Skip to main content

Understanding the basics of each Katana screen

This optimized guide introduces the primary screens within the Katana platform, including Sell, Make, Buy, Stock, and Items screens.

Dayvid Lorbiecke avatar
Written by Dayvid Lorbiecke
Updated yesterday

Katana's interface is organized into several key screens, each designed to streamline different aspects of your manufacturing and inventory management processes. Whether you're a maker, distributor, or small manufacturer, understanding these screens will help you navigate Katana efficiently.


Sell screen

The sell screen where you can manage all of your sales orders, customers, quotes, returns, and price lists

Purpose: Manage sales orders (SOs), quotes, price lists, and customer information.

Key features:

  • Sales orders tab: View and manage all SOs, track item availability, production, and delivery statuses.

  • Quotes tab: Create and monitor customer quotes before confirming them as SOs.

  • Returns tab: View and manage any returned SOs.

  • Price lists tab: Manage negotiated pricing for different customers.

  • Customers tab: Store and edit customer contact details and history.

Use Case: If you lack sufficient stock to fulfill an SO, you can check ingredient availability and initiate production tasks directly from this screen.

Learn more about using the Sell screen.


Make screen

From the Make screen you can manage your production schedule as well as view tasks

Purpose: Plan, schedule, and monitor manufacturing orders (MOs).

Key features:

  • Schedule tab: View all MOs (both Make-to-Order and Make-to-Stock), adjust priorities via drag-and-drop, and monitor ingredient availability and production status.

  • Tasks tab: Assign and track production tasks for operators.

  • Shop Floor App: Enable operators to access tasks, report consumed ingredients, and log manufactured products in real-time.

Note: Make-to-Order MOs are linked to specific SOs, while Make-to-Stock MOs are not directly tied to any SO.

Learn more about using the Schedule tab.


Buy screen

From the Buy screen you can manage all of your purchase orders, suppliers, and outsourced purchase orders

Purpose: Manage the procurement of materials and outsourced manufacturing.

Key features:

  • Purchase orders (POs): Track open and completed POs, monitor delivery statuses, and manage supplier information.

  • Outsourced purchase orders (OPOs): Handle orders where manufacturing is outsourced to contractors.

  • Suppliers tab: Add, edit, or remove supplier details, which are reflected in POs and OPOs.


Stock screen

From the Stock screen you can manage your entire inventory, including batches and stock adjustments, transfers, and takes.

Purpose: Monitor and manage inventory levels in real-time.

Key features:

  • Inventory list: View all products and materials at the variant level, including quantities in stock, committed, and expected.

  • Safety stock levels: Set and monitor minimum stock thresholds to prevent shortages.

  • Quick actions: Initiate POs or MOs directly from the inventory list to replenish stock.

  • Stock movements: Monitor and manage all of the movements of your stock.

Note: Stock movements are automatically updated based on purchasing, manufacturing, and sales activities.


Plan screen (available with Planning and Forecasting add-on)

The Plan screen comes with 2 specific tabs, the Planning tab and the Replenishment tab.

Purpose: Forecast inventory needs and plan replenishment.

Key features:

  • Planning tab: Visualize expected inventory levels across different locations based on forecasts from sales, purchase, manufacturing, and outsourcing orders.

  • Replenishment tab: Receive automated suggestions on when and how much to reorder, simplifying the restocking process.


Insights screen

The Insights screen provides you with a dashboard of data that can filtered and sorted, making it easier to analyze trends and make plans accordingly.

Purpose: Analyze operational data for informed decision-making.

Key features:

  • Dashboards: Access customizable reports on sales, manufacturing, purchasing, costs, and inventory.

  • Filtering and sorting: Easily analyze trends and performance metrics to guide strategic planning.

Learn more about using Insights.


Items screen

The Items screen breaks all of your inventory up into products, materials, or services

Purpose: Manage all products and materials with detailed information.

Key features:

Note: Items must be created before they can be used in SOs, MOs, POs, or stock adjustments.


Settings

Where you can find Settings (top right dropdown menu). The settings is where you can customize your Katana account

Purpose: Customize Katana to fit your business needs.

Key features:


Your feedback is invaluable. Let us know your thoughts on this article or anything in Katana you'd like to see improved: [email protected]

Did this answer your question?