End-to-end guide on the Oracle Work in Process (WIP) lifecycle.
Oracle Work in Process (WIP) manages the shop floor. In Discrete Manufacturing, production is tracked in distinct batches or "Jobs" (e.g., building 50 laptops). This process tracks the issuance of raw materials, the labor/machine time consumed, and the final completion of the finished good into inventory.
The item being built must have a Bill of Materials (components) and a Routing (operations/machines) defined.
Similar to GL or INV, the WIP period must be open to process manufacturing transactions.
Production Planner
Production Supervisor
Warehouse Worker
Shop Floor Operator
Production Supervisor
Cost Accountant
Actor: Production Planner | Module: Work in Process (WIP)
A Discrete Job is a work order to manufacture a specific quantity of an assembly. Creating the job pulls in the standard BOM and Routing automatically.
Example: Create Job #DJ-1001 to build 50 units of "Laptop-X1". Status is created as "Unreleased".
Navigation Path:
Manufacturing > Work Execution > Manage Work Orders
Key Actions:
Create a Standard Work Order for the item and quantity.
Actor: Production Supervisor | Module: Work in Process (WIP)
Releasing the job makes it available to the shop floor. It allows material to be issued from inventory and operations to begin.
Example: Change the status of Job #DJ-1001 from "Unreleased" to "Released".
Navigation Path:
Manufacturing > Work Execution > Manage Work Orders (Release)
Key Actions:
Select the Work Order and click Release. Components can now be picked.
Actor: Warehouse Worker | Module: Inventory / WIP
Raw materials (components) are physically moved from the warehouse and logically issued to the WIP job. This reduces on-hand inventory and adds material cost to the job.
Example: Issue 50 Motherboards and 50 Screens to Job #DJ-1001. The components leave the "Raw Materials" subinventory.
Navigation Path:
Manufacturing > Work Execution > Review and Issue Materials
Key Actions:
Execute a material issue transaction against the specific work order operation.
Actor: Shop Floor Operator | Module: Work in Process (WIP)
As the assembly moves down the production line (from Operation 10 to 20 to 30), operators record "Move Transactions". This tracks progress. Concurrently, labor and machine hours are charged to the job (adding Resource Cost).
Example: Move 50 units from Op 10 (Assembly) to Op 20 (Testing). Charge 5 hours of "Technician Labor" to Op 10.
Navigation Path:
Manufacturing > Work Execution > Report Production
Key Actions:
Report completion at an operation, which can automatically backflush both materials and resources.
Actor: Production Supervisor | Module: WIP / Inventory
The final step of production. The finished goods are completed out of the WIP job and received into an Inventory subinventory (e.g., Finished Goods).
Example: Complete the 50 "Laptop-X1" units from the final operation into the "FG_WAREHOUSE" subinventory.
Navigation Path:
Manufacturing > Work Execution > Report Production (Final Operation)
Key Actions:
Completing the final operation automatically triggers the receipt into inventory.
Actor: Cost Accountant | Module: Work in Process (WIP)
Once all production is done, the job is closed. This prevents any further material or resource charges. Closing the job triggers the calculation of manufacturing variances (e.g., you used more material than the standard BOM expected).
Example: Change Job #DJ-1001 status to "Closed". The system calculates a $50 unfavorable material usage variance.
Navigation Path:
Manufacturing > Work Execution > Manage Work Orders (Close)
Key Actions:
Close the work order. Cost Management will calculate and account for variances.
Understand the warehouse structure where components are issued from.
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