The verdict in three sentences
Production software for a Manchester joinery manufacturer with 30 workstations and 6 CNC machines typically takes 5 to 8 months from kick off to the day spreadsheets are switched off. The critical path runs through discovery on the shop floor, the CNC job list integration and acceptance testing with real orders, not through coding speed. Plan for the usual delays from day one and you can hold a 7 month schedule with a margin of two weeks.
Week by week plan over 30 weeks
Scenario: a manufacturer of fire doors, shopfitting and bespoke furniture, quoting in spreadsheets and invoicing in Xero.
| Phase | Duration | Weeks | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shop floor discovery | 5 weeks | W1 to W5 | Process map, signed off specification |
| UX design | 3 weeks | W6 to W8 | Screens approved by estimators and foremen |
| Release 1: quotes to works orders | 4 weeks | W9 to W12 | Works order created from an accepted quote |
| Release 2: capacity planning for 30 workstations | 4 weeks | W13 to W16 | Weekly load per station |
| Release 3: CNC job lists for 6 machines | 5 weeks | W17 to W21 | Cutting lists exported in each machine format |
| Release 4: shop floor tablets and time booking | 4 weeks | W22 to W25 | Actual hours per works order |
| Release 5: Xero sync and job costing | 3 weeks | W26 to W28 | Invoices and job margins pushed to Xero |
| Shop floor acceptance | 5 weeks | W24 to W28 | Two live pilot jobs |
| Cutover and support | 2 weeks | W29 to W30 | Spreadsheets retired |
Acceptance overlaps the last releases on purpose: testing what is already live keeps the project near 7 months instead of 9.
Timeline and budget scenarios
| Scenario | Releases | Total timeline | Indicative budget with a UK studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Works orders, planning, time booking | 5 months | GBP 30,000 to 42,000 |
| Standard | Plus CNC job lists | 6 months | GBP 42,000 to 60,000 |
| Full | Plus Xero sync and job costing | 7 to 8 months | GBP 60,000 to 85,000 |
A remote team mostly changes the budget rather than the calendar, because discovery and acceptance depend on your people. Kolonell, for example, builds complex web applications for 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA (about EUR 6,100 to 12,200) in 3 to 6 months, with maintenance at EUR 115 a month, using video walkthroughs of the shop floor and a named internal lead.
The delays that hit joinery projects
| Cause | Typical delay | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Outdated bills of materials and routings | 3 to 6 weeks | Clean up 20 reference products before discovery |
| Proprietary CNC file formats | 2 to 5 weeks | Hand over one sample file per machine in week 1 |
| Foreman unavailable for testing | 2 to 4 weeks | Book four half days a week in his diary |
| Scope creep mid release | 4 to 8 weeks | Freeze the change list until the last release |
| Xero mapping questions | 1 to 2 weeks | Agree chart of accounts and tracking categories early |
| Go live during peak season | 2 weeks | Avoid the pre Christmas shopfitting rush |
VAT returns already flow from Xero under Making Tax Digital, so the new system should push clean invoices into Xero rather than file anything itself.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Gareth, operations director of a joinery manufacturer in Trafford Park, 30 workstations, 6 CNC machines, 75 staff. He estimates each station loses about 15 minutes a day chasing drawings, dimensions and priorities, 7.5 hours a day across the shop.
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Over 225 working days that is about 1,690 hours a year, roughly GBP 50,700 at GBP 30 an hour. Every month of delay therefore costs about GBP 4,200 in benefits not yet realised. With the Standard scenario at GBP 52,000, payback arrives about 12 months after cutover, provided the 6 month schedule holds.
FAQ
How long does joinery production software take to build?
Plan 5 to 8 months depending on the number of releases, including about 5 weeks of discovery and 4 to 6 weeks of acceptance. A core scope can go live in about 5 months.
Can the software send cutting lists to CNC machines?
Yes, if each machine's format is documented; supply a sample file per machine at the start. The integration usually takes 4 to 5 weeks.
Will it integrate with Xero?
Yes, through Xero's API for invoices, contacts and tracking categories. Allow 2 to 3 weeks and agree the account mapping with your accountant before development starts.
What budget should a 30 station joinery plan for?
UK studios typically quote GBP 30,000 to 85,000 depending on releases. The Standard scenario with CNC job lists usually lands between GBP 42,000 and 60,000.
How do we stop the project slipping?
Freeze scope until the final release, name a shop floor lead with two free half days a week and demand a live demo every 4 weeks. Most slippage comes from scope changes, which can add 4 to 8 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your workstations, machines and how quotes become works orders today, and we will send a release plan with an indicative budget and a 3 to 6 month timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
