An item process is defined as the simple processing (such as cleaning, trimming, or freezing) of a raw material to produce an intermediate item. While small amounts of additional ingredients such as preservatives or seasonings may be added, an item process typically revolves around a single raw material. In this way, it differs from a formula, in which several raw materials are blended together to the point that they become inseparable within the output product.
Production is generally driven by the presence of a raw material rather than a requirement for a manufactured item. Often, the intermediate produced as the output of an item process is not packaged into finished goods as part of the process, but rather stored in bulk in the inventory. At a future time, the intermediate is used as a component in a production order or packaged into a finished item.
A note on items
Before entering an item process into the system, first create an output intermediate item in the inventory. Assign this output item to the item process before the item process can be certified. This requirement prevents users from inadvertently creating an item process without a defined output item and then attempting to schedule quantities of the associated raw material for processing.
Some information for the output item (such as the Production BOM Number and the production grouping item) cannot be filled in initially because the item process has not yet been created. After the item process is created, enter this information manually on the item card.