamic capacity planning, and end-to-end traceability from order to finished product.
What is the difference between make-to-order (MTO) and make-to-stock (MTS)?
In make-to-stock, products are built to a forecast and held in inventory. In make-to-order, production only begins once a customer order is confirmed. This minimizes finished-goods inventory and allows greater product variety, but introduces more planning complexity and longer lead times.
How does MTO software reduce long lead times?
By applying Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) and Lean principles, MTO software reduces Work-In-Progress, prevents bottlenecks through dynamic capacity planning, and gives operators the right information at the right time, shortening throughput times across the entire production cycle.
Can MES be used for make-to-order companies?
Yes. A modular MES like 24Flow is well suited to make-to-order manufacturing because it handles the variability of High-Mix, Low-Volume production: planning and releasing main and sub-orders, tracking components and subassemblies, and adapting to orders that differ with every batch.
How does MTO software improve traceability and visibility?
It provides complete traceability from customer order to finished product through time and scrap registration, component and subassembly tracking, and digital checklists, while real-time shopfloor screens give continuous visibility into production status.
Which industries use MTO manufacturing software?
MTO software is used by manufacturers of complex, low-volume products such as metal processing, machine builders, repair depots, and printing and labeling companies. Any environment where production starts after order confirmation and every batch is different.
How does 24Flow integrate with our ERP?
24Flow connects directly to your ERP, letting you plan and release main and sub-orders while feeding real-time shopfloor data back. This keeps planning, traceability, and order status synchronized between the office and the shop floor. Discover all our integrations here.
Your journey to leaner, faster MTO production starts here.
Talk to our experts and find out how to get started.
ABOUT US
24Flow is a modular manufacturing platform that empowers make-to-order manufacturers to reduce lead times and increase visibility & traceability. Inspired by lean and QRM, 24Flow controls the flow of production orders which increases visibility and results in shorter lead times, improved delivery reliability and a reduction of work-in-progress and inventory.
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