Work Orders Reimagined
1 minute read
The Problem
A work order is often just a number on paper, yet it is key to production efficiency. Machines run, employees work, and costs accumulate without proper tracking. Without visibility, profitability suffers.
Real Experience
In a production facility, work orders were printed sheets that traveled with the product. When management wanted to know the status of an order, they had to physically search the shop floor. Material consumption was recorded manually at the end of the day, leading to inaccuracies and delayed cost calculations.
The Solution
Digital work orders linked to BOM (Bill of Materials) and BOP (Bill of Process) monitor material usage, operations, and resource allocation in real-time. MES and WMS integration ensures transparency and proper execution from start to finish.
Key Recommendations
- Link work orders to accurate BOM and BOP structures
- Integrate with MES for real-time operation tracking
- Connect to WMS for automatic material consumption recording
- Track labor hours and machine time against each work order
- Enable mobile access for shop floor data entry
Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating work orders as static documents instead of dynamic tracking tools
- Failing to connect work orders to material and labor consumption
- Not integrating with production execution systems
- Allowing manual, end-of-day data entry that introduces errors
- Missing the opportunity to calculate real-time production costs
The Bottom Line
Done right, work orders guide every resource and operation toward profitability, providing visibility and control over the entire production process.