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Automatically create manufacturing orders for subassemblies

Automate subassembly MOs in Katana to streamline complex production setups.

Dayvid Lorbiecke avatar
Written by Dayvid Lorbiecke
Updated over a week ago

Streamline multi-level production in Katana by auto-generating MOs for subassemblies.

When producing a product made up of other components (subassemblies), Katana allows you to automatically create manufacturing orders (MOs) for each subassembly in the recipe (BOM). This simplifies your workflow, especially when you don't regularly stock subassemblies and prefer just-in-time production.


When to use this feature

You should automatically create subassembly MOs when:

  • You don’t keep subassemblies in stock regularly.

  • You need all components made together for a single product.

Avoid using this if:

  • You stock subassemblies separately and prefer making them in batches.

  • You rely on safety stock levels for subassemblies and want more manual control.


How it works

When creating an MO for a product with subassemblies in its recipe:

This GIF shows how to add a product to a MO and where you can choose to have subassemblies created automatically
  1. Katana prompts you to automatically generate MOs for each subassembly.

  2. You’ll see a pop-up where you can:

    • Choose which MOs to create

    • Edit the name and quantity before creation

  3. MOs will be created for subassemblies up to 10 levels deep.

If the MO is created from a sales order (Make-to-Order), the quantity and MO name will automatically match the sales order.


Production priority and scheduling

  • Subassembly MOs receive higher priority than the main MO in your manufacturing schedule.

    Screenshot example of MO priority

  • Each automatically generated MO is linked and named according to its level:

Example structure

Meaning

MO - 1

Main product

MO - 1 / 1

First-level subassembly

MO - 1 / 1 / 1

Second-level subassembly

Reordering one MO (main or subassembly) does not reorder the others created with it.


Notes and limitations

  • Automatic subassembly MOs are created regardless of current stock levels.

    • If stock already exists, you can delete the extra MOs afterward.

  • The initial quantity of each subassembly MO is based on the main product's recipe, but you can adjust it as needed.

  • If you skip auto-creating MOs at first, you can still:

    • Click the Make button for a subassembly later

    • Katana will offer to create all subassembly MOs for its recipe


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

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