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 In Progress — raised, approved and started. If it's still Draft or Pending, it can't run yet. See Raise a Work Order.
- Its materials should be reserved (set aside for this batch), which happens automatically when the job is started.
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 the stage you're on.
- Record progress as work comes off it.
- Advance to the next stage.
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. 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, record 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.
Advance to the next stage
When a stage is finished, advance the batch. 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.
Advancing is the normal way you move down the route: finish, advance, 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, send the stage for rework. This holds the batch at that stage so the problem can be fixed, rather than letting it flow on and spoil later steps.
Once the rework is done and the output passes, you carry on as normal — record the corrected progress and advance.
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, skip it. 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 passed, resume 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.
Receive the finished goods into stock
When the last stage is done, there's one final action: receive the finished goods into stock. This is the completion-to-stock step. It:
- Marks the work order Completed.
- Puts the finished product onto your shelf as stock you can sell or ship.
- Closes out the materials the batch consumed along the way.
At this point the job card is done. 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 | You're beginning the stage you're on. |
| Record progress | Work is coming off the stage; log how much. |
| Advance | The stage is finished; hand the batch to the next one. |
| Rework | The stage's output failed a check; fix it before moving on. |
| Skip | An optional stage doesn't apply to this batch. |
| Resume | An inspection is passed; release the held batch to continue. |
| Receive into stock | The last stage is done; put the finished goods on the shelf. |
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. Send just that stage for rework, fix it, then advance. 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 batch is only received into stock at the final step, after the last stage. If any stage is still open or held for inspection, finish it first, then receive.
Related guides
- Work Orders overview — what a work order is and the stages it moves through
- 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