What it means
A work order turns a plan into factory work. It names the product, quantity, BOM, due date and warehouses: where raw materials come from, the work-in-progress store, and where finished goods go. As work happens, materials are transferred to WIP, each operation is done and timed on a job card, and finished goods are received into stock at their rolled-up cost.
Example
Work order WO-26-0091, 4 Nov 2026: make 200 teak chairs by 15 Nov.
| Step | What moves |
|---|---|
| Material transfer | 800 legs, 200 seat assemblies, 40 kg screws, 50 litres polish to WIP |
| Job cards | Assembly, 400 hours; polishing, 200 hours |
| Finished goods receipt | 196 chairs to Finished Goods; 4 rejected at inspection |
| Cost per good chair | total cost ÷ 196 |
The 4 rejects are why output is planned slightly above the order.
Common mistakes
- Issuing material without a work order, so cost per unit is unknown.
- Closing the order without recording rejects and leftover material.
- Not updating job cards, so labour cost is a guess.
In MyRecords
A work order made from a BOM lists the required items with quantities and source warehouse on save. Start (transfer materials) moves them to work in progress and Finish (receive finished goods) books the output; each operation is a job card you start, pause, resume and complete, and the Shop floor page keeps working when the network drops, sending its queue when it is back.