Efficient Order & Production Management
Introduction
The Orders dashboard is the hub for orders, decoration details, fulfillment workflows, and factory specific views. This guide outlines how to naviagte through the dashboard, and best practices to keep in mind for operators using the VU OMS.
1. Configuring Your Workspace (Setup)
Users have the ability to configure the grid to view data relevant to their needs, rather than having to comb through the whole assortment of orders. Here's a couple quick ways on how to do so:
Tailor Columns to Roles:
Operators/Decorators: Enable columns for SKU, RecipeID, Status, and Expected Factory Date (XFD).
Pick-&-Pack: Enable Carrier, Service Level, Requested Ship Date, and Order Number.
One Factory at a Time: If you manage multiple facilities, resist the urge to jump back and forth. Select one Factory from the top-left dropdown and clear that queue before switching. This prevents shipping items from the wrong inventory pool.
Use the "Group By" feature in Manage Columns to bundle orders by Status or SKU. This allows operators to batch-process similar items together.
2. Daily Production Routine
Establish a rhythm for processing orders to ensure high-priority items are never missed.
Morning Review: Priority & Past Due
Start every shift by filtering the list using the sidebar toggles:
Check "Priority": Orders have the ability to be tagged as priority, pushing them to the top of queue.
Check "Past Due": VU tags orders that have surpassed their indicated XFD date as Past Due. Check if any orders are running behind, and look to clear those to help keep production pace.
Check "Status: New Order": Gage how many new orders have entered the queue, and what production pace needs to look like to meet production demands
The "Status" as a Gatekeeper
Do not wait until the end of the day to update statuses. Update the status as the physical action occurs.
When a batch of items is printed, use Bulk Actions to move them to "Printed."
Why? Real-time updates prevent double-work and allow Customer Support to see accurate progress without calling the factory floor.
3. Managing Travelers & Documentation
Travelers are the passport for the product as it moves through the factory.
Configure Templates First: Before trying to print, ensure your templates are set up correctly in Settings > Travelers. Creating specific templates for specific product lines (e.g., "Apparel Traveler" vs. "Hard Goods Traveler") reduces confusion on the floor.
Batch Printing: Operators can pull travelers for a group of orders at a time that they wish to fulfill. The groupings can be driven by many of the data fields available within the Orders view.
4. Handling Exceptions & Delays
In production, delays happen, VU's OMS can help facilitate keeping track of delivery updates.
Don't Ignore Dates- Shift Them: If an order cannot meet its deadline, Use the Shift XFD (Expected Factory Date) action.
Always Use Reason Codes: When shifting an XFD or placing an order On Hold, always select a reason code (e.g., "Machine Down," "Out of Stock").
Benefit: At the end of the month, you can run reports on these reason codes to identify your biggest bottlenecks.
Remake Strategy: When issuing a Remake, use the "Notes" field to explain exactly what went wrong (e.g., "Print smear on logo"). This data is crucial for Quality Assurance teams to reduce future waste.
5. Fulfillment & Shipping
Accuracy at the shipping station is the final quality check.
Batch Fulfillment by Carrier: To speed up the process, use the Filter or Sort headers to group orders by Carrier (e.g., group all UPS orders). Select them in bulk and click Fulfill.
Verify Addresses: When the fulfillment popup appears, do a quick visual scan of the addresses. If an address looks incomplete (missing State or Zip), cancel the action and flag the order for Customer Service.
Print Packing Lists with Labels: Always check the "Print Packing List" box during the fulfillment flow to ensure the physical paperwork matches the shipping label generated.
6. Audit & Communication
Avoid using sticky notes or verbal instructions for specific orders.
Digital Paper Trail: If a customer changes a request or a priority changes, use the Add Comment feature in the Order Details panel.
Review Timeline: If an order status seems wrong, check the Timeline in the details view to see who moved the order and when. This ensures accountability.
Last updated