Production Instructions

Open Production Instructions

Production Instructions define how an Item is supposed to be made or assembled. A later Production Order uses a released instruction revision for one specific run.

Drafts, releases, and revisions

New instructions begin as Draft. In a draft, choose the output, add material and instruction steps, and arrange their intended order. Choose Release for Production when the revision is ready to use.

A released revision is protected from ordinary editing, preserving the exact process behind a Production Order. When the process changes, create a new revision rather than rewriting the historical one.

Material cost estimates

While a revision is a Draft, its material estimates are based on the Item cost data available while you work on it. Releasing captures the material Estimated Unit Cost, Estimated Line Cost, and Estimated Material Cost for that revision as historical estimates. Later Item cost changes do not rewrite a released instruction’s displayed estimates.

A Production Order uses the released instruction’s process and quantities, but its planning estimate can use newer Item costs. See Production Orders for that distinction.

Choose Batch or Assembly

• Batch is for bulk or process manufacturing, such as blends, mixtures, or intermediates.
• Assembly is for discrete, unit-based output such as finished products, kits, or sets.

Both use the same overall model but allow the execution screen to match the kind of work being performed.

Define the work

Choose the output Item and its base yield. Add an Add Material step for every physical Item that is required and enter the amount needed for the base output. Add an Instruction step for non-material work such as mixing, heating, filling, inspecting, waiting, or assembling.

Arrange steps in the real working sequence. That order becomes part of Produce Inventory when the instruction is executed. Before release, review the output, materials, quantities, sequence, text, and instruction type.

Oak Creek Goods two-stage example

The Oak Creek Goods example keeps bulk production and finished packout as separate reusable instructions:

1. Cherry Choco Trail Mix, Bulk is a Batch instruction for INT-CHERRYCHOCO-BULK, with a base output of 1.362 kg. Its material steps are 0.341 kg RM-ALMOND-RU / Roasted Almonds, No Salt; 0.341 kg RM-CASHEW-RU / Large Roasted Cashews, No Salt; 0.204 kg RM-PEPITA-RU / Roasted Pepitas, No Salt; 0.272 kg RM-CHERRY-DRY / Dried Tart Cherries; and 0.204 kg RM-CHOC-NAT / Natural Color Milk Chocolate Buttons. Its representative demonstration sequence is:

   1. Add almonds.
   2. Add cashews.
   3. Add pepitas.
   4. Gently combine nuts and seeds.
   5. Add dried tart cherries and separate clumps.
   6. Add chocolate.
   7. Gently fold until evenly distributed.
   8. Complete the bulk production record.

2. Cherry Choco Trail Mix, 8 oz is an Assembly instruction for FG-CHERRYCHOCO-8, with a base output of 6 ea. Its material steps are 1.362 kg INT-CHERRYCHOCO-BULK / Cherry Choco Trail Mix, Bulk; 6 ea PKG-POUCH-BLK8 / Black Stand-Up Pouch, 8 oz; 6 ea PKG-LABEL-CHERRY8 / Cherry Choco Product Label, 8 oz; and 1 ea PKG-CASE-6X8 / Shipping Case, 6 × 8 oz Pouches. Its representative demonstration sequence is:

   1. Stage six pouches.
   2. Stage the bulk intermediate.
   3. Portion approximately 227 g into each pouch.
   4. Apply six product labels.
   5. Seal the pouches.
   6. Stage one shipping case.
   7. Pack six finished pouches into the case.
   8. Complete production and apply the Indietory finished inventory/container label to the case.

These are fictional demonstration values, not regulatory manufacturing instructions. Release each revision before creating its Production Order.