What's the difference between Works Orders and Jobs?

Jobs handle everything customer-facing - quotes, delivery schedules, invoicing, customer communications. Works Orders manage internal production - the actual manufacturing, assembly, and installation work. Think of Jobs as front-office customer management and Works Orders as your production workshop. A typical workflow starts with a customer Job containing the order. When accepted, you create a Works Order (or multiple) to handle the building. They link together, so sales can check production status from the Job, and production can see customer context from the Works Order. But each team works primarily in their own space. Sales doesn't wade through production details they don't need. Production doesn't get distracted by customer communications. The separation keeps both workflows clean and focused, while the system maintains all the connections behind the scenes.

Can I create multiple Works Orders from one Job?

Absolutely, and it's often the smartest approach when production involves different stages, locations, or teams. A furniture installation might need three Works Orders - factory assembly, custom modifications at the workshop, and on-site installation. Each Works Order tracks independently with its own status, assigned team, and timeline. You can also create Works Orders for individual items on a Job - useful when different products on the same customer order need completely different production processes. Everything stays connected: sales viewing the Job sees all related Works Orders and their status. Production viewing Works Orders can access the parent Job for customer context. This flexibility means you structure production to match reality instead of cramming complex workflows into overly simple tracking.

How do nested assemblies work?

Set up assemblies once in your items list by defining what components go into what assemblies - like building blocks. A motor assembly contains bearings, housing, and shaft. A power unit contains that motor assembly plus electrical components. Once defined, Works Orders automatically understand the relationships. When you add a power unit to a Works Order, the system knows it needs the motor assembly, and that motor assembly needs its components. You can create separate Works Orders for building each assembly level, and they link automatically. Change a component and instantly see which assemblies use it. The system tracks inventory for nested assemblies - allocate a power unit and it reserves the motor assembly and all its components. You manage complex products naturally instead of tracking everything in confusing flat lists.

How does production time tracking work?

Time tracking is optional but incredibly useful. Team members simply clock in when starting work on a Works Order and clock out when done. For split Works Orders, they clock time against specific stages - fabrication time tracked separately from assembly time. The system compares actual time against your estimates, showing you where predictions match reality and where they don't. This data helps you quote future jobs accurately instead of guessing. You'll spot which stages consistently overrun, identify training needs by comparing team members, and track efficiency improvements as processes mature. If you assign hourly rates to team members, time tracking automatically calculates labor costs. It's not about micromanaging - it's about having real data to improve processes, train effectively, and quote confidently.

How do I control who sees production information?

Set permissions by user role in Settings under User Permissions. Sales staff might have full edit rights on Jobs but read-only or no access to Works Orders. Production gets full control over Works Orders while having read-only access to Jobs for customer context. Create roles matching your team structure: Sales Representative, Production Manager, Shop Floor Worker, Accounting. Each role gets specific permissions for creating and editing in each module. For example, Sales Reps can create Works Orders from Jobs and view status, but can't edit production details. Shop Floor Workers edit their assigned Works Orders but can't create new ones or modify Jobs. Production Managers control everything production-related. The granular control means everyone has exactly what they need for their job without seeing sensitive information or accidentally changing things they shouldn't touch.

How do Works Orders connect with inventory?

Works Orders automatically check inventory when created, flagging missing components immediately instead of waiting until production starts. Click "Allocate Stock" to reserve available inventory for specific Works Orders, preventing those materials from being used elsewhere. For items out of stock, generate purchase orders with one click - they link permanently to the Works Order needing them. When purchase orders arrive and stock is received, Works Orders automatically show components are ready. You can navigate from a Works Order to see which purchase orders supply its materials, or view a purchase order to see which jobs depend on it. Stock flows through production: allocate to Works Orders, book out when starting, track through stages, mark complete when finished. The integration eliminates spreadsheet tracking between production planning and materials management.

When should I split a Works Order into sub-orders?

Split Works Orders when production involves distinct stages happening at different times, locations, or by different teams. Manufacturing typically splits by stage - materials prep, fabrication, assembly, quality testing. Installation companies split by location or trade - workshop pre-assembly, transport, on-site installation. Each sub-order gets its own status, assigned person, and completion tracking. Splitting creates clear handoff points between stages and prevents everything hiding behind one generic "In Progress" status. You see exactly which stage is done versus still working. Don't split if production truly flows straight through with one team working continuously - unnecessary splitting just adds admin work. Split when you need visibility into which stages are complete, when different teams or locations are involved, or when stage-level time tracking matters for improving processes and quoting accurately.

Operations

Manage production and assembly in one place

Manufacturing and installation are complicated enough. Manage multi-stage production, nested assemblies, and team coordination in one intuitive system. No more spreadsheet nightmares.

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Jobs

Board · 13 open

SearchDM

All customersThis monthTeam: DanaDelivery date

CalendarNew job

Order Confirmed4

Harbour Dental1,840

JB-0449Delivery 18 Jun

Northgate Cycles3,120

JB-0448Delivery 20 Jun

Bramble Bakery620

JB-0447Delivery 21 Jun

Redwood Estates2,180

JB-0446Delivery 24 Jun

In Production3

Summit Conferences5,490

JB-0441Delivery 14 Jun

Tidewater Events6,142

JB-0444Delivery 14 Jun

Fairlight Studio1,375

JB-0442Delivery 16 Jun

Ready to Dispatch3

Kestrel Logistics2,275

JB-0437Delivery 12 Jun

Oakfield School980

JB-0436Delivery 12 Jun

Pinecrest Golf4,310

JB-0433Delivery 11 Jun

Ready to Invoice3

Meridian Care1,560

JB-0431Delivery 9 Jun

Alder & Finch2,940

JB-0429Delivery 8 Jun

Copperfield Brewing3,660

JB-0427Delivery 7 Jun

Automated messageOn status change

Kestrel Logistics told their order is ready

Sent when JB-0437 moved to Ready to Dispatch

PO detailsJB-0441

PO-0912Midocean · 4 lines

StatusSupplier Dispatched

Expected date11 Jun

Keep production separate from sales

Before

You're trying to track complex manufacturing in a system built for sales.

With Zigaflow

Works Orders give production its own clean space, completely separate from customer-facing Jobs. Sales manages customer orders in Jobs - tracking deliveries, sending invoices, handling all the customer stuff.

Track every production stage

Before

Your production has five distinct stages - sourcing, fabrication, sub-assembly, quality testing, and final assembly.

With Zigaflow

Works Orders let you split complex production into separate sub-orders for each real stage. Create one Works Order, then split it into sub-orders for fabrication, sub-assembly, quality control - whatever matches your actual process.

Manage nested assemblies naturally

Before

You build products with components that go into assemblies, and those assemblies go into bigger assemblies, and somehow you're supposed to track all of this in a flat spreadsheet.

With Zigaflow

Works Orders understand how your products actually fit together - components into sub-assemblies, sub-assemblies into assemblies, assemblies into finished products.

What you get

Break jobs/orders into production tasks and stages
Assign works orders to specific team members or departments
Track production progress in real time
Link directly to the parent job or sales order
Set priorities and deadlines per works order
Attach specifications, drawings, and notes
Mark complete and trigger the next workflow step automatically
Easily manufacture assemblies from sub-components

How it works

Configure works orders for your businessStart by turning on Works Orders and customizing statuses to match how you actually work.
Turn customer orders into production workWhen a customer job is accepted, click one button to create a Works Order from it.
Make sure you have what you needWorks Orders automatically check your inventory if you have the materials to build what you planned.
Update status and track time" For split Works Orders, complete each sub-order independently as stages finish.
Close jobs and improve processesMark Works Orders complete when production finishes, which automatically updates the linked customer Job showing delivery is ready.

What are Works Orders?

Works Orders help you manage the complex stuff that happens behind the scenes - your actual manufacturing, assembly, and installation work. While regular Jobs track customer orders and delivery schedules, Works Orders handle the messy reality of production: multiple stages, nested components, different teams, and all the details your customers don't need to see.

Think about how your production actually works. You're manufacturing a product from sub-components - sourcing parts, building assemblies, and tracking everything through to completion before it's ready to ship. Or you need to manage an installation or site work that sits separately from the main customer order. These workflows don't fit neatly into simple job tracking - they need their own space.

That's exactly what Works Orders give you. Create a Works Order from a customer job, then split it into stages that match your real production process. Track each stage separately with its own status, team member, and timeline. Your sales team keeps working in Jobs, managing customer communications and delivery dates. Your production team works in Works Orders, coordinating manufacturing without all the customer-facing clutter. Both teams see what they need without tripping over what they don't.

The beauty is how it handles complexity without feeling complicated. Need to track nested assemblies where components build into sub-assemblies that build into final products? Works Orders understand those relationships automatically. Want to know if production is taking longer than expected? Built-in time tracking shows you actual versus estimated time at every stage. Wondering if you have the materials to start the next production run? Use the bill of materials to check what you can build based on available stock, then easily raise orders to suppliers for the shortfall - all tracked against the works order.

And here's the relief - you're finally done managing production in spreadsheets. No more hunting through Excel files to find which stage a job is at. No more emailing PDFs back and forth to coordinate between teams. No more manual tracking of what materials you ordered for which job. Everything lives in one system that actually makes sense for how production really works.

Frequently asked

Works with Works Orders

Features

Jobs/Orders Purchase Orders Inventory

Industries

Construction & Trade Audio-Visual Office Furniture Lighting & Electrical Renewables & Solar

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