How to run manufacturing

Define BOMs and routings, then create and execute work orders. Use MRP for material planning and MPS for production scheduling.

1. Define work centers

Create work centers (machines or labour groups) with capacity and cost per hour. Set availability (shifts, planned downtime) for capacity planning.

2. Create BOMs

For each finished product, create a BOM: finished product, quantity produced, and list of components with quantities. Use versioning and effective dates for changes over time.

3. Define routings

Attach a routing to each BOM: ordered stages, each with a work center, setup time, and run time. This drives scheduling and cost.

4. Create work orders

Create a work order from a BOM with quantity and due date. The workflow: Order created → Material staging → Production → (optional) QC → Completion. Advance each stage from the workflow inbox; at completion, finished goods are received into inventory.

5. Run MRP

Run MRP to compute material shortfalls from planned work orders and sales orders. Review results; configure auto-creation of purchase requests or work orders for shortfalls.

6. Use MPS and capacity

Generate the master production schedule from demand (forecasts, orders). Check capacity load and bottlenecks; reschedule or add capacity as needed. Use the Gantt/schedule view to assign and reschedule work orders on work centers.