Fusion 360 job shop system module

[bryan5]

I am not sure if this is the correct forum to post this request/question.

With Fusion 360 becoming an all in one software for the creation of a product, will Fusion 360 eventually branch off to connect all its capabilities to collect data for a Fusion 360 job shop software to be used for estimating, purchasing, scheduling, data collection, shipping and accounting. Similar to the software E2.

Job shops are different than an OEM manufacturer and I believe Fusion is the perfect software for a job shop because it connects all our cutting/machining/design/cam/drawings/forming/fabricating capabilities to produce products for various customers across various industries.

We have converted our machine shop cam/design/drawing capabilities to Fusion 360 and my next step is once the sheet metal module rolls out is to covert our laser/water jet/plasma/2d cam/bending/fabrication drawings to Fusion 360 to have the entire shop under one software.

The final step (wish) would be to then have estimating,purchasing,scheduling,data collection, shipping/receiving and accounting under the same (similar) software for seamless integration.

Is there something in the Fusion 360 family that can do this or is this something being discussed to be created in the future?

Thank you 

[paul.clauss · Accepted solution]

Hi @bryan5

Glad to hear you've been enjoying Fusion 360! One program to look into may be of interest to you is Fusion Lifecycle. This is our cloud-based PLM software.

You can also view the Product Roadmap blog for more information about what is coming to Fusion 360. I think that most of the features you addressed will be found in Fusion Lifecycle, but the roadmap blog is a great resource for keeping current with the direction of Fusion 360.

Also, if you have specific ideas about future product features, you can present them in the Fusion 360 Ideastation. You can also vote for ideas submitted by other Fusion users.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

[TrippyLighting]

I don't think we're talking about traditional PLM software mainly aimed at larger corporations.

I just recently had a conversation about this exact topic with a colleague. A lot of the work does not end with the BOM that's where it starts and that's where it also stats to get tedious and inevfficient.

Once it's designed and on a BOM a component in Fusion 360 will have many more data points associated with it than just geometric data. You may have to get it quoted, you need a delivery time. Maybe for multiple things associated with the same part. Machining, anodizing etc. Multiple quotes have to be compared and currently all that stuff resides in some file structure on a local hard drive and has to be managed manually, or in some form of an ERP $$$$ystem. 

How could this look like ? Assume I have designed a component as an independent design contractor for a client. I have to go out and get this quoted, so I see several companies that offer  such services with let say A360 connection (for example) just like @bryan5's job shop. They can look at the parts and specifications use one of the A360  API's to provide pricing and delivery time etc.

Once I am done with my design I can see the BOM filling with quote data etc. from the different suppliers without having to collect and organize the information manually. I can accept the quote from a supplier with a press of a button and all other will at the same time receive a notice that they did not win the business this time. They have immediate access to the 3D data without me having to do a thing. No additional email, not conversation about what file format needed.

I could easily go on and spin this further the potential here is huge. Pure Bliss!

[bryan5]

I believe this could be the next step of integration for Fusion 360. 

Fusion is already seamlessly connecting CAD/CAM/CAE now let's connect the Estimating, Purchasing,Job scheduling for manufacturing, Purchase order/Work order creation, QC, Shipping and Receiving. 

No other software has integrated so much with Fusion and there is no other software out there that has there own ERP system. This would be the next big game changer for Fusion.

Thank you