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How to create a work order in Easedesk — step-by-step Manufacturing guide

Complete step-by-step guide to creating, editing, importing and managing work orders in the Easedesk Manufacturing module. Includes prerequisites, common errors and best practices.

7 min read·Updated 2026-06-30

Quick answer

To create a work order in Easedesk, open Manufacturing from the sidebar, click "New Work Order", fill the required fields and click Save. The new record is immediately searchable and triggers downstream automations — accounting posts, notifications, approvals — based on the module's wiring.

Before you start

Before you create your first work order in Easedesk, make sure the following are in place. Skipping any of these usually causes validation errors at save:

  • Finished good + components defined in Inventory
  • BOM created and approved
  • Production warehouse defined

Step-by-step: how to create your first work order

Follow these 6 steps to create a work order in the Manufacturing module. Most users complete this in under 2 minutes once the prerequisites are in place.

Step 1 — Create BOM

Manufacturing → BOMs → New → pick the FG → add component + qty + UoM rows.

Step 2 — Create Work Order

Pick the FG, quantity, due date. Easedesk explodes BOM and shows material requirement vs availability.

Step 3 — Issue material

On work order start, click Issue Materials → Easedesk creates a stock issue note for each component.

Step 4 — Track WIP

As production progresses, log progress percentage or partial FG receipt.

Step 5 — Receive FG

On completion, Receive Finished Goods → stock increases for the FG. WIP value reduces; COGS captured.

Step 6 — Close work order

Reconcile actual vs planned consumption. Variance posts to a 'Production Variance' P&L account.

What happens after you save a work order

Creating a work order in Easedesk is rarely an isolated event — the platform's strength is that data flows automatically to all the right places.

The following downstream modules are updated automatically when you save:

  • Inventory (component issue + FG receipt)
  • Accounting (WIP, FG, COGS, variance)
  • Quality Control (inspection linkage)
  • GST (job-work ITC-04)

Bulk-importing work orders from a spreadsheet

If you're migrating from another tool or onboarding historical data, you don't need to create work orders one at a time. Easedesk supports CSV bulk import from the list view.

Click the Import button on the Manufacturing list page. Download the sample CSV template — it includes every supported column with example values and validation notes in the header row. Fill it in your spreadsheet of choice (Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers), save as CSV, and upload.

Easedesk validates every row before commit — invalid rows are highlighted with the specific error and skipped, valid rows are imported. You can also run a "dry run" to preview the import without committing. For very large imports (> 5,000 rows), the import runs as a background job and emails you a summary when complete.

Editing a work order

To edit an existing work order, click its row in the list view to open detail mode, then click the Edit button at the top-right. All changes are recorded in the Audit Log along with the user, timestamp, IP, and the before-and-after value of each changed field.

If the work order has been used downstream (for example, an invoice that has been paid, or a PO that has a GRN against it), Easedesk locks certain fields to preserve the audit chain. The locked fields are clearly marked, and you can usually achieve what you need via a reversal + fresh work order or by raising a credit / debit document.

Deleting or cancelling a work order

Hard-delete is intentionally restricted in Easedesk because business records have downstream impact and auditors need a complete trail.

If a work order has not been used downstream, you can hard-delete it from the kebab menu (•••). If it has been used, Easedesk will offer to cancel or void instead — the record stays in the database with a Cancelled status, but no longer affects reports or downstream modules.

Cancelled work orders can usually be revived if needed — open the cancelled record and click "Reinstate".

Best practices when working with work orders

Customers who get the most reliable results follow these patterns:

  • Freeze BOM at work order creation — production teams hate moving targets.
  • Run a daily WIP report — high WIP days signals bottlenecks.
  • Reconcile job-work returns within 1 year (or 3 for capital). Beyond that, ITC reversal applies.
  • Use barcode scanners for FG receipt — eliminates data-entry errors at shift end.

Frequently asked questions

How do I create a work order in Easedesk?
Open Manufacturing from the sidebar, click "New Work Order", fill the required fields (marked with red asterisk), and click Save. The whole process typically takes under 2 minutes.
Can I import work orders from a spreadsheet?
Yes. Most modules support CSV bulk import. Click the Import button on the list page, download the sample CSV template (matches the exact column format Easedesk expects), fill it in Excel / Google Sheets, and upload. A dry-run mode lets you preview before committing.
Why is my "New Work Order" button disabled or hidden?
Your role likely doesn't include the manufacturing.create permission. Ask your Owner or Admin to grant it under Settings → Users & Roles → select your role → Permissions tab.
Can I edit a work order after creating it?
Yes — click the row in the list view, then click Edit at the top-right. All changes are recorded in the audit log. If the work order has been used downstream (e.g. an invoice that has been paid), only certain fields are editable.
What happens if I delete a work order?
Hard-delete is restricted for records linked to other modules. In those cases, Easedesk offers to cancel or void the work order instead so downstream history is preserved. Cancelled records can be reinstated later.
Can I undo a save?
Easedesk does not have a global undo button, but most records support cancellation or reversal which has the same business effect with an audit trail. For accidental data entry, contact your Owner or use the duplicate-and-fix workflow.
Can I create work orders via API?
Yes. Every list endpoint has a POST counterpart for creation. See the API Reference (developers.easedesk.com) for the JSON schema and example payloads. API requests count towards your plan's API quota.
How do I duplicate a work order?
Open the record → kebab menu (•••) → Duplicate. Easedesk copies all fields except the unique identifier and timestamps, opens a fresh form for you to adjust, and saves as a new record on submit.
Can multiple users edit the same work order concurrently?
Easedesk uses optimistic locking — if two users edit the same record simultaneously, the second save shows a conflict warning and lets the user resolve field-by-field. No data is silently overwritten.
Is there a mobile-friendly version of this workflow?
Yes — the entire Manufacturing module is fully responsive. On phones, the form fields stack vertically and action buttons stick to the bottom of the screen for one-handed use.
manufacturingmanufacturinghow-tocreatestep-by-steptutorialwork order

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