Stop wrestling with spreadsheets and disconnected systems. ERPDrive is purpose-built for Indian sheet metal stamping and fabrication manufacturers — from die management and press scheduling to scrap tracking, job work for surface treatment, and GST invoicing with correct HSN codes.
India's sheet metal fabrication and stamping industry is a critical backbone of the manufacturing sector, serving automotive, electrical, appliance, construction, and defence industries. From small press shops in Rajkot and Faridabad to large stamping units in Pune and Chennai, thousands of Indian manufacturers produce brackets, enclosures, chassis parts, electrical panels, and precision stampings every day.
Yet, the majority of sheet metal manufacturers still manage their operations with Tally, paper-based job cards, and Excel sheets. Die maintenance is tracked in notebooks. Press utilization is guessed, not measured. Scrap rates are accepted as unavoidable rather than systematically reduced. Job work for plating and painting is managed through phone calls and manual challans.
The manufacturers winning new contracts and retaining existing customers are the ones with real-time visibility into press utilization, die health, scrap trends, and delivery schedules. They quote accurately because they know their true cost per part. They deliver on time because their production scheduling accounts for die availability, press capacity, and material readiness.
ERPDrive was built by working with sheet metal stamping manufacturers across India. Every module, workflow, and report is designed for how press shops and fabrication units actually operate — not how a generic software vendor thinks they should.
If you run a press shop or fabrication unit in India, these problems are part of your daily reality. Generic ERP systems either ignore them or require expensive customization. ERPDrive solves each one out of the box.
Dies are the most expensive assets in a stamping operation. A progressive die can cost lakhs to manufacture, and its performance directly determines part quality, cycle time, and scrap rate. Yet most press shops track die usage in notebooks or not at all. When a die fails mid-production, there is no history of shot counts, maintenance records, or regrinding schedules.
You need a system that tracks each die from commissioning to retirement: shot count against maximum life, preventive maintenance schedules, repair history with costs, regrinding records, and spare die availability. Without this, you are reacting to breakdowns instead of preventing them.
Press machines represent significant capital investment — from 25-ton bench presses to 500-ton progressive stamping lines. Most press shops have no accurate data on actual press utilization. Machines sit idle waiting for dies, materials, or operator availability while the production manager assumes the shop is running at capacity.
You need to know the actual running hours versus available hours for each press, the reasons for downtime (die change, maintenance, material wait, no order), and the strokes per minute achieved versus target. Without this data, you cannot identify bottlenecks, justify new press investments, or accurately quote delivery dates.
Sheet metal stamping inherently generates scrap — skeleton waste from blanking, trim scrap from drawing, and rejected parts from dimensional failures. However, the difference between a profitable press shop and a struggling one is whether scrap is systematically tracked, analysed, and reduced or simply accepted as a cost of business.
Scrap happens at every stage: blanking and piercing generate skeleton waste, bending operations cause springback rejects, deep drawing leads to thinning and tearing, welding produces spattering and distortion rejects, and finishing operations add their own reject rates. You need operation-wise scrap tracking to identify where the losses are concentrated.
A typical sheet metal part goes through 5 to 8 operations: shearing or laser cutting, blanking, piercing, bending or forming, drawing, welding or assembly, deburring, and surface finishing. Each operation may happen on a different machine, require a different die or tool, and have its own quality checkpoints.
Managing this multi-step workflow in spreadsheets means losing visibility at every handoff. Parts pile up between operations with no tracking. Operators pick up jobs out of sequence. Urgent orders get buried. You need process routing that defines the exact sequence, links each step to a specific machine and die, and tracks work-in-progress at every stage.
Most sheet metal manufacturers outsource surface treatment — zinc plating, powder coating, painting, anodizing, or chrome plating — to specialized job workers. Managing this involves sending material out with proper challans, tracking quantities at the job worker, reconciling returns (accounting for rejections and process losses), and managing GST compliance for job work transactions.
Without a system, job work becomes a black hole. Material goes out but returns are not reconciled for weeks. Process losses are not tracked. Job work challans are handwritten and GST input tax credit on job work charges is missed or delayed. You need end-to-end job work management that handles the entire outward-inward cycle with GST compliance.
Sheet metal parts fall under multiple HSN codes depending on the final application: 7326 (articles of iron or steel), 7308 (structures and parts of iron or steel), 7610 (aluminium structures), 8538 (switchgear parts), 8504 (electrical transformer parts), and application-specific codes for automotive or appliance components. Different HSN codes attract different GST rates.
Incorrect HSN mapping leads to GST notices, penalties, and blocked input tax credits. Job work transactions add another layer of complexity with challan management, 180-day return deadlines, and proper ITC flow. Your ERP needs to handle this automatically without you becoming a GST expert.
Every feature in ERPDrive maps directly to a real problem that sheet metal stamping manufacturers face daily. Here is how the system addresses each of the six challenges above.
ERPDrive includes a dedicated die and tool master module. Register every die with its specifications: tonnage requirement, maximum shot life, cavity count, and assigned press. As production orders are completed, the system automatically increments shot counts. When a die reaches its maintenance interval (say every 50,000 shots), the system triggers a maintenance alert to your toolroom team.
Die repair and regrinding history is recorded with dates, costs, and the vendor or in-house toolroom that performed the work. You can track total cost of ownership for each die and make data-driven decisions about when to regrind, repair, or replace. Spare die inventory is managed so your production never stops waiting for a tool that is in the toolroom.
| Die ID | Part Name | Shot Count | Max Life | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIE-101 | Bracket LH | 42,500 | 1,00,000 | Active |
| DIE-102 | Enclosure Top | 88,200 | 1,00,000 | Maint Due |
| DIE-103 | Channel Base | 15,800 | 75,000 | Active |
| DIE-104 | Panel Side | -- | 1,50,000 | In Toolroom |
Define your press machines with their tonnage capacity, bed size, stroke length, and operating hours. ERPDrive's production scheduler automatically matches jobs to the appropriate press based on die tonnage requirements and machine capability. A 150-ton progressive die job will not accidentally get scheduled on a 63-ton press.
The scheduler considers die availability (is the die on the press, in the toolroom, or at a job worker?), material readiness, and operator assignment. The Gantt chart view gives your production manager a visual timeline of every press. Drag and drop to reschedule, see the impact of changes instantly, and receive alerts when a press becomes overloaded or idle.
| Job# | Part | Press | Die | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO-3201 | Bracket LH | Press-110T | DIE-101 | Running |
| WO-3202 | Cover Plate | Press-63T | DIE-108 | Running |
| WO-3203 | Channel Base | Press-200T | DIE-103 | Queued |
| WO-3204 | Panel Side | Press-250T | DIE-104 | Die Wait |
ERPDrive tracks scrap at every operation in your process routing. When an operator logs production for a blanking operation, they record good output, scrap quantity, and select a scrap reason code (die wear, material defect, setup error, burr, crack, springback). The same happens at bending, drawing, welding, and every subsequent operation.
The scrap analysis dashboard breaks down scrap by operation, machine, die, operator, shift, and time period. You can instantly see that your bending operation on Press-63T has a 4% rejection rate due to springback, while the same operation on Press-110T runs at 1.2%. This data drives targeted improvement actions. Skeleton waste and offcuts from blanking operations are tracked separately for scrap sale management.
| Operation | Good Qty | Scrap Qty | Scrap % | Top Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blanking | 48,200 | 960 | 1.9% | Within Limit |
| Bending | 47,240 | 1,420 | 2.9% | Springback |
| Drawing | 45,820 | 690 | 1.5% | Within Limit |
| Welding | 45,130 | 540 | 1.2% | Within Limit |
Many sheet metal products are not single stampings — they are welded assemblies composed of multiple stamped components, bought-out fasteners, nuts, bolts, and inserts. ERPDrive's BOM module supports unlimited nesting levels. Define your welded assembly, then break it down into stamped parts, each with its own process routing and material specification.
When you create a production order for an assembly, the system explodes the BOM across all levels, calculates net material requirements (sheet metal by grade and thickness, fasteners, inserts), and generates purchase requisitions for shortages. Every BOM revision is version-controlled, and alternate materials are supported at every level for cost optimization.
| BOM ID | Assembly | Levels | Parts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOM-501 | Control Panel Assy | 3 | 18 items | Active |
| BOM-502 | Chassis Frame | 2 | 12 items | Active |
| BOM-503 | Motor Housing | 3 | 22 items | Draft |
| BOM-504 | Bracket Sub-Assy | 2 | 8 items | Active |
ERPDrive handles the complete job work cycle for surface treatment operations. Create a job work order, generate a GST-compliant challan, dispatch material to the plater or painter, track quantities at the job worker, and reconcile returns with proper accounting for process losses and rejections. The 180-day return deadline under GST is tracked automatically with alerts.
Job worker performance is tracked with metrics like lead time, rejection rate, and process loss percentage. When selecting a job worker for a new order, you can compare vendors on these parameters. Job work charges are recorded with proper GST treatment, ensuring your input tax credit flow is accurate and auditable.
| Challan# | Job Worker | Process | Qty Sent | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JW-2201 | Shree Zinc Plating | Zinc Plating | 4,500 pcs | In Process |
| JW-2202 | Excel Coaters | Powder Coat | 2,200 pcs | Dispatched |
| JW-2203 | Krishna Painting | Wet Paint | 1,800 pcs | Partial Return |
| JW-2204 | Shree Zinc Plating | Zinc Plating | 3,100 pcs | Ready for Pickup |
ERPDrive comes pre-loaded with HSN codes relevant to the sheet metal and fabrication industry. When you add a product, the system suggests the correct HSN code and applies the appropriate GST rate automatically. Invoices are generated with all mandatory fields: GSTIN, HSN, SAC, tax breakup (CGST, SGST, IGST), and place of supply.
Job work challans are handled as per GST rules with proper input tax credit tracking. E-way bills are generated directly from dispatch notes. At month-end, export your data in GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B formats ready for filing. The GSTR-2A reconciliation report flags mismatches between your purchase records and supplier filings, so you never miss an input tax credit.
| Invoice# | Customer | HSN | Taxable | GST | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INV-6201 | Havells India | 7326.90 | ₹2,85,000 | ₹51,300 | E-Invoiced |
| INV-6202 | Schneider Elec | 8538.90 | ₹1,62,000 | ₹29,160 | E-Invoiced |
| INV-6203 | Godrej & Boyce | 7308.90 | ₹3,40,000 | ₹61,200 | Generated |
| INV-6204 | L&T Electrical | 7326.19 | ₹1,18,000 | ₹21,240 | Draft |
ERPDrive is packed with features designed specifically for press shops and fabrication units. Here are eight capabilities that make the biggest difference.
Track shot counts, schedule preventive maintenance, record regrinding and repairs, and manage spare die inventory. Get alerts before a die fails, not after.
Map jobs to presses based on tonnage requirements. Visual Gantt chart scheduling with die availability checks and automatic capacity planning.
Track scrap at every operation stage with reason codes. Identify patterns by die, machine, operator, and shift to drive systematic scrap reduction.
Build BOMs for welded assemblies with unlimited nesting levels. Auto-explode for material requirements with alternate material support and version control.
Complete challan-based job work management for plating, painting, and coating. Track dispatch, returns, process losses, and GST compliance in one flow.
Incoming material inspection, in-process checks per operation, and final inspection with dimensional reports. Full lot traceability from coil to dispatch.
Pre-configured HSN codes for sheet metal products (7326, 7308, 7610, 8538). Automatic tax calculation, e-invoicing, e-way bill, and GSTR filing-ready reports.
Calculate true cost per part including material (with scrap factor), die depreciation, press running cost, labour, overheads, and job work charges for accurate quoting.
ERPDrive is used by sheet metal and stamping manufacturers in every major fabrication cluster in India. Our team understands the specific challenges and business practices in each region.
Major hub for automotive sheet metal and stamping. Hundreds of press shops in Chakan, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Bhosari MIDC supplying to OEMs and Tier-1 companies.
One of India's largest clusters of sheet metal fabrication units. Press shops and fabrication units in Faridabad, Gurgaon, and Noida serving automotive, electrical, and appliance industries.
Gujarat's sheet metal and fabrication hub with a strong base of press shops, laser cutting units, and fabrication workshops serving agricultural, automotive, and industrial equipment sectors.
Southern India's manufacturing powerhouse with a dense cluster of stamping and fabrication units in Ambattur, Sriperumbudur, and Oragadam industrial areas.
Gujarat's industrial capital with a thriving sheet metal ecosystem. Press shops and fabrication units in Naroda, Vatva, and Sanand serving electrical panel, automotive, and construction sectors.
A mid-sized sheet metal stamping unit in Faridabad, producing electrical enclosures and automotive brackets, was struggling with high scrap rates, unplanned die breakdowns, and poor press utilization. After implementing ERPDrive, they achieved a 22% reduction in scrap, 30% improvement in press utilization, and eliminated unplanned die failures through systematic preventive maintenance tracking.
Common questions from sheet metal and stamping manufacturers evaluating ERP software.
ERPDrive is purpose-built for Indian sheet metal stamping and fabrication manufacturers. Unlike generic ERP systems, it includes die and tool master with shot count and life tracking, press-wise production scheduling with tonnage mapping, operation-wise scrap tracking for cutting, bending, welding, and finishing stages, job work challan management for plating and painting under GST, and multi-level BOM support for welded assemblies. No coding or heavy customization is needed.
Yes. ERPDrive includes a dedicated die and tool master module. You can record each die with its maximum shot life, current shot count, last maintenance date, and next scheduled maintenance. The system automatically increments shot counts as production orders are completed and triggers maintenance alerts when a die approaches its service interval or end of life. Die repair history, regrinding records, and replacement costs are all tracked for total cost of ownership analysis.
ERPDrive tracks scrap at every operation stage: blanking, piercing, bending, drawing, welding, and finishing. Each production order records good output, scrap quantity, and scrap reason codes. The system generates scrap analysis reports by operation, machine, operator, shift, and die. This data helps you identify the root causes of high scrap rates, whether it is a worn die, incorrect material gauge, or operator error. Over time, manufacturers using ERPDrive typically see a 15 to 25 percent reduction in scrap rates.
Most sheet metal and stamping manufacturers go live with ERPDrive within 5 to 10 working days. Since the system is pre-configured for press shop workflows, there is no need for months of customization. The implementation includes data migration from your existing system (Tally, spreadsheets, or another ERP), die master setup, BOM configuration, user training, and go-live support. Our team provides hands-on WhatsApp-based support throughout the process.
ERPDrive is trusted by manufacturers across diverse sectors.
Join hundreds of Indian sheet metal manufacturers who have switched to ERPDrive. Book a free demo and see how ERPDrive handles your specific stamping and fabrication workflow — from die management to dispatch.