RMDB vs OptiPro ERP: Mid-Market Manufacturing ERP vs Scheduling
OptiPro is a focused mid-market discrete manufacturing ERP. RMDB is finite-capacity scheduling. Different scopes that combine well for mid-market manufacturers wanting both depth.
The short answer
OptiPro is a credible mid-market ERP for precision shops and contract manufacturers $10M–$100M. RMDB adds scheduling depth that OptiPro's built-in scheduling does not match. The combination handles both ERP breadth and scheduling depth without full enterprise platform costs.
RMDB is the product this comparison is written about. EDGEBIC is its current generation and carries the same scheduling engine forward; see the upgrade path.
Why this comparison matters
OptiPro ERP serves mid-market US discrete manufacturers — precision machine shops, contract manufacturers, custom industrial equipment producers. It covers the full ERP scope: estimating, order management, work orders, job costing, materials, purchasing, and accounting integration. Scope-wise it competes with E2 Shop System Pro, Global Shop, and Made2Manage in similar market segments.
OptiPro scheduling is the typical bundled-with-ERP story: functional for work order sequencing and capacity loading, not finite-capacity APS depth. The gap is most visible in shops with complex setup-dependent routing, where the bundled scheduler cannot honor the setup-time-aware sequencing decisions planners need.
RMDB targets exactly that gap. The integration with OptiPro is straightforward — work orders, routings, BOMs flow from OptiPro to RMDB; completion data flows back. For OptiPro shops where scheduling has become the bottleneck, the combination is materially cheaper than upgrading to a higher-end ERP that includes APS capability.
Feature-by-feature comparison
An honest side-by-side look at the capabilities buyers ask about most.
| Capability | RMDB | OptiPro ERP |
|---|---|---|
Finite-capacity scheduling | ||
Drag-and-drop Gantt | ||
Sequence-dependent setup modeling | ||
Estimating and quoting | ||
Full order management | ||
Job costing | ||
Multi-level BOM and routings | ||
What-if scheduling scenarios | ||
Alternate work center routing | ||
Multi-plant scheduling | ||
Integrates with existing ERP | ||
Cloud / on-premise options | ||
Pricing model | One-time license | Per-user subscription |
Implementation time (typical) | 5 days–4 weeks | 4–9 months |
Best for company size | 10–500+ employees | 25–250 employees |
Included · Limited or partial · Not available
Pricing comparison
RMDB (legacy license)
From $5,000
One-time license + optional support
EDGEBIC (current generation)
$25,000 or $35,000
One-time perpetual license, APS or Complete
OptiPro ERP
Custom (typically $40K–$200K first year)
Per-user subscription with implementation services
RMDB pricing shown is the historic list price. RMDB is no longer sold as a new license and existing installations remain fully supported; current pricing is for EDGEBIC.
OptiPro pricing is custom; mid-market deployments typically run $40K–$200K first year. Subscription continues annually. RMDB at $5K–$30K one-time covers the scheduling depth. Combined approach (OptiPro + RMDB) typically costs less than enterprise platforms (Plex, NetSuite) over 5 years.
Where each tool wins
RMDB does this better
- OptiPro shops where scheduling has become the constraint
- Operations needing sequence-dependent setup and alternate routing logic
- Manufacturers wanting what-if scheduling capability OptiPro lacks
- Shops preferring one-time scheduling license over additional subscription tier
- Mid-market manufacturers wanting APS depth without enterprise platform pricing
OptiPro ERP does this better
- Mid-market shops needing full ERP replacement in a single integrated system
- Operations valuing estimating-through-invoice in one workflow
- Manufacturers wanting bundled vendor support across ERP and scheduling
- Shops new to integrated ERP wanting single vendor relationship
- Companies preferring OptiPro's specific UI and workflow patterns
Which one should you pick?
Choose RMDB if…
OptiPro shops with scheduling complexity that exceeds the bundled scheduler. Also for mid-market manufacturers $10M–$100M where scheduling depth is a critical capability.
Choose OptiPro ERP if…
Mid-market discrete manufacturers $10M–$50M consolidating from fragmented systems into one integrated ERP covering estimating through accounting.
Switching from OptiPro ERP to RMDB
A practical migration path that most manufacturers complete in days, not months.
- 1
Keep OptiPro for ERP
OptiPro continues to handle estimating, work orders, costing, materials, and accounting. Only the scheduling moves to RMDB.
- 2
Configure OptiPro → RMDB integration
Direct database integration pulls work orders, routings, and BOMs. Standard adapter; setup typically 2–3 days.
- 3
Map work centers and constraints
Define RMDB work center model matching OptiPro's production resources, shift calendars, and setup time rules.
- 4
Parallel run for 2–4 weeks
Validate RMDB schedule output against OptiPro's and shop floor reality. Validation period is longer for complex multi-plant deployments.
- 5
Decommission OptiPro scheduling
Move scheduling fully to RMDB. OptiPro scheduling unused. Some shops drop scheduling-tier subscription at renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Why add RMDB instead of upgrading OptiPro?+
Because OptiPro scheduling architecture is not finite-capacity APS — version upgrades do not change that. RMDB exists specifically to provide APS depth alongside any ERP. The combination is targeted to the actual capability gap.
How is OptiPro → RMDB integration maintained?+
Scheduled background service (every 5–15 minutes) syncs work orders and routings from OptiPro to RMDB; completion, scrap, and labor data syncs back. Minimal ongoing maintenance once configured.
Is OptiPro still being actively developed?+
Yes, with ongoing development and customer base in the US mid-market discrete manufacturing space. Verify current roadmap directly with OptiPro for fresh deployments.
What is the typical cost comparison vs full platform replacement?+
OptiPro + RMDB for a 50-user mid-market shop: typically $100K–$200K/year ongoing. Full enterprise platform replacement (Plex, NetSuite Mfg, Infor): typically $200K–$500K/year. The combined approach is materially cheaper for shops where the existing ERP works for everything except scheduling.
Can both systems handle multi-plant operations?+
OptiPro supports multi-plant with module additions. RMDB has native multi-location scheduling support. For shops with 2+ plants, both systems can coordinate, but the scheduling depth at the multi-plant level is materially better in RMDB.
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