Entering Production Jobs
Production Jobs in DEACOM are used to plan the quantity of items to be produced within a pre-defined time frame using a specified set of materials and labor. DEACOM Production Jobs have a header section and a lines section. The header section stores the Facility and Shop Area where the items or materials will be produced as well as the job's planned start, planned finish and due dates. The lines section contains the items to be produced, the quantities to produce, and the Bill of Material Revision and Routing to use.
Configuration
The following items should be setup prior to adding a new Production Job:
- Facilities - Define unique or separate production locations that concentrate resources such as workers, machinery, and other capital.
- Work Centers - Correspond to a specific machine within a given Shop Area. Work Centers must be assigned to a Shop Area and Shop Areas may contain several Work Centers. The hourly cost of operating the machine can be defined at the Work Center level.
- Shop Areas - Represent a collection of similar machines or Work Centers.
- Items - Including Subassemblies and Finished Goods need to be configured via Inventory > Item Master.
- On each item's Properties tab - Determine which backflush, relief, finish, roll up, and MRP (if Jobs will be created via MRP) flags should be checked.
- On each item's MRP tab (if Jobs will be created via MRP) - Populate fields such as the minimum and maximum quantities, Job minimums and maximums, incremental Job quantities, etc.
- Bills Of Material - Define the list of Parts or Components and quantities of each needed to produce a Finished Good. The Parts required may include Raw Materials, Subassemblies, intermediate assemblies or subcomponents. For process information, refer to Managing Formula Revisions.
- Work Flows - Useful for controlling the overall process. For more information, refer to Configuring Work Flows.
Note: Routings are an optional feature within DEACOM. Routings are a series of pre-defined processing steps, listed in order of sequence, necessary to complete an item. Configured in Inventory > Maintenance > Routings.
DEACOM offers a variety of security settings specific to job entry and modification. Access can be broad, allowing users the ability to create, modify, and view all jobs and fields, or restrictive, allowing users access to certain fields on the job. A complete list of the security settings available in the system together with additional information can be found on the Edit User Access page. At a minimum, users should have access to the "Production menu" and "Jobs -- create production job" security settings.
Process
Determining what Job type to use
What factors need to be considered?
Different job types may be used to handle various production and labor scenarios within DEACOM. The main factors that determine which production job type is chosen depends on where the production process will occur, when it will occur, and who will perform the work. Non-stock jobs may be used to log hours and capture costs for non-manufacturing work related to the production process such as machine maintenance, services, and off-site labor. Finally, in cases where incremental finishing will be performed, certain Item Master properties need to be considered. Note that companies may use a combination of different job types depending on the type of items being produced.
What Job type options are available?
- Single, Separate Job - Single, separate jobs represent the classic production model where each step in the production process is defined on one job with a single part. The single, separate job is used if production processes will take place in different Locations, with various resources and at different times. The single, separate job is also used when separate batch tickets are required. This concept allows companies to easily ensure the correct raw materials are utilized in the production process.
- Single, Combined Job - Single, combined jobs represent situations in which at least two parts, both related, are produced on the same job. The single, combined job is used if the production process involves the same people, in the same place, during a specified time frame and if one batch ticket is necessary. An example of this job type would be a formula or bulk product that will be used in the finished good or placed into the package on the same job.
- Maintenance or Administrative Job - Jobs for non-stocked items are useful for services, maintenance, off-site labor, and other non-manufacturing work. These jobs allow users to accumulate job costs, including materials and machine costs. These jobs are useful when job costing and need to log hours away from actual production jobs. Since jobs may be created for non-stocked items to support maintenance or administrative jobs, the part number field on the Edit Job Part form is not required. When creating maintenance or administrative jobs, users should enter text in the description field to indicate the purpose of the job. For more information on Maintenance Jobs, refer to the Creating Maintenance Jobs page.
Factoring in additional Job considerations
- Storage considerations - How subassemblies or components will be stored once finished can also factor in to how jobs are setup. If, for example, subassemblies will be moved and temporarily stored in another Location prior to be used in the finished product, a separate job for the finished good may be required. Contrast this with a manufacturing process that uses one production line or pipe where materials are inserted at one end and subassemblies/components are finished along the way prior to being formed into a finished good at the end. In this scenario, one job might be the best option.
- Reporting considerations - Reporting on single, combined jobs is often easier due to the fact that all finishes, usage of inventory, and other transactions are contained on one job. Two separate jobs, although one makes material to feed to the other, are not connected for reporting purposes.
- Other considerations - Single, separate jobs used to make bulk product for example require that the finished goods come of the job and into inventory. This requires another step where inventory must be issued to the job for the finished good.
Creating a Job
What methods exist to create a Production Job?
- Using the Job Entry function - this option is used to enter a general Production Job in situations where users know exactly what needs to be produced and what resources such as Shop Area and Work Center will be used to complete the production.
- Using the "Create Job" and "Auto Job" functions - these options are used to enter Production Jobs form within DEACOM MRP Reports and are used to fulfill production and sales requirements based on suggestions within the MRP Report. In this situation, job quantities and scheduling dates will be populated automatically by the system. Users with the correct permission may override these values.
What actions occur once a Job is created?
The typical actions that occur are as follows:
- Materials are issued: Raw Materials and/or Supplies are issued to the Job, preventing them from being used by another function.
- Inventory is finished: Issued materials are transformed into Subassemblies or Finished Goods.
- Materials are relieved: Materials consumed on the Job and any waste are removed from inventory.
- The Job is closed: The Job is marked as closed, indicating all previous actions have been completed and no further work or production is required.
General information on the inventory movements and accounting postings that occur during the above functions can be found on the Inventory Flow and Reporting and Sample Accounting Postings pages, respectively. Based on company policies, operations, and the Inventory Costing method employed, some of the above functions can be performed simultaneously or separately. DEACOM offers a variety of security settings specific to issuing materials, reserving materials, finishing materials, and closing Jobs. There are also security settings specific to these actions performed using the Warehouse Management System (WMS). Information on how to restrict user permissions is available via Managing Users and User Security.
Using additional Production Job options
What methods are available for finishing inventory?
- Using Incremental finishing - Incremental finishing may be used for larger jobs whose productions steps require more time to complete. Incremental finishing also ensures that raw materials are not tied up for long periods of time which may require additional storage requirements. If incremental finishing will be used in combination with the single, combined job type, then the "Finish to WIP Completely" flag must be checked on the Item Masters for those parts indicated on the job. This ensures that unused bulk material will not be placed back into regular inventory.
- Using Input Production and Close/Relieve forms - For more information on finishing inventory, including where it can be finished to, attributes that can be used, and methods, refer to the Finishing Inventory page.
What other features are available?
- Using the Custom Adds feature - the Custom Adds, or Custom BOM, feature is used in situations where tweaks or modifications to an item's bill of materials is necessary on a job by job basis. Using custom adds is not related to the use of Part Substitutions. Custom adds represent a situation in which the ratio of the BOM will be changed and certain parts may be removed completely, new parts added, and existing parts have their quantity modified. Once the Custom BOM form and job have been saved, the system will automatically update the issuing requirements in the system to reflect the new quantities required. Issuing is handled normally as in the main application.
- Using the Reworking Material feature - Reworking is the process of rectifying mistakes made during manufacture so that a product meets requirements. Rework involves using previously processed subcomponents or portions. In DEACOM, the rework portion to be used can be added on the custom BOM form.
FAQ & Diagnostic Tips
I am using the same job to make bulk and the packaged finished good. Why is the Scale to Job Lines button setting the quantity of my bulk part to zero?
Please confirm that the bulk part is on the selected BOM for the Finished Good.
Can I print the name of the person who created the job on the batch ticket report?
Yes, the "lc_UserName" variable stores the name of the user that created the job. For example, on the report layout a text field can be added with the expression set to: "User: " + lc_UserName.
I am getting an application error in F_JOBCALCS when trying to create a new or save a job? What is the problem?
This is usually caused by a Job User Calculation that is not setup correctly. For example, type set to numeric and expression is trying to put characters in the field.
How do I change the Planned start date when modifying a job? It is grayed out.
Change the Schedule by field to Not scheduled, click Save button. Change Schedule by to Manual and Planned start date will be available.
Can Sales Orders be Linked to Job Lines?
Yes, The "Sales Order" field on the "Edit Job Part" form can be used to link a job line to a sales order. If the job line is linked to either a sales header or line job, the sales order number will be displayed in this field. Users also have the option to manually select a sales order in this field. In either case, the inventory will automatically be reserved to the sales order when items are finished on the job, unless the "Do Not Reserve on Linked Job Finish" flag is checked on the Sales Order line.
What security settings are available for the entry of job line quantities?
The following security options are available in regards to job quantities on the "Edit Job Part" form.
- Jobs -- allow quantities less than job minimum
- Jobs -- allow quantities greater than job maximum
- Jobs -- allow non-incremental quantities
When new jobs are created, the system will check the Job Min, Job Max, and Job Incremental Qty fields, if they are not zero and a user does not have the respective security for it, they will receive a prompt telling them why the part cannot be saved. If all fields are zero or if a user has all three security checkpoints, job saving will flow the same as before.
Can I copy job User Fields from on job to the next?
Yes, when copying a job via the "Copy Job" button on the DEACOM Toolbar, the "Copy User Fields" checkbox on the Copy Job form may be checked to copy over the values from the User Fields on the original order.
How can I import a User Field onto a Job?
User fields can be imported to Jobs at Tools > Import Data, but must first be built as an import spreadsheet. A separate import spreadsheet must be created for each data type. Below is an example of an import spreadsheet.
Field Type - Pick list example
|
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | d2_recid | d2_value | d2_d1id | |
| 2 | 201000099 | 96 | 15 | |
| 3 | 201000087 | 97 | 15 | |
| 4 |
- d2_recid is the job number, with no dashes.
- d2_value is the pick list id or actual text for user field
- d2_d1id is the d1_id for the user field
Setting up an import spreadsheet:
- For the d2_recid field: The dc2_recid can be found by filtering for closed jobs, or using the Find Jobs Where User Field x is Empty query listed below. In the example above, the d2_recid is the job number no dashes (201000099 and 201000087).
- For the d2_value field: Find the user field d2_value. If the field type is pick list, navigate to Tools>Edit User Fields>Modify User Field>Edit Pick List and click the 'View All Fields' button at the top ribbon. The d3_id will be used as the d2_value. In the example above, the pick list d3_ids were 96 and 97. If the field type is any other type, the d2_value is the actual text you want displayed in the User field. If unsure about which value to use, please see the Find Jobs Where User Field x is Empty query.
- For the d2_d1id field: Find the user field d1_id by navigating to Tools>Edit User Fields an clicking the 'View All Fields' button on the top ribbon. The d1_id will be used as the d2_d1id field value. In this example, the user field d1_id was 15.
- Save and close spreadsheet.
Importing the spreadsheet:
- Navigate to Tools > Import Data.
- Source file field: Select your import spreadsheet.
- Source table field: Select your worksheet within the spreadsheet.
- Destination table: Select dtd2. After selecting a Destination table, the Destination field on the right side of the Import Data form will populate.
- Map Source: For each Destination field you want to map source data to, click that field and then the 'Map Source' button.
- Click the "Import" button when done mapping source fields to import data.
Query to Find Jobs Where User Field x is Empty - If you are unsure about which information to use for a spreadsheet, running this query may help you.
Navigate to System > Query Tool > Enter ' SELECT jo_jobnum FROM dtjob WHERE jo_jobnum NOT IN (SELECT d2_recid FROM dtd2 WHERE d2_d1id = X) ' > Run Query.
TIP: