Introduction
Work order allocation is a critical aspect of production management in the Bottleneck app. It involves the reservation and assignment of inventory lots to scheduled work orders, ensuring the availability of materials for production. This article explains the concept of work order allocation and provides guidance on effectively allocating inventory lots to work orders.
Understanding Work Order Allocation
Work order allocation is the process of reserving specific inventory lots to be used in the production process. It helps prevent double-counting of inventory and ensures that the necessary materials are available for each work order. By allocating inventory lots, users can accurately track inventory usage and maintain proper traceability throughout the production cycle.
Allocating Inventory Lots to Work Orders
In the Bottleneck app, users have the flexibility to allocate inventory lots manually or utilize the auto-allocation feature. Manual allocation allows users to select and assign specific lots to work orders based on their availability and suitability. Auto-allocation, on the other hand, automatically allocates lots based on predefined allocation strategies, such as FIFO (First In, First Out) or FEFO (First Expired, First Out).
Auto Allocation Functionality
Change Auto-Allocation Strategy
Managing Non-Tracking Inventory Items
In addition to allocating lots, it's important to address non-tracking inventory items. Non-tracking items do not have associated lots but are still integral to the production process. The Bottleneck app provides mechanisms to manage non-tracking items by displaying required quantities for work orders and facilitating the planning and execution of production tasks.
Modifying Allocations and Pulling Quantities
Once a work order transitions from the scheduled stage to the in-process stage, users can no longer edit allocations. Instead, they need to specify the "pulled" quantities, which represent the actual quantities of inventory lots used in the work order. Users can also indicate "exception pulls" for items or lots that were not originally part of the bill of materials. These features enable users to accurately track inventory consumption and handle any deviations from the original production plan.