The quick answer
A work center is a static employee group with Manufacturing Work Center checked. Create it under Lists > Relationships > Groups, then set its machine and labor resources on Manufacturing Work Center Settings. Build the matching Manufacturing Cost Template under Lists > Supply Chain > Manufacturing Cost Templates, with one line for each cost category and a rate for each. A manufacturing routing step then names both.
The screenshots show sample data. Person and operating-company names are fictional. Use your own records and values when following the steps.
Before you start
You need the Manufacturing Routing and Work Center feature enabled, cost categories and manufacturing charge items already set up, and permission to create groups and manufacturing cost templates. Using the records later needs WIP work orders and assemblies on a costing method the routing supports. Field names and required values can vary with your role, features and form, so treat the screenshots as one example. In this example, Example Supply Co. already has two work centers, Cut Cell 1 and Assembly Bench 1, and adds a welding cell. The charge items for setup, machine run and labor already exist.
01. Open Groups
Go to Lists > Relationships > Groups. Work centers are groups, so the two existing ones, Cut Cell 1 and Assembly Bench 1, are listed with Type Employee. Weld Cell 1 is not there yet. Click New Group.
02. Choose Static and Employee
On Create Group, select Static, because a work center is a fixed set of employees, not a saved search. Leave the member type on Employee and click Continue.
03. Name and flag the work center
Enter the name Weld Cell 1 and leave Owner as yourself. Check Manufacturing Work Center and enter a Weekly Capacity (Standard Hours) of 80. You can leave Members empty here. Add employees if the work center needs named people.
04. Set resources and save
Open the Manufacturing Work Center Settings subtab. Select the subsidiary, enter Machine Resources per Operation 2 and Labor Resources per Operation 3, and keep the Default Work Calendar. In this account a new work center starts at 0 machines and 0 labor, so type the real counts. Click Save.
NetSuite shows Group successfully Saved. The group opens as a Static Employee Group with Manufacturing Work Center checked and a Weekly Capacity of 80.
Click Back. Weld Cell 1 now appears on the Groups list next to the other two work centers.
05. Build the cost template
Go to Lists > Supply Chain > Manufacturing Cost Templates and click New Manufacturing Cost Template. Select the subsidiary and enter the name Welding Cell Operations. On Costs, choose the Cost Category Machine Setup. In this account the Item list offers only the charge items set up for that category. Pick Weld Machine Setup and the Fixed Rate fills in as 45.00, the rate that item carries. Click Add.
Add a line for Machine Run with Weld Machine Run, which fills a Run Rate of 10.00. Then add Direct Labor with Weld Direct Labor, which fills a Run Rate of 22.00. Click Add after each line.
06. Save and check the template
Click Save. The template opens in view mode. On Cost Details, the three lines show the item and rate for each category.
Check the result
- Weld Cell 1 is on the Groups list with Type Employee, and its record shows Manufacturing Work Center checked.
- Manufacturing Work Center Settings holds the machine and labor counts you entered.
- Welding Cell Operations lists each cost category with its item and its Fixed Rate or Run Rate.
Saving these records does not add an operation to an existing routing or work order. They take effect when a manufacturing routing step selects Weld Cell 1 as its work center and Welding Cell Operations as its cost template, and a WIP work order uses that routing.
Common questions
Why is a work center a static employee group?
NetSuite stores a work center as an employee group flagged Manufacturing Work Center. It must be static, so create it with Static and Employee members. A dynamic group cannot be a work center.
Do I need to add employees to the work center?
The group saved without members in this example. The machine and labor counts on Manufacturing Work Center Settings are what a routing step can default from. Add employees when the work center needs named people.
What do Machine Resources per Operation and Labor Resources per Operation do?
They state how many machines and people work at once on an operation at this work center. A routing step that uses the work center can default them, and they take part in scheduling and routing costing along with the routing times and the charge-item rates.
What is the difference between Fixed Rate and Run Rate?
A Fixed Rate on a setup category is a one-time charge for the operation's setup. A Run Rate on a run category applies to the run activity, so the cost also depends on the routing's run rate, the quantity and the resources. In this account choosing the item fills in the rate it carries.
Why does the Item list show only one or two items?
In this account it narrows to the manufacturing charge items set up for the Cost Category on that line, so choose the category first. Only manufacturing charge items are offered.
Can I put two Machine Run lines on one template?
Cost templates normally allow one line each for the Machine Setup, Machine Run and Labor Run types, while overhead types can repeat. Check which combinations your form accepts.
Does saving a work center or cost template change my existing routings?
Not by itself. Both are saved immediately, but they only reach a work order when a routing step uses them and a WIP work order follows that routing. Test before editing a work center or template that existing routings share.