Operations
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.
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?
Can I import work orders from a spreadsheet?
Why is my "New Work Order" button disabled or hidden?
Can I edit a work order after creating it?
What happens if I delete a work order?
Can I undo a save?
Can I create work orders via API?
How do I duplicate a work order?
Can multiple users edit the same work order concurrently?
Is there a mobile-friendly version of this workflow?
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