Built for manufacturers who need control — without ERP complexity

Ops Stock Online was created to give growing manufacturers a system that’s simple to adopt, strong on traceability, and able to scale through integrations — without the overhead of enterprise ERP.

Why we were founded

Ops Apps was founded out of real operational frustration.

While leading Manufacturing Operations in Medical Device startups, Nick Allen repeatedly encountered the same problem: enterprise ERP systems were powerful — but the cost, overhead and management burden required to implement and maintain them were often unnecessary, and sometimes crippling, for smaller teams.

At the same time, traditional MRP systems lacked the structured controls and traceability required in regulated industries. Small and growing manufacturers were caught in the middle — too complex for spreadsheets, but not suited to heavy ERP platforms.

So Nick built something different. Ops Stock was created to deliver structured material control, revision-managed production and traceability — without ERP complexity.

Initially developed as a desktop system on the MS Access platform, it was quickly adopted by companies Nick worked with. As those organisations grew and regulatory expectations increased, the system evolved with them. Today, Ops Stock Online is a fully web-based platform — built on years of real-world operational experience — designed specifically for manufacturers who need control without overhead.

What we believe

Strong operational control shouldn’t require enterprise complexity. These principles guide everything we build.

Simple

Clear screens and workflows that smaller teams can adopt quickly — without specialist administrators.

Affordable

Structured control and traceability without the enterprise-scale overheads or the cost of long implementation projects.

Effective

Tools that support real workflows — reducing duplication, improving accuracy, and strengthening visibility.

Compliance

Embedded controls, revision history and with traceability built into daily operations — not bolted on later.

The people behind Ops Apps

Ops Apps is led by experienced engineers with backgrounds in manufacturing operations, enterprise systems, and secure software architecture.

Nick Allen

Nick Allen

Managing Director

Nick is an apprentice-trained engineer with a First-Class MEng and a Masters in Manufacturing Systems Engineering. He brings more than 30 years’ experience in regulated manufacturing, including aerospace and MedTech, and has spent the past 25 years leading operations in MedTech startups.

Throughout his career Nick has implemented and operated enterprise ERP and manufacturing systems, giving him deep insight into how operational software affects real manufacturing teams. That experience shaped the philosophy behind Ops Apps: structured operational control delivered in a way that small and growing manufacturers can realistically adopt and sustain.

His background in engineering, manufacturing operations, and regulated environments ensures Ops Apps reflects the practical realities of running production, managing materials, and maintaining control as businesses scale.

Ian Maher

Ian Maher

Technical Director

Ian is a software architect and developer with more than 30 years’ experience delivering enterprise-scale systems across both public and private sectors. His background spans software development, solution architecture, and translating complex user needs into practical, scalable platforms.

He is an AWS Certified Solutions Architect and a Certified Cloud Security Professional (ISC2), with extensive experience designing secure, cloud-based systems for organisations operating at national and enterprise scale. His work includes major programmes for the UK public sector (including the Ministry of Justice and Cabinet Office) as well as private-sector projects with organisations such as Capita, Jaguar Land Rover, RM Education, and Oxford University Press.

His experience building robust, secure, and maintainable software in highly regulated environments underpins the technical architecture of Ops Apps, ensuring the platform remains reliable, scalable, and secure as customers grow.

Book a demo See how it works
People-first software

Want to see if Ops Stock Online fits your workflow?

Book a demo and we’ll walk through your purchasing → production → dispatch process.

Book a demo Explore integrations