Manufacturing Order Form Template

The manufacturing order form template provides a comprehensive single-page document containing all information needed to execute a production run. The **Header** section captures order number, product name/SKU, order quantity, required delivery date, priority level, and customer information. The **Bill of Materials** section lists all required materials with quantities, lot/batch numbers, and issue status. The **Routing** section shows the sequence of operations with work center, setup time, run time per unit, and total planned hours. The **Quality Requirements** section specifies inspection points, critical dimensions, testing requirements, and acceptance criteria. The **Status Tracking** section provides fields for actual start/end dates, actual quantities produced (good and scrap), and completion sign-off. A **Notes** section captures special instructions, known issues, and deviations from standard process.

The production planner creates the manufacturing order by pulling data from the MPS or customer order, populating the BOM from the product's bill of materials, and the routing from the standard process plan. Before release to the shop floor, verify that all materials are available (or have confirmed delivery dates), capacity is available on the scheduled dates, and quality requirements are current. Release the order to the shop floor by printing or digitally distributing the form to the first workstation. As the order progresses through operations, each station records actual completion time and quantity. Quality inspection results are recorded at the specified inspection points. Upon completion, the supervisor verifies the final quantity, records any scrap or rework, and closes the order. The completed form becomes a production record for traceability. For streamlined digital workflows, manage orders directly in LinePlanner's production calendar, where orders are visually scheduled across lines and shifts with real-time status tracking.

Paper manufacturing orders are tangible and familiar but create challenges: they can be lost, damaged, or out of date; they require manual data entry for reporting; and they cannot be updated in real time. Digital manufacturing orders — whether through ERP, MES, or scheduling tools like LinePlanner — solve these problems: they are always current, accessible from multiple locations, automatically feed reporting systems, and provide real-time visibility into order status. The transition from paper to digital is best done in phases: start by digitizing the order creation process while keeping a printed copy on the floor, then transition to tablet-based floor reporting, and finally move to fully paperless operation. Regardless of format, the critical requirement is that the order contains complete, accurate information — an incomplete or incorrect manufacturing order wastes time, causes errors, and disrupts the production schedule.