Hi there, GenTent.
It's good to know that you have tried to check for any workarounds. I'd like to share what I know about how inventory process works in QuickBooks Desktop.
Aside from inventory tracking, QuickBooks reminds you when it’s time to build more products. But if you need a quick overview of your inventory status, you can run reports anytime. You can go to Reports menu then select Inventory.
You're right, you can also look for any third party application that can be integrated to QuickBooks to easily manage the production process. You can check out this link to find any third party application that fits for your company needs: Apps for QuickBooks Desktop
You can also check out the new features added for QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise 2021.
Post your concerns or click the reply button for any follow-up question about inventory management, I'm always here to help. Have a wonderful weekend!
