Shared terminology
Helps prevent the same work from being recorded under different names and scattered across reports.
ERP Guides
Production management guide
How to Define Production Processes and Operations
Production definitions give business units and work activities a shared structure and naming system. Clear process steps, owners and completion criteria make work orders easier to track consistently and help production records and reports use the same terms.
What are production and process definitions for?
Knowing that a work order is “in production” is not enough. Teams also need to know which unit is working on it, its current step, how much is complete and what comes next. Shared process definitions help different people and departments record this information consistently.
Work-order tracking
Makes the work order’s step, owner and status visible.
Comparable records
Makes it easier to review planned workflows alongside actual production records.
How to define production processes in 6 steps
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1
Define the scope of production units
Map the plants, departments or work areas where production takes place. Set a clear scope for each record; do not define the same work twice under different units or names.
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2
Standardise process and operation names
Choose the names used consistently across the business. If “final inspection” and “last check” refer to the same work, select one preferred term. Codes and descriptions should be clear enough for staff to find in lists.
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3
Define the start and end of each step
Describe what work or quantity starts an operation and what record marks its completion. This prevents different users from treating the same work as complete at different stages and supports consistent tracking of pending and finished work.
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4
Assign ownership and a recording method
Identify the department that owns the process and who records production information. If records are entered manually, by barcode or on a mobile device, decide what information is recorded and when, based on the workflow.
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5
Review the work sequence and exceptions
Determine the usual sequence of work for the product. Define exceptions such as rework, outsourced operations or quality checks separately. Do not assume every product follows the same sequence.
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6
Validate with a sample work order
Try the definitions with a real production example. Check whether staff can identify the current step, completed and pending quantities are recorded correctly, and ownership is clear at each stage. Resolve gaps before applying the definitions across production.
An example production process flow
This example shows a simple sequence of work steps that could be used to make a product. Each business should define steps according to its products, quality checks and production methods.
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1
Material preparation
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2
Main production operation
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3
Final inspection
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4
Finished-goods receipt
The difference between a process, route and work center
Process or operation
Defines the work activity or production step.
Route
Specifies the operations a product passes through and their sequence.
Machine or work center
Identifies where or on which production resource an operation takes place.
Check definitions before putting them into use
- Are there duplicate process names or codes for the same work?
- Are the start and completion criteria clear for each process?
- Have an owner and recording method been assigned?
- Are product-specific variations in operation sequence addressed?
- Are steps and statuses understood correctly in a sample work order?
- Is an owner assigned to approve changes?
Frequently asked questions about production process definitions
What is a production process?
A production process is the set of work steps used to make a product. Process definitions standardise the name, scope, owner and completion criteria for those steps.
Are a process and an operation the same thing?
Usage varies by software and business terminology. In this guide, a process means the broader workflow and an operation means a specific production step within it. A shared company glossary helps reduce confusion.
Are process definitions the same as route and work-center definitions?
No. A process or operation describes the work to be done. A route specifies the order of steps, while a work center identifies where or with which resource the work is performed. These records are related but are not the same definition.
Why should production terms be standardised?
If the same work is recorded under different names, reporting, work-order tracking and planned-versus-actual comparisons become harder. Shared codes and names help departments use consistent process information.
Process definitions should reflect how work is actually done. Agree on shared names and owners first, then verify that teams interpret the records consistently using a sample production order.