The "Client" Factor: Contract Manufacturers (CDMOs) don't just answer to a boss; they answer to a client. You need software that proves to your customer that their product was made on reliable equipment.
The "Changeover" Reality: CDMOs switch products constantly. You need a system that manages high-frequency changeovers and line clearance workflows.
The Top 5: We review Fabrico, MasterControl, Plex, and others to help you win more contracts with better reliability.
Running a Contract Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) is harder than running a brand-owned factory.
You have all the normal problems (machines breaking), plus a new layer of stress: The Client Audit.
Big Pharma clients want to see your calibration logs.
Food brands want to see your sanitation records.
Tech giants want to see your capacity utilization.
If you cannot provide this data instantly, you lose the contract.
You need CDMO Maintenance Software—tools that segment data by "Client" and "Batch," not just by "Machine."
Here are the 5 Best CMMS Tools for Contract Manufacturers in 2025.
Best For: CDMOs who need to prove reliability to their clients.
Fabrico is built for the high-mix, high-compliance world of contract manufacturing. We treat every production run as a "Project" that needs a perfect maintenance history.
Client-Ready Reports: You can filter the maintenance history by time window and asset. If Client A asks, "Show me the maintenance logs for Line 3 during our production run last week," you can export a clean PDF in seconds.
Fast Changeovers (SMED): Contract manufacturing means constant setup changes. Fabrico digitizes the "Line Changeover" checklist, ensuring that the machine is set up correctly for the new product every time.
Multi-Client Segmentation: You can tag work orders with "Project Codes" or "Client IDs." This allows you to track the exact maintenance cost of serving Client A vs. Client B, helping you price your contracts better.
Compliance Gates: For Pharma/Food CDMOs, Fabrico enforces mandatory "Line Clearance" and "Sanitation" checks before the machine can restart, protecting you from cross-contamination liability.
The Verdict: If your business depends on client trust, Fabrico provides the transparency they demand.
Best For: Pharma & MedTech CDMOs.
If your clients are in Life Sciences, they probably use MasterControl themselves.
Pros: The gold standard for Quality Management (QMS). It handles the rigorous document control and "Batch Record" requirements of the FDA better than any other tool.
Cons: It is a Quality tool, not a Maintenance tool. It creates the record, but it doesn't help your technician troubleshoot a broken conveyor or manage spare parts inventory.
The Difference: MasterControl satisfies the FDA; Fabrico satisfies the Production Manager.
Best For: Automotive & Industrial Contract Manufacturing.
Plex was born in the automotive supply chain. It excels at tracking parts from raw material to finished goods.
Pros: Total traceability. It connects the shop floor to the shipping dock. It is excellent for managing the complex inventory of customer-owned materials.
Cons: It is a full ERP replacement. It is expensive and heavy. If you just need to fix your maintenance processes without changing your accounting system, Plex is too big.
The Difference: Plex manages the supply chain; Fabrico manages the machine uptime.
Best For: Co-Packing and Packaging CDMOs.
Nulogy is a niche platform designed specifically for contract packagers.
Pros: It understands "Kitting" and "Assembly" for retail brands perfectly. It is great for managing the labor and materials for short-run packaging jobs.
Cons: It focuses on Production Scheduling and Warehouse Management. Its maintenance module is very basic compared to a dedicated CMMS.
The Difference: Nulogy schedules the job; Fabrico keeps the line running.
Best For: Small to Mid-sized Job Shops.
If you run a smaller contract shop (machining, fabrication), MaintainX is a fast, easy solution.
Pros: Very low barrier to entry. You can communicate with clients directly by exporting work orders with photos to show them "We fixed the issue."
Cons: It lacks the deep "Batch-Level" traceability and OEE integration that larger CDMOs need to optimize margins.
The Difference: Good for communication, lighter on data analysis.
| Feature | Fabrico | MasterControl | Plex | Nulogy | MaintainX |
| Audit Readiness | ✅ Native | ✅ Best | ✅ High | ✅ Good | ⚠️ Basic |
| OEE Tracking | ✅ Native | ❌ No | ✅ Native | ✅ Native | ❌ No |
| Changeover Tools | ✅ Native | ⚠️ Doc Only | ✅ Native | ✅ Native | ⚠️ Basic |
| Cost Allocation | ✅ By Client | ❌ No | ✅ Deep | ✅ Deep | ❌ No |
| Setup Speed | Weeks | Months | Years | Months | Days |
As a CDMO, you aren't just selling capacity. You are selling Reliability.
If your lines go down, your client misses their launch date.
Choose MasterControl if you are purely focused on FDA compliance documents.
Choose Nulogy if you are a Co-Packer.
Choose Fabrico if you want to Maximize Uptime. If you need to prove to your clients that your machines are reliable, clean, and well-maintained—while keeping your own costs down—Fabrico is the competitive advantage.
Win the contract.
[Book a Demo with Fabrico] to see how we help CDMOs prove their reliability.
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