Work Order
A document that authorizes and provides instructions for manufacturing a specific quantity of a product. Work orders specify the materials, labor, equipment, and steps required to complete production, and serve as the primary record for tracking job progress, costs, and completion.
RELATED TERMS
Bill of Materials
A comprehensive, hierarchical list of all raw materials, components, sub-assemblies, and quantities required to manufacture a finished product. BOMs serve as the foundation for material planning, cost estimation, and production scheduling, and can include multiple levels for complex assemblies.
Production Schedule
A detailed plan that specifies what products will be manufactured, in what quantities, and when, coordinating resources across the shop floor. Production schedules balance customer demand, available capacity, material availability, and operational constraints to optimize delivery performance and resource utilization.
Material Requirements Planning
A production planning and inventory control system that calculates what materials are needed, how many are required, and when they must be available to meet production schedules. MRP uses bill of materials data, inventory levels, and master production schedules to generate purchase orders and work orders.
Manufacturing Execution System
Software that monitors, tracks, and controls production operations on the shop floor in real time. MES bridges the gap between enterprise resource planning systems and actual manufacturing processes, providing visibility into work-in-progress, machine status, and quality data to optimize production efficiency.
LEARN MORE
What is Manufacturing ERP? (And Why Generic ERP Falls Short)
Manufacturing ERP integrates production, inventory, and shop floor operations in ways generic ERP can't. Learn what makes it different and why it matt...
7 Signs Your ERP Wasn't Built for Manufacturing
Your ERP handles invoicing fine. But production? That's where things fall apart. Here are 7 signs you're using the wrong tool for the job.
What is Production Scheduling? (And Why It Matters)
Production scheduling matches orders to capacity in real time. Learn what it is, why it matters, and what separates good scheduling from chaos.