Propos Software

What Propos Software does

Propos Software is a privately held Dutch software company headquartered in Groningen, Netherlands, that develops a Job Shop Execution System (JSES) for real-time production planning and shop floor control in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments. The platform is built on Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) principles and was developed in collaboration with Dr. Rajan Suri, the founder of QRM; it includes a proprietary "Digital POLCA" module claimed to be the first of its kind. Propos reads production orders and bills of labor directly from customers' ERP systems, automatically calculates optimal routes in real time, monitors progress, and dynamically re-plans to prevent bottlenecks, with a modular add-on set covering shop floor control, pull production, MCT mapping, produced-quantity tracking, employee registration, and custom apps.

The company targets mid-sized manufacturing companies (typically 50-500+ employees) across the Benelux region, with adjacent presence in Estonia, focusing on verticals such as metal and sheet metal processing, machine and apparatus building, glass and interior construction, plastics processing, and other step-production job shops. Named customers include Visser Spiegels & Glas, Merrem Kunststoffen, PMC/Pattyn, OTM-Zenith, Packo Inex, Provan, Duits Sustainable Solutions, Drameco, Wanders Metaalproducten, and ROFA, with reported outcomes such as delivery reliability improving from 80% to 99.5% and work-in-progress reductions of around 50%.

Propos operates a sales-led go-to-market with direct engagement (no resellers), implementing through a structured 3-month deployment and monetizing via subscription licensing with annual billing on quote-based pricing tailored to number of production cells, users, and ERP complexity. The product is anchored by six plug-and-play ERP integrations — Exact (Globe/Online), Microsoft Dynamics variants (Navision, Axapta, Dynamics 365, Business Central), MKG-4/5, Ridder iQ, and Bemet/Plan-de-CAMpagne — with Navision cited as the dominant customer ERP. Marketing is conducted through the Dutch-language website, industry events, YouTube product videos, customer testimonials, and SEO, targeting production managers, managing directors, and planners as primary buyers.

Name

Propos Software

Legal name

Propos Software

Website

https://propos-software.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Propos Software is a privately held Dutch software company that provides a Job Shop Execution System (JSES) for real-time production planning and shop floor control in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, serving mid-sized manufacturers across the Benelux region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Execution Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Manufacturing ERP (Discrete, Process, Batch) (HDAEAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

ERP Implementation & Systems Integration Services (BPAEAGAA), ERP Managed Services & AMS (Application Management) (BPAEAGAB)

Keywords

• Production planning software
• Shop floor control
• Job shop execution system
• QRM manufacturing software
• Lean manufacturing software

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Software Subscription: Propos generates revenue through software licensing and subscription fees for their job shop execution system. Implementation services and ongoing support are included as part of the customer engagement model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Propos Software sells a Job Shop Execution System (JSES) for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing companies. The software reads production orders from ERP systems, automatically plans optimal routes through factory cells in real time, directs operators via shop-floor touchscreens, monitors progress, and dynamically re-plans to prevent bottlenecks. It is delivered as a modular SaaS subscription with implementation services bundled in, typically completed within three months.

Product overview

Propos Software offers a job shop execution system (JSES) as its core product, which is a comprehensive shop floor control and production planning platform. The core Propos platform integrates directly with ERP systems (Exact, Microsoft Dynamics/Navision/Business Central, Bemet/Plan-de-CAMpagne, MKG, Ridder iQ) to read production orders and automatically plan, direct, monitor, and optimize production flow. The platform is modular, with add-on modules including: Digital POLCA (work flow regulation), Geproduceerde aantallen (real-time production tracking), MCT maps (Manufacturing Critical-path Time analysis), Medewerker registratie (employee attendance/productivity), Custom apps (automation integration), Pullproductie (dynamic routing), Werkvloer aansturing (capacity/workload management), and Volautomatische planning (automated scheduling). The system is built on QRM (Quick Response Manufacturing) principles and can be deployed across high-mix low-volume manufacturing environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Propos Core Platform (Job Shop Execution System) A job shop execution system (JSES) for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing that reads production orders from ERP systems, automatically calculates optimal routes through factory cells, monitors progress in real time, and dynamically re-plans to prevent bottlenecks. Built on QRM and Lean principles for production managers, planners, and managing directors at mid-sized manufacturing companies.
• Volautomatische Planning (Fully Automatic Planning) Automated planning module that imports released orders from the ERP system and keeps production planning continuously up to date regardless of changes in orders, priorities, or capacity, providing maximum flexibility for production planners.
• Werkvloer Aansturing (Shop Floor Control) Real-time workforce management module providing insight into capacity and workload per department or production cell, making future bottlenecks visible and enabling easy re-planning of workload peaks on the factory floor.
• Pullproductie (Pull Production) Module that automatically prioritizes orders with alternative routes to available production capacity when a production cell is fully scheduled, ensuring continuous order flow, preventing delays, and contributing to balanced workload.
• Digital POLCA Digital POLCA (Production Order Release Limited by Customer Availability) module that regulates work flow in factories by preventing congestion, ensuring continuous production order flow, and creating stable production flow based on QRM principles.
• MCT Maps (Manufacturing Critical-path Time) MCT mapping module providing insight into lead times and waste within production processes by analyzing waiting times, processing times, and process steps to identify bottlenecks and improvement potential.
• Geproduceerde Aantallen (Produced Quantities) Module for real-time tracking of production status, providing insight into produced quantities and remaining production. Floor workers can make changes directly, ensuring always-current data for accurate planning.
• Medewerker Registratie (Employee Registration) Module for tracking employee presence and productivity through the central control screen, automatically registering work hours and linking them to production activities for utilization, efficiency, and floor performance insight.
• Custom Apps (Integration and Automation) Custom application development module enabling automation of production processes at scale. Allows execution of actions directly based on Propos instructions, from quality measurements to automatic material booking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivery reliability improved from 80% to 99.5% within 2 months
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability4 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Microsoft (Navision/Business Central)coreTechnology or IntegrationPropos has developed plug-and-play integrations for multiple versions of Microsoft Navision and its successor Business Central. Most Propos customers use Navision ERP systems. The integration allows Propos to read production orders and bills of labor (BOL) directly from the ERP system and guide production planning and shop floor control.
• Microsoft DynamicscoreTechnology or IntegrationPropos has established integrations with various Microsoft Dynamics variants including Navision, Axapta, Dynamics 365, and Business Central cloud versions. This accelerates and facilitates implementation for customers already using Microsoft ERP systems.
• Exact (Globe/Online)coreTechnology or IntegrationPropos has plug-and-play integrations for different versions of Exact including Exact Globe and Exact Online. The Exact Online integration is fully integrated allowing quick go-live with shop floor control and production planning. Propos was originally developed on the shop floor working with Exact Globe.
• MKGcoreTechnology or IntegrationPropos has plug-and-play integrations for both MKG-4 and MKG-5 developed in collaboration with MKG and Supplydrive. This accelerates and facilitates implementation allowing customers to go live quickly with production planning and shop floor control.
• Ridder iQcoreTechnology or IntegrationPropos has specialist knowledge of Ridder iQ and provides standard integration allowing customers to go live quickly. Propos specialists can advise on further possibilities including data write-back for optimization. Multiple customers including Merrem Kunststoffen, Drameco, and Wanders use this integration.
• Bemet (Plan-de-CAMpagne)coreTechnology or IntegrationPropos has plug-and-play integrations for various versions of Bemet and Plan-de-CAMpagne. Three-time Factory of the Future winner Provan has achieved major successes with the combination of Propos and Plan-de-CAMpagne. Integration allows reading of production orders and BOL for production planning and shop floor control.
• Dr. Rajan SuricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPropos developed the first QRM planning software in the world in collaboration with Dr. Rajan Suri, the founder of Quick Response Manufacturing. Dr. Suri's QRM principles form the foundation of Propos' architecture, dividing the shop floor into cells and supporting QRM planning with authorization moments.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• iBASEt: US MES provider (Solumina) for complex discrete and aerospace manufacturers. Comparable in shop floor execution and electronic work instruction space, with similar production planning and quality integration to Propos' JSES offering.
• Lighthouse Systems: UK-based MES provider for high-mix, low-volume manufacturers. Directly comparable offering to Propos in terms of shop floor execution, job shop scheduling, and ERP-integrated production planning for make-to-order environments.
• MPDV: German MES specialist (HYDRA, MES families) focused on manufacturing IT and shop floor data collection for SMB and mid-market discrete manufacturers across DACH, functionally overlapping with Propos' production planning and shop floor control scope.
• Critical Manufacturing: Portugal-headquartered MES provider specializing in high-mix, complex discrete manufacturing. Closest direct competitor to Propos' JSES, targeting similar make-to-order and job shop customers with comparable real-time production planning and shop floor execution capabilities.
• Aegis Software (FactoryLogix): US-based MES provider offering FactoryLogix for electronics and industrial manufacturing. Direct competitor in the JSES/MES category with comparable shop floor control, routing, and ERP integration capabilities, though serving different geographies.
• Forcam: German shop floor management software (Forcam ONE / FORCE) targeting discrete manufacturers with real-time production monitoring and OEE, comparable in product scope and SMB-to-mid-market focus to Propos' JSES approach.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Opcenter (formerly Camstar): Siemens' MES suite serving large discrete manufacturers globally. Broad incumbent in the same production execution category, competing for larger customers where Propos does not play but defining the broader MES market Propos operates within.
• PTC ThingWorx / Apriso: PTC's MES and connected operations platform for industrial manufacturers. Broad incumbent offering overlapping shop floor execution and production visibility capabilities, typically targeting larger enterprises than Propos' mid-market focus.
• Dassault Systèmes DELMIAworks (IQMS): Dassault's ERP/MES suite for SMB and mid-market manufacturers. Broad incumbent offering integrated production planning and shop floor execution, competing in the same mid-market discrete manufacturing segment as Propos.

Emerging players

• Tulip Interfaces: Frontline operations platform with growing manufacturing focus offering connected operator apps and production tracking. Overlaps with Propos' touchscreen shop floor execution and pull production concepts but takes a no-code app-builder approach rather than a dedicated JSES.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/propos-software

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Propos Software