One of the hardest challenges in manufacturing and distribution isn’t production — it’s quoting accurately and confidently when every order is different.
Configurable products, custom assemblies, one-off projects, and “we’ve never built this exact thing before” jobs are the norm for many small and mid-sized businesses. Yet too many systems force you into rigid bills of material or spreadsheets that quickly fall apart.
That’s exactly why Kit “P” (Production Kits) has long been one of the most powerful features in Aquilon ERP.
And with our latest update, it just got even more flexible.
The Power of Kit “P” Today
Kit “P” was designed from day one to support configure-to-order, assemble-to-order, and semi-custom manufacturing — without overcomplicating the sales process.
With Kit “P”, you can:
- Start from a sales order, not a rigid engineering structure
- Select components, labor, and specifications dynamically
- Drive accurate costing while maintaining flexibility
- Produce clean, professional quotes and order documentation
- Seamlessly hand off to manufacturing and the shop floor
Typical uses include doors, pumps, compressors, equipment assemblies, repair kits, and custom projects — but the real value is that Kit “P” adapts to how your business actually works, not the other way around.
Introducing the Blank Kit “P” (Version 3.97+)
As of version 3.97, we’ve extended our Kit “P” even further with the introduction of what we call a Blank Kit “P”.
A Blank Kit “P” allows you to:
- Create a Production Kit with no predefined components, labor, or specifications
- Build a completely custom product or project from scratch during sales order entry
- Generate high-level quotes for complex or one-off jobs in minutes
This is ideal for:
- Project-based work
- One-off or non-repeatable builds
- Early-stage quotes where details will evolve
- Situations where you want to control how much detail the customer sees
In other words, it gives experienced users maximum freedom, without sacrificing structure or control inside the ERP.
Why This Matters
Many ERP systems force a trade-off:
- Either you pre-define everything (slow, rigid, high setup effort), or
- You quote outside the system (spreadsheets, documents, guesswork)
Kit “P” — and now Blank Kit “P” — removes that trade-off.
You can:
- Quote quickly
- Control margins
- Present clean, professional customer documentation
- And still retain a clear internal record of what was sold, built, and delivered
And when a “one-off” starts repeating? That Blank Kit “P” can evolve into a standard Production Kit, giving you continuous improvement instead of rework.
Built for Real-World Manufacturing
At Aquilon, we focus on practical ERP for small and mid-sized manufacturers and distributors — not theoretical perfection.
Kit “P” reflects that philosophy:
- Flexible where it needs to be
- Structured where it matters
- Powerful without being complicated
The addition of Blank Kit “P” is a small feature on paper — but a big step forward for businesses that live in the real world of custom work. If you’re quoting custom products, assemblies, or projects today, and your ERP is getting in the way instead of helping, it may be time to rethink how you handle configuration.
