Spreadsheets are flexible. They are also the number one reason shops lose parts, miss deadlines, and fail audits. Here is what changes when you move to a purpose-built system.
| Capability | Spreadsheets | Axis |
|---|---|---|
| Live inventory (QOH / Allocated / Available) | Manual formulas, stale by end of shift | Real-time, auto-adjusts on every transaction |
| Bill of materials | Separate tab per product; no versioning | Linked to build plans with revision history |
| Work order tracking | Row per order; status updated manually | Stepper workflow with auto material allocation |
| Material requests | Email or paper forms | Digital IHMR: request, approve, pick, issue |
| Lot traceability | Possible but fragile — one wrong edit breaks chain | Automatic lot tracking from receipt to shipment |
| Audit trail | None — anyone can overwrite a cell | Append-only log of every action, every user |
| Multi-user collaboration | Merge conflicts, broken formulas, lock-outs | Real-time multi-user with role-based access |
| First article inspection | Separate paper form or PDF | Digital FAI linked to part, lot, and work order |
| Project management | Requires a separate, disconnected tool | Built-in board, list, timeline, and calendar |
| Purchase orders | Manual creation, no link to inventory | POs tied to vendors, items, and receiving |
| Reorder alerts | Conditional formatting — easy to miss | Automatic alerts when stock drops below reorder point |
| Compliance readiness (AS9100, ISO) | Auditors will flag lack of traceability | Full traceability, records, and document control |
| Calendar view | Not built for it | See every WO, delivery, and deadline on one calendar |
| Data integrity | One bad paste can corrupt the whole file | Typed fields with validation — no accidental overwrites |
| Setup time | Instant (you already have it) | Running by end of afternoon — CSV import + copy-paste |
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