Fig. 42. Shop Order Showing Total Work Cards
When a superintendent desires to start work on a stated production order, he lays out the work and issues the necessary shop orders to the foremen of the different departments in which the work is to be done. A shop order is issued for each shop—usually these are exact copies. If work on an order requires work to be done in four shops, the four copies are made on the typewriter, at one writing, by means of carbon paper.
Fig. 41 shows a convenient form of shop order. This form includes the shop order number, piece number, drawing number, material, date to be completed, date of order, production order number on which the shop order applies, and the date completed. The body of the order is left blank for a description of the work and the necessary instructions. Explicit instructions must be given on every shop order—the order should leave nothing for granted.
Fig. 43. Shop Order with Name of Shop
Fig. 44. Shop Order Showing Progress of the Work
The special feature of the shop order shown in Fig. 42 is the space for card number and total cards. When an order is made out, as many copies are made as there are shops or departments through which the work must pass. The number of the copies of the order is entered under the heading total cards—that is, if the work is to pass through four shops, the figure 4 is entered in the space provided for total cards. The copies are numbered in the order in which the work will be done—that is, the order for the shop that does the first work is given No. 1, the second shop No. 2, etc.
There are two special advantages in having the shop orders numbered. Each foreman knows, when he receives his order, how many operations are ahead of his own and how many follow, and can lay out his work accordingly. It does not always follow, however, that because one foreman receives order No. 3, two other operations must be completed before his own can be started. Each shop order may call for the manufacture of a different part, to be sent to the assembly shop, but if one of these parts is in stock, no order is issued. The foreman receiving order No. 2, when his number naturally would be 3, knows that one of the parts is in stock and that his operation must be hurried accordingly.