Redant allows the same Drawing / Part Number to be manufactured using different methods through the use of Plans.

There is currently no limit to the number of plans that can be created for a single drawing.

When a new Drawing / Part Number is created, Plan 1 is automatically generated.

The active plan number can be viewed:

• On the right-hand side of the Quotation screen
• On the right-hand side of the Job Order screen
• Under the Defaults tab in the Register module

Plan Descriptions

Each plan should have a meaningful description explaining its purpose.

For example:

Plan descriptions are entered within the:

• Process
• Material
• Subcontract
• Miscellaneous

tabs, immediately above the entry grid.

Best Practice

Use the same description for the same Plan Number across all four sections.

This makes it easy to identify if an incorrect plan has been selected.

For example:

Maintaining consistency reduces the risk of estimating machining times for one material while using another.

Creating a New Plan

Method 1: Create a New Blank Plan

1. Open any of the following tabs:

   • Process
   • Material
   • Subcontract
   • Miscellaneous

2. Enter a new Plan Number in the Plan Number field above the grid.

3. Enter a Plan Description.

4. Enter the required information into the grid.

Alternatively, use Copy Plan to duplicate an existing plan and then modify it.

Method 2: Copy an Existing Plan

1. Open the plan you wish to copy.
2. Select Copy Plan (not the standard Copy button).
3. Choose either:
   • An existing plan number to overwrite, or
   • New Plan to allow Redant to generate the next available plan number.
4. Click OK.

The new plan will contain the same information as the original and can then be edited as required.

Copying Plans from Another Drawing

Each tab also contains a Copy button.

This allows plans to be copied from another Drawing / Part Number.

For example, if:

BS1768 1/4 X 6

contains a suitable plan structure, you can copy:

• Process plans
• Material plans
• Subcontract plans
• Miscellaneous plans

from that drawing into the drawing you are currently editing.

Each section can be copied from a different drawing if required.

Changing the Active Plan

When moving between tabs, the displayed Plan Number automatically resets to Plan 1.

This behaviour is controlled by the plan settings held on the main:

• Quotation
• Job Order
• Register

screen.

To change the active plan:

1. Select Edit.
2. Update the required Plan Numbers.

For simplicity, it is recommended that all plan types use the same Plan Number.

Important: If an existing Drawing / Part Number already has plans, any changes made to Process, Material, Subcontract, or Miscellaneous information will affect all records using that plan.

Unless you are correcting an error, always create a new plan when manufacturing requirements change, such as:

• Different materials
• Different subcontract finishes
• Alternative manufacturing methods

Entering a Customer Order

Customer orders can be entered in one of two ways:

1. Through the Quotation Module
2. Directly through the Job Orders Module

Entering an Order from a Quotation

1. Locate the quotation to be converted.
2. Click Create Job Order from the bottom menu.
3. The system will display all quoted items, including quantity variations.
4. Tick the Select column for each item to be ordered.
5. Enter:
   • Customer Order Number
   • Required Delivery Date

You may enter common values for all items or specify these individually for each line.

1. Click Create Job Order.

Redant creates a job for each selected item.

Open the Job Orders module to view the new jobs.

Entering an Order Directly in Job Orders

Click New from the bottom menu.

You will be asked:

Create New Works Order?

Select Yes

Creates a new customer order.

Select No

Adds an additional item to the Works Order currently displayed.

Works Orders and Job Numbers

A Works Order can contain multiple items.

Each item receives its own unique Job Number.

The Job Number is used during day-to-day processing, while the Works Order groups related jobs together for enquiry and progress-tracking purposes.

Entering Order Details

If creating a new Works Order:

1. Enter the Drawing Number using one of the methods described earlier.
2. If selecting an existing Drawing Number, the Description will automatically be populated.
3. If entering a new Drawing Number, a Description must be entered manually.

Fields shown in blue are mandatory and must contain a value before the record can be saved.

Quantities

• Order Quantity = Quantity ordered by the customer.
• Job Quantity = Quantity to manufacture.

The Job Quantity may be greater than the Order Quantity but cannot be less.

Mandatory Fields

The following fields are required:

• Customer Order Number
• Delivery Required By

You must also verify:

• Customer ID
• Delivery Address

These details are transferred to delivery notes and invoices.

Saving the Job

Click Save to create the order.

Click Cancel if you do not wish to save it.

Once saved, the job receives an Entered status.

This indicates the order exists but is not yet ready for production.

Contract Review

Before a job can progress, Contract Review checks must be completed.

Typical checks may include:

• Drawing Number Check
• Issue Check
• Price Check
• Delivery Date Check
• Material Check

If reviews are outstanding, the message:

Contract Review Not Complete

will appear in red.

To complete the review:

1. Click the red message or select Contract Review from the menu.
2. Select:
   • Yes
   • No
   • N/A

for each item.

Your User ID is recorded against each completed review item.

Order Acknowledgements

Some customers require an Order Acknowledgement before processing can continue.

This requirement is controlled within the Customer record.

To produce an acknowledgement:

1. Select Reports.
2. Generate the Order Acknowledgement.
3. Print or email it to the customer.

Once completed, Customer Order No. will turn green.

Preparing the Job for Production

Before activating a job, ensure the plans are complete.

The following plans may be required:

• Process Plan
• Material Plan
• Subcontract Plan

These plans determine:

• Manufacturing operations
• Material requirements
• External subcontract work

Without these plans, information will not appear correctly on the Job / Route Card.

Activating a Job

Activating a job applies the Process Plan times to the Production Scheduler.

This allows the Capacity Planning and Finite Scheduling modules to include the job in current workloads.

To activate:

1. Select Activate from the top menu.
2. Tick the Activate column for the required jobs.
3. Click Activate.

The job status changes from:

Entered → Active

If plan changes are required later:

1. Edit the job.
2. Return the status to Entered.
3. Amend the plans.
4. Reactivate the job.

Alternatively, use Enquiry > Progress to modify active process plans.

Printing the Job / Route Card

Many companies leave Job Card printing until:

• Material has been ordered
• Material has been received
• Traceability information is available

This ensures the Job Card contains the latest production information.

To print:

1. Click the Printer button.
2. Select:
   • Printer to print immediately
   • Preview to review first

The job status changes to Printed only when sent to a physical printer.

Job Statuses

A job progresses through several statuses:

Hold Status

A job can be placed on Hold by editing the job and manually changing its status.

No further processing can take place while the job remains on Hold.