Run a Work Order on the Floor
This is the screen the shop floor works from. Once a batch is live, the Execute view walks it through its route one stage at a time — you start a stage, record what came off it, and move the batch forward until the last stage is done and the finished goods go back into stock.
Think of it as the job's worklist: it always shows you the stage you're on, and the buttons you need for it. You work top to bottom, stage by stage, until the batch is finished.
Availability depends on your plan and your role.
Before you begin
- The work order needs to be released (Open) or In Progress. If it's still Draft or Pending, it can't run yet. See Raise a Work Order.
- Its materials are reserved (set aside for this batch) automatically when the work order is released to Open.
Open the work order from the Work Orders list and go to its Execute view.
The one loop you'll repeat for every stage
Most of a batch is the same three actions, over and over, down the route:
- Start Stage on the stage you're on.
- Report Progress as work comes off it.
- Complete Stage to move to the next one.
Everything else — rework, skip, resume after inspection — is a variation you reach for only when that stage needs it. Here's each action in plain terms.
Start a stage
When a stage is your turn, press Start Stage. You can enter Work began at to record when work really began; leave it empty if it's starting now. This marks the stage as being worked on now — it puts a clock on it and tells everyone else this part of the batch is in hand. Start only the stage you're actually about to work; the ones ahead wait their turn.
Record progress
As the work comes off the stage, press Report Progress — how much of the batch has passed through this step. You don't have to do the whole batch in one go: record part of it, keep going, and record more later. The job's detail updates so anyone watching can see how far this stage has got.
Recording progress is also where the stage consumes the materials it needs from the parts you reserved, so your stock stays honest as the batch is built.
Complete the stage
When a stage is finished, press Complete Stage. This closes the current stage and hands the batch to the next one on the route. The next stage becomes the one you can start.
Completing a stage is the normal way you move down the route: finish, complete, start the next, and so on to the end.
Rework a stage (when the output fails a check)
Sometimes what comes off a stage doesn't pass a quality check. Instead of pushing bad output forward, record the bad pieces in the Bad (optional) column of What did you make?, say why they're bad and what to do with them (Rework, Scrap or Hold for QC). Rejected pieces are listed under Rejected pieces below the stage. If the run already has a repair stage it says Stage N repairs these. Otherwise Start rework lists the routes that can repair them, each as Start a rework run, which opens a new work order form for that route. See Work a Job Card.
Once the rework is done and the output passes, you carry on as normal.
Skip an optional stage
Some routes have stages that aren't always needed — an extra polish, an optional coating. When a stage doesn't apply to this batch, press Skip Stage. The batch moves straight to the next stage, and the skip is recorded so the history of the job is honest about what was and wasn't done.
Only optional stages can be skipped; a required step has to be worked or reworked, not skipped.
Resume after inspection
Some stages pause the batch for an inspection before it's allowed to move on — a quality gate. While it's waiting, the batch is held at that stage. Once the inspection is recorded, press Resume Run to release the batch and let it continue down the route.
This is how a quality checkpoint is built into the flow: the batch simply can't roll past it until someone confirms it's good.
The last stage puts the finished goods into stock
When you press Complete Stage on the last stage, the finished goods go into stock and the work order is marked Completed automatically. The screen says All stages have been processed. Inventory has been updated. The finished quantity now shows as on hand in your inventory, exactly as if it had arrived from a supplier, except you made it.
The whole run, in one glance
| Action | When you use it |
|---|---|
| Start Stage | You're beginning the stage you're on. |
| Report Progress | Work is coming off the stage; log how much and leave it open. |
| Complete Stage | The stage is finished; hand the batch to the next one. |
| Start rework | Bad pieces need repairing; begin a rework run. |
| Skip Stage | An optional stage doesn't apply to this batch. |
| Resume Run | An inspection is recorded; release the held batch to continue. |
Work down the route, stage by stage, and the batch closes itself out into stock at the end.
Common questions
A stage output failed inspection — do I cancel the whole job? No. Record the bad pieces and start a rework run for them, then carry on. The rest of the batch and its history stay intact.
Can I record progress for only half the batch? Yes. Record what's come off so far and continue later. A stage doesn't have to finish in one sitting.
The finished goods aren't showing in stock. The goods go into stock when you complete the last stage. If a stage is still open, finish it with Complete Stage. If the run is held for an inspection, wait for the result and press Resume Run.
Related guides
- Work Orders overview — what a work order is and the stages it moves through
- Work a Job Card — record output and bad pieces, reverse a posting, assign a stage supervisor
- Raise a Work Order — create the batch you're about to run
- Track Work Orders — the list and a job's detail
- Material flow — how materials are consumed and finished goods received
- Stores & Inventory — where the finished goods land
Need help? Contact support at support@bizconnekt.com