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Manufacturing purchasing connects work orders, shortages, and purchase orders. Use it when a work order needs components that are not already available in stock, on order, or in transit.
This workflow is most useful when you need to answer three questions quickly:
| Task | Where to Start | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Review missing components by work order | Purchasing reports → MTO Purchasing Requirements | Shows active work order demand, qty on order, qty short, supplier, and projected arrival |
| Review broader replenishment needs | Orders → Purchasing → Restocking POs | Suggests purchase quantities from demand history and open demand |
| Buy only for a specific work order | Work Orders → open the work order → Create PO | Creates purchasing from the work order context |
| Receive components | Orders → Purchasing → Purchase Orders | Receives purchased material into inventory and updates on-order balances |
Start in Work Orders. Make sure the work order is in an active status and the component list is complete.
Check these fields before purchasing:
If the BOM is still changing, fix that first. Purchasing too early usually creates the wrong shortage signal.
Run the MTO Purchasing Requirements report when you need a work-order-first view. It shows the work order, assembly, required date, component, qty needed, qty already on order, qty still short, supplier, lead time, projected arrival, and any open PO numbers already tied to that job demand.
Use Restocking Suggestions ( Item Velocity ) when you need the broader purchasing picture for the warehouse. That report is better for items that are shared across multiple jobs or also consumed by normal stock demand.
The practical difference is:
If the restocking screen shows Demand Source, use it to confirm whether a suggestion is being driven by open-order demand, sales history, or a combined view.
Use a job-driven PO when the component is being purchased for a specific work order and should stay traceable.
Use a restocking PO when the item is a normal stocked component and you want the warehouse to replenish it based on demand instead of buying only for one job.
In practice:
You can create the PO from either direction:
When reviewing suggested quantities, pay attention to Order Multiple. This is the quantity the system orders in. If an item has an Order Multiple of 6 and you need 14, the system rounds up to 18.
That is expected behavior. It is not an overbuy bug.
If the material belongs to a specific job, keep the job reference on the PO header or line items. That makes receiving, locating, and later issuing easier to follow.
See Job System for where job references carry through the rest of the product.
After receiving, rerun the report or reopen the work order before issuing components. This confirms that:
If the item is still short after receipt, check for one of these first:
| Report | Use When |
|---|---|
| MTO Purchasing Requirements | You want a component-by-component list of active work order shortages |
| Restocking Suggestions ( Item Velocity ) | You want replenishment suggestions that include demand period filtering |
| Purchase Orders | You need to review outstanding, partially received, or completed POs |
| Work Orders | You need to confirm the assembly, component list, or required date driving the purchase |
If the work order is still being edited, the shortage can move. Confirm the component list first.
If the suggested quantity looks high, check the item’s Order Multiple before changing it manually.
They overlap, but they are not the same. MTO answers “what does this build need?” Restocking answers “what should this warehouse replenish?”
Receiving changes the live inventory picture. Recheck the report before issuing so you do not chase a shortage that is already resolved.
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