Production Batches
Individual production runs — record actuals, compare against the cost card, and finalize to post the journal.
A production batch is a single execution of a cost card. While the cost card defines what should happen in theory, the batch records what actually happened: the exact materials consumed, actual labour time, real overhead absorbed, and the quantity of finished goods produced. Only when a batch is finalized does it have any financial impact — until then, it is a planning and tracking document.
The Batches Tab
Navigate to: Operations → Productions → Batches tab
The tab lists all batches with Finalized and Draft summary cards above the list (click one to filter). Each row shows: Batch No, Title, Date, Output Qty, Total Cost, Cost/Unit, and Status. Search, Export (CSV or PDF) and New sit on the toolbar.
Batch Fields
| Field | Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Card | Yes | The cost card this batch follows. Selecting it pre-fills every line (materials, labour, overhead, outputs) as editable defaults, using each material's current weighted average cost. You then edit each line to enter actuals. |
| Date | Yes | The date production occurred. This is the finalization journal's business date. If production spans multiple days, use the completion date. |
| Batch # | Auto-generated | System-assigned sequential reference (PRD000001 …). Switch to manual to type your own quality-control batch ID. |
| Center | No | The production unit where this batch runs — factory, kitchen, workshop, assembly line. Stamped on the stock movements. |
| Allocation | Locked | Inherited from the cost card; shown read-only on the batch. |
| Reference | No | An external or internal reference: a customer order driving this production run, a quality batch code, or a shift reference. |
| Materials | Yes | Each material line is pre-filled from the cost card with the available stock shown beneath. Edit the quantity to what was actually consumed. The unit cost defaults to WAC; type a different cost and the line is flagged Overridden. |
| Outputs | Yes | Each output line is pre-filled from the cost card. Enter the actual quantity produced for each output (Main, Co-Product, By-Product, Waste). Allocation and cost per unit update as you type. |
| Labour | No | Labour lines pre-filled from the cost card. Enter actual hours; the amount is calculated and a variance indicator compares it to the card. |
| Overhead | No | Overhead lines pre-filled from the cost card. Enter the actual driver quantity; the absorbed amount is calculated. |
Batch Status Lifecycle
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Draft | Batch saved and fields can be freely edited. No financial impact: no stock has moved and no journal exists. The batch page shows a "Draft Status" banner. |
| Finalized | The batch is complete. Actuals have been recorded, the journal has been posted, inventory has been updated, and the output items' costs have been set. The page shows when it was finalized. |
Unfinalize returns a Finalized batch to Draft so it can be corrected and finalized again. A batch that will never run can be deleted from the list.
Running a Batch — Step by Step
Click New on the Batches tab. Select the cost card. Every line pre-fills from the card. Review and confirm the date, batch number and center.
Edit each material line to reflect the quantity actually consumed and, if the price paid differed, override the unit cost. Update output quantities as production completes.
For labour lines, enter actual hours worked. For overhead, enter the actual driver quantity. If actuals differ significantly from expected, note the reason in the reference.
The batch shows a running Cost Summary: Materials, Labour, Fixed OH, Depreciation, Total Joint Cost and Output Qty. Save the batch — it is a Draft.
Open the batch, review the Ledger Impact preview, click Finalize and confirm. The journal is posted immediately, inventory updates, and the batch is marked Finalized.
Variance Analysis
Every labour and overhead line on a batch shows a variance indicator against the cost card, and every material line shows the standard cost beside the cost used. A material line whose cost was overridden is flagged.
Using more than expected inflates the cost per unit; using less reduces it. Tracking variance over multiple batches helps identify where process improvements can reduce material waste.
Unfinalizing a batch voids the finalization journal, reverses the stock movements, and returns the batch to Draft. Because it unwinds the output items' costs, any deliveries that have already used finished goods from this batch will be affected. Only unfinalize to correct a genuine data error — not as a routine correction mechanism.