V9 - Process templates

A process template in SOS Inventory is like a bill of materials but designed for a more complex process. A template is used as a repeatable manufacturing run. It describes the inputs and outputs to be recalled for use later.

Although using a process template is optional, it is highly recommended if you use the same manufacturing run repeatedly. 

A template does not remove items from inventory. The inventory is removed/created when a process transaction is created using the template.

Unlike a bill of materials for an assembly, where there can be only one BOM, multiple process templates can be used for the same output item. This accounts for variations in product inputs or quantities being produced.

Refer to the Processes section for information on process transactions.

Process templates list

The Process templates list (Tools & settings > Configuration > Lists > Process templates) contains the records that define a complex manufacturing run. A shortcut to this list is available in the upper right corner of the Processes list (Operations > Production > Processes).

The Process templates list includes:

• Descriptive name of the process template
• Description of the process template, if defined.
• Expected yield, if waste items are used.

Creating a process template

To see a demonstration of how process templates are created and used in process transactions, view the V9 video tutorial, Preparing and using process templates.

The steps below explain how to create a process template. Refer to Process template field descriptions in the next section as needed.

1. Go to the Process templates list (Tools & settings > Configuration > Lists > Process templates), then select the +Add button. 
2. Enter in the Name field what you want to name this template.
3. Completing the Description field is optional.
4. Enter each output item, as well as the quantity for each.
   1. Output items can represent a finished good or materials that will be reused, as well as items to be discarded as waste.
   2. If an item is waste, check the box in the Waste column. The Waste column is used only to calculate the expected yield of the process.
5. Enter each input item (component items, services, labor, and overhead), as well as the quantity for each. 
6. When finished, the total cost of the output items should be as close as possible (but not necessarily exact) to that of the input items.
    
   edit_noteNOTE: Each output item must have its purchasing cost included in its item definition so that the process transaction can appropriately distribute input costs across the output items.
7. Save and close the template when done.

Process template field descriptions

Add lines (add_circle). Click the icon to add additional lines to the line item table. The number of lines added is established by the number specified by your company in the Default lines setting (Tools & settings > Configuration > Company > General).

Clear lines. Adeleteicon in the column header of a table or line-item area clears the content of all line-items in a table, but not the lines themselves. By contrast, adeleteicon in a single line-item row removes both a line and its contents.

Cost each. The current purchase cost for that line item.

Description. An optional text area to describe the template's use.

Inputs. The table of line items to be used in manufacturing finished goods.

Item. The name of the line item.

Multitool. A multifunctional icon in the far-left column of a line item. The Multitool is a convenient feature found on transaction line items and some other tables used in SOS Inventory. The Insert tool (arrow_forward), located in the top left corner of the Multitool, inserts a blank line above the current line item. The Move tool moves and reorders line items by clicking, holding, and dragging thedrag_indicatoricon. The Copy tool (arrow_drop_down_circle) duplicates the data in one line item to the line immediately below it.

Name. A descriptive name for this process template. The name must be unique. You may have multiple templates defining variations of a process, so it is recommended that you include the main output in the name, followed by what makes this template unique. This will help you identify the proper template when creating a process transaction. 

Outputs. The table of line items to be produced by the process.

Quantity. The input and output quantities for the line items.

Total. The total value of a line, as calculated by the Quantity and Cost each.

Waste. Check the box if the output item in a process is a waste product used to calculate estimated yield.