In an effort to better our process I am seeking examples / suggestions / web links to understand what documents you use to move things through the shop floor. I am not talking about the build drawings themselves, but the work orders, build orders, travelers, or whatever name you choose. Also, if someone has a suggestion for a better subgroup to locate this discussion please advise.

The nature of our products calls for a job shop type of manufacturing. In general we don't have a production floor. Rather, we have two subcontracted fabricators that produce parts off-site. They don't act so much like a vendor as they do employees at a remote location. Electronics, wiring and final assembly occurs at our facility.

The items we "order" from vendors are well-documented. However, the cost of the items built by our fabricators is not. The boss said "we aren't going to trouble the fabricators with paperwork." So they just turned in a time and materials bill at the end of each month. Of course now (two to four years later) we are trying to get "blood from a turnip" because the boss wants costing details for individual items.

I am trying to create some sort of document that will "travel" along with the prints. My hope is that this document can act as a work order specifying how many to build, as well as a pre-filled form for the fabricator to enter labor and material costs for the item (pre-filled with all the pertinent info like part numbers, quantity built, contract information, etc). It will then return with the fabricated parts and act as a shipper / packing slip. This will give our receiving department a document to "process." Keep in mind that the work of the two fabricators fell through the cracks because one is my neighbor and I could pick up / drop off after work and the other one is the husband of our receiving clerk. Lots of hand carry and "I'll check that in later when I have time." We also still want to make this as easy as possible for the fabricators. If it is easy, then chances of it getting done greatly increase.

Does your process use a form like this? Multiple forms? What sort of information do you include? Is this something you developed yourself (MS Office) or is this a product of a tracking software package? Bar codes? Electronic? Multiple copies (one for us, one for the fabricator)?

Keep in mind I am going from NOTHING to anything so all your suggestions are appreciated.

Daen