As in every other department of a business, the expense of maintaining an adequate system of order records in the manufacturing departments is infinitesimal, when compared with the results obtained. A single contract lost for the lack of needed information may mean the loss of a valuable customer, the profit on whose business would pay the cost of an adequate system many times over.
28. Manufacturing Order Register. The form of the manufacturing order register necessarily depends on the nature of the business, the product, and the number of operations or departments through which an order must pass. It need not be complicated—simple forms always are to be preferred—the main thing is that all orders be so recorded as to be readily located.
Fig. 47. Daily Report of the Transfer Clerk
Fig. 48. Foreman's Daily Report of Shop Production
A simple and convenient form for a register of manufacturing orders is shown in Fig. 45. This should be in loose leaf, a sheet being used for each style or size of machine, part or piece manufactured. If, for instance, a typewriter is made in five styles, five sheets would be used—one for each style. Separate sheets would also be used for each part—as many sheets for each as there are sizes.
The sheets should be indexed under the names of the parts and those in each division arranged in the order of sizes. Supposing type bars to be made in ten sizes—numbers 191 to 200—the sheets would be filed in the order of these numbers. Should the industry be one in which orders are issued to assemble parts into complete machines, the sheets on which assembling orders are recorded should be filed with a separate index, but may be kept in the same binder. It is also advisable to use sheets of a different color for these orders.