Building a Custom ERP with Claude: A Traditional Manufacturer's AI Turnaround
Adarsh_Ajith · reddit · 2026-07-30
After downsizing from 15 to just 3 employees, the owner of a struggling electrical transformer manufacturing business used Claude to build a custom ERP/CRM system, effectively automating the workload of an entire company.
Key highlights of the system include:
- Automated Engineering Design: By parsing 6 years of handwritten work orders with Claude, the owner built a design engine that is over 90% accurate. It dynamically adjusts material usage based on inventory, saving thousands in monthly engineering salaries.
- One-Click Quoting: Non-technical staff can now input basic client requirements and generate full datasheets, drawings, and quotes in 15 minutes, a massive increase in efficiency.
- Financial Visibility & Pricing: The system provides exact cost tracking, allowing the owner to safely reduce prices by 15-25% and win significantly more orders.
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