How to Find Work Order Completion Errors in NetSuite Advanced Manufacturing

The screenshots show sample data. Person and company names are fictional. Use your own records when following the steps.

This guide only reads the log. It doesn't change a yield setting, move inventory or check Retry Completion, and it doesn't show which transactions exist after an error. Menu names, columns and actions can vary by release, role and configuration.

Before you start

In this example, Alex Morgan at Example Supply Co. is the production manager. Alex hears that one work order completion didn't issue its components and doesn't know which one. You need:

• Advanced Manufacturing installed, with a role that can open Manufacturing Reports and view AM WO Completion Error records. If the menu entry is missing, check that the SuiteApp is available and that your role has permission.
• An understanding of where the records come from. Advanced Manufacturing writes them while it turns shop-floor data into completions and component issues. Depending on the account that can be the completion process or Force Work Order Completion. People don't normally type them in, even though the list has a New AM WO Completion Error button, so don't add records here.

01. Open the completion error list

Go to Advanced Manufacturing > Manufacturing Reports > Work Order Completion Errors. In the reviewed account the list held 29 records, 28 WARNING and one ERROR. The screenshots use a smaller sample of ten, so the total reads 10. That total counts the current view, and Show Inactives is cleared. The columns are Name, Retry Completion, Message, Work Order, Operation, Process Date, Type and Location.

Nine of the records have the Type WARNING and the same message about the BOM quantity setting (yield). One, record 3305, has the Type ERROR and a long message about insufficient items. The list opened sorted by Name, so the ERROR sits in the middle of the warnings. In the reviewed view the Message column showed the first lines of a long message and cut the rest with a (more...) marker. The record shows all of it.

Enlarge

02. Sort the list by Type

Click the Type column heading. A sort arrow appears beside Type, and record 3305, the ERROR, is now the first row above the nine warnings. In the reviewed account a first click sorted ascending, which put ERROR before WARNING, and a second click reversed the order. The list reloaded when it was sorted, so a filter or page position can reset. If your list holds more than one error, the same sort should group them at the top.

Enlarge

03. Open the error record

Click View on record 3305. Retry Completion is unchecked, Operation is 20, the Process Date is filled in, the Type is ERROR and Work Order is empty. The Message has three lines, one for each short component: Insufficient item SEAL-210, FILM-120 and TRAY-330, each with quantity 5 in bin IssueStage for material issuance.

Each line says the automatic issue needed five units of that item from that bin and couldn't get enough usable quantity. Usable can differ from what is on hand because of commitments, inventory status, lot detail, the bin or the location. The empty Work Order field doesn't prove that no work order exists, so search by operation, process date and item as well. Completion and Item are empty on this record. If either is filled in on yours, use it to find the related transaction.

Enlarge

04. Compare it with a warning

Click the List link to return to the list, then click View on record 3202. The Message is the yield message, Work Order is a link, Operation is 20 and the Type is WARNING.

For this message, the warning says the bill of materials and the item record disagree about the quantity or yield setting and that the standard quantity was used. That isn't necessarily a failed completion, but the components consumed can differ from what production expected. Other warnings can mean something else, so read each message. The error says components couldn't be issued from a bin. In this example Alex decides to check the stock in that bin before touching Retry Completion.

Enlarge

The record has a Retry Completion check box, and this guide never touches it. By its name it flags the record for another attempt, but confirm what it does and when the retry runs in your account before you use it. It won't fix the cause. Look at the work order's issues, completions and related inventory records first, because what happens on a retry depends on what already posted. What exists after an error depends on the configured issuance timing, so this guide doesn't say which transactions were created.

Common questions

What is the AM WO Completion Error list in NetSuite Advanced Manufacturing?

It is an Advanced Manufacturing record list under Manufacturing Reports. It holds warnings and errors raised while Advanced Manufacturing turns shop-floor data into work order completions and component issues. The records are normally written by that processing, including Force Work Order Completion in some accounts, and not typed in by hand. The path, columns and actions can vary with the release, role and configuration.

What is the difference between a WARNING and an ERROR?

Type is the severity stored on the record. An ERROR points to a failure condition and a WARNING to a lesser one, but neither value alone proves what was or wasn't posted. An error doesn't show that no issue, completion or inventory transaction was created, so read the related work order records before you act.

What does the yield warning mean?

In the example, the message BOM quantity setting (yield) inconsistent with item record - using standard quantity for completion says the bill of materials and the assembly item disagree about quantity or yield, and that the standard quantity was used. Compare the item's quantity and yield settings with the effective BOM revision. It says nothing about other warnings, which can mean something else.

What does Insufficient item (item) quantity (5) in bin for material issuance mean?

The processing tried to issue five units of that item from that bin and couldn't get enough usable quantity. Check the item, location, bin, inventory status, lot detail, commitments and issuance settings before you decide what to correct. Adding stock is only one possible fix.

What does the Retry Completion check box do?

This guide never selected it, so it doesn't show what happens. By its name it flags the record for another attempt. It won't fix the cause, and when and how a retry runs depends on the account. Confirm that in your account and check the work order's issues and completions before you use it.

Why is Work Order blank on my error record?

A blank Work Order doesn't prove that no work order exists. Use the fields that are filled in, such as Operation, Process Date, Completion or Item, to look for the related work order and its issues and completions. Matching on those is a search tactic, not a guaranteed link.

How do I find errors quickly when the list is long?

In the reviewed account, clicking the Type heading put ERROR before WARNING, and clicking it again reversed the order. The sort arrow shows the direction, so check it in your own list. The Message column cut a long message with a (more...) marker, and the record showed the whole text.

Does the list show whether a completion or an issue was created?

Not reliably by itself. The record has a Completion field, but the list doesn't show the full posting outcome. Which transactions exist after an error depends on the configured issuance timing, so look at the referenced completion and the work order's issues and completions before you retry.