Subcontracting in Odoo 19:
Outsource Manufacturing Without Losing Traceability

Setting Up Subcontractors in Odoo 19: Vendor Configuration and Subcontracting Location

Before you can use subcontracting, you need to enable the module and configure your vendors as subcontractors. Odoo 19 creates a dedicated subcontracting location for each subcontractor — this is how the system tracks components that have left your warehouse but haven't been consumed yet.

Step 1: Enable the Subcontracting Module

Navigate to Settings → Manufacturing and enable Subcontracting. This installs mrp_subcontracting and creates the parent virtual location Partner Locations / Subcontracting. If you also want quality checks on subcontracted receipts, enable Quality under the same settings page — this installs mrp_subcontracting_quality.

Step 2: Configure the Vendor as a Subcontractor

Open the vendor contact form. Under the Purchase tab, you'll notice no special "subcontractor" checkbox — in Odoo 19, a vendor becomes a subcontractor the moment you assign them to a subcontracting BoM. However, you should still set up the vendor properly:

• Payment terms — subcontractors often invoice per batch, not per unit. Set terms that match your agreement.
• Delivery lead time — this is the subcontractor's production lead time. Odoo uses it for scheduling.
• Currency — if the subcontractor invoices in a different currency, set it here to get automatic conversion on POs.

Step 3: Understand the Subcontracting Location

When you confirm a PO to a subcontractor, Odoo automatically creates a child location under Partner Locations / Subcontracting named after the vendor. Components are moved from your warehouse to this location. This gives you real-time visibility into what materials are sitting at each subcontractor's facility.

# Useful when migrating vendors from a legacy system
# Run via shell or server action

subcontractor = env['res.partner'].search([
    ('name', '=', 'Precision Metal Works Inc.')
], limit=1)

# The subcontracting location is auto-created, but you can
# customize its properties (e.g., for valuation or removal strategy)
sub_location = env['stock.location'].search([
    ('is_subcontracting_location', '=', True),
    ('company_id', '=', env.company.id),
], limit=1)

# Log the location for verification
_logger.info(
    'Subcontracting location: %s (ID: %s)',
    sub_location.complete_name,
    sub_location.id,
)

Shipping Components to the Subcontractor: Automatic Resupply and Manual Shipments

When you confirm a purchase order for a subcontracted product, Odoo needs to get the components to the subcontractor. There are two models: automatic resupply on order (Odoo creates a delivery order for the components when the PO is confirmed) and manual resupply (you ship components independently of the PO). Most companies use automatic resupply — it's less error-prone and keeps the paper trail clean.

Automatic Resupply (Recommended)

This is the default behavior. When you confirm a PO to a subcontractor with a subcontracting BoM:

1. Odoo creates a picking (delivery order) to transfer components from your warehouse to the subcontractor's location.
2. The picking type is Resupply Subcontractor — a dedicated operation type created when you enable the module.
3. Quantities are calculated from the BoM: if you ordered 100 coated brackets and the BoM requires 1 raw bracket + 0.05 kg powder each, the delivery order contains 100 raw brackets + 5 kg of powder.
4. The delivery order is linked to the PO, so you can trace which components went out for which order.

# Create a Purchase Order for subcontracted goods
po = env['purchase.order'].create({
    'partner_id': subcontractor.id,
    'order_line': [(0, 0, {
        'product_id': product_finished.id,
        'product_qty': 100.0,
        'price_unit': 3.50,  # Subcontractor's per-unit fee
    })],
})
po.button_confirm()

# Odoo auto-generates the component delivery
# Find the resupply picking linked to this PO
resupply_picking = env['stock.picking'].search([
    ('origin', 'like', po.name),
    ('picking_type_code', '=', 'outgoing'),
])

for move in resupply_picking.move_ids:
    print(f"Component: {{move.product_id.name}} "
          f"Qty: {{move.product_uom_qty}} "
          f"{{move.product_uom.name}}"
          f" -> {{move.location_dest_id.complete_name}}")

# Output:
# Component: Raw Bracket  Qty: 100.0 Units -> Partner Locations / Subcontracting
# Component: Powder Red 1kg  Qty: 5.0 kg -> Partner Locations / Subcontracting

Manual Resupply (Pre-Positioned Stock)

Some manufacturers pre-position bulk stock at the subcontractor's facility — for example, sending a pallet of 10,000 raw brackets that the subcontractor draws from over several months. In this case:

1. Create a manual delivery order to move components to the subcontractor's location (use the Resupply Subcontractor operation type).
2. When you confirm POs later, Odoo sees that components are already at the subcontractor's location and skips the automatic resupply.
3. The system deducts from the subcontractor's on-hand stock as finished goods are received.

Quality Checks on Subcontracted Products: Inspections Before They Hit Your Shelves

Subcontracted products are the highest-risk items in your inventory. You don't control the process, you can't walk the floor, and defects aren't visible until they reach your warehouse — or worse, your customer. Odoo 19's mrp_subcontracting_quality module lets you define mandatory quality checks that trigger automatically when you receive subcontracted goods.

Setting Up Quality Control Points for Subcontracting

Navigate to Quality → Quality Control → Control Points. Create a control point with these settings:

• Operation: Select Receipts or the specific subcontracting receipt operation type.
• Product: Select the subcontracted finished product (or leave blank for all products).
• Partner (Subcontractor): Filter by vendor to apply different inspection standards per subcontractor.
• Test Type: Choose from Pass/Fail, Measure (with tolerance), Take a Picture, or Instructions.
• Frequency: All operations, randomly, or periodically.

# Create quality control points for subcontracted products
# This ensures every receipt from the subcontractor is inspected

receipt_type = env['stock.picking.type'].search([
    ('code', '=', 'incoming'),
    ('warehouse_id.company_id', '=', env.company.id),
], limit=1)

# Visual inspection: coating uniformity
env['quality.point'].create({
    'name': 'Coating Uniformity Check',
    'title': 'Inspect coating for uniformity, drips, and bare spots',
    'product_ids': [(4, product_finished.id)],
    'picking_type_ids': [(4, receipt_type.id)],
    'test_type_id': env.ref('quality.test_type_passfail').id,
    'note': '<p>Reject if: bare metal visible, drip marks > 2mm, '
            'color mismatch vs. reference sample RAL 3020</p>',
})

# Dimensional check: bracket width tolerance
measure_test = env.ref('quality.test_type_measure')
env['quality.point'].create({
    'name': 'Bracket Width Measurement',
    'title': 'Measure bracket width with calipers',
    'product_ids': [(4, product_finished.id)],
    'picking_type_ids': [(4, receipt_type.id)],
    'test_type_id': measure_test.id,
    'norm': 50.0,           # Target: 50mm
    'tolerance_min': 49.8,  # Min acceptable
    'tolerance_max': 50.2,  # Max acceptable
    'norm_unit': 'mm',
})

# Photo documentation: required for audit trail
env['quality.point'].create({
    'name': 'Receipt Photo Documentation',
    'title': 'Photograph a sample from each batch',
    'product_ids': [(4, product_finished.id)],
    'picking_type_ids': [(4, receipt_type.id)],
    'test_type_id': env.ref('quality.test_type_picture').id,
    'note': '<p>Take a clear photo of 3 random samples per batch. '
            'Include the lot number label in the frame.</p>',
})

What Happens When a Quality Check Fails

When an inspector marks a quality check as Failed:

1. The receipt picking is blocked — the goods cannot enter your stock until the issue is resolved.
2. A quality alert is created automatically, visible in the Quality dashboard.
3. The alert can be assigned to a team, linked to the subcontractor, and escalated if not resolved within a deadline.
4. You can choose to reject the batch (return to subcontractor), accept with deviation (proceed with a note), or quarantine (move to a quarantine location for further inspection).

<odoo>
  <data noupdate="1">

    <record id="mail_template_quality_alert_subcontract"
            model="mail.template">
      <field name="name">Subcontracting Quality Alert</field>
      <field name="model_id" ref="quality.model_quality_alert"/>
      <field name="subject">Quality Alert: {{object.name}}
        - {{object.product_id.name}}</field>
      <field name="email_from">quality@yourcompany.com</field>
      <field name="email_to">{{object.partner_id.email}}</field>
      <field name="body_html" type="html">
<p>Dear {{object.partner_id.name}},</p>
<p>A quality issue was detected on receipt of the following product:</p>
<ul>
  <li><strong>Product:</strong> {{object.product_id.display_name}}</li>
  <li><strong>Lot/Serial:</strong> {{object.lot_id.name or 'N/A'}}</li>
  <li><strong>Issue:</strong> {{object.description}}</li>
</ul>
<p>Please provide a corrective action plan within 48 hours.</p>
      </field>
    </record>

  </data>
</odoo>