How to Use the Advanced Manufacturing Work Bench for Routing Extensions in NetSuite

Key Takeaways

• The Advanced Manufacturing Work Bench costs $599/month as an add-on to NetSuite's WIP & Routings foundation
• Work Center names must match exactly between Standard and Advanced Manufacturing modules—any mismatch breaks the scheduling engine completely
• Manufacturers report up to 40% reduction in production errors from disconnected systems after implementation
• BOM data cleanup is critical and can consume a significant portion of implementation time for most manufacturers
• Implementation timelines vary based on routing complexity, work center count, and data quality

Understanding the Advanced Manufacturing Work Bench in NetSuite

The Advanced Manufacturing Work Bench extends NetSuite's standard manufacturing routing by creating work bench records for each routing step. Where standard routings provide basic operation sequences, the Work Bench enables manufacturers to:

• Define detailed work instructions with file attachments (PDFs, images, process notes)
• Associate material usage with specific operations rather than the entire work order
• Plan resources and compare supply versus demand at the operation level
• Establish planned start and end times for capacity planning
• Track downtime and material loss with categorized reasons
• Assign specific assets and labor requirements per operation

Think of standard routing as your recipe card—it lists ingredients and steps. The Work Bench transforms that recipe into a full production manual with photos, timing guidelines, equipment assignments, and quality checkpoints.

Why It Matters for Modern Manufacturing

The Work Bench replaces paper travelers and spreadsheet tracking with a unified digital environment. According to Oracle's documentation, the platform serves as a "mission control" for shop floor execution, connecting production planning directly to real-time data collection.

For manufacturers running complex, multi-step processes, this integration eliminates the disconnection between what's planned and what's actually happening on the floor. The result: better visibility, fewer errors, and faster response to production issues.

Setting Up Routing Extensions: Prerequisites and Initial Configuration

Before creating Work Bench records, your NetSuite environment needs specific modules enabled and configured. Missing prerequisites is the fastest path to implementation failure.

Required NetSuite Modules

Navigate to your NetSuite feature settings under Items and Inventory and verify these are active:

• Work Orders & Assemblies (included with base NetSuite)
• WIP & Routings (pricing varies by account)
• Advanced Manufacturing SuiteApp (installed from SuiteApp marketplace)

The WIP and Routings module provides the foundation—work centers, basic routings, and infinite capacity scheduling. Advanced Manufacturing builds on this with finite scheduling, mobile MES, and the Work Bench itself.

Permission Requirements

Users configuring the Work Bench need Advanced Manufacturing Admin permissions at minimum. Shop floor users collecting data need appropriate roles with view and edit access to work orders and manufacturing records.

The Critical Work Center Mapping Step

This is where most implementations stumble. Advanced Manufacturing Work Centers and standard NetSuite Work Centers must have identical names and matching statuses (both Active or both Inactive). Any mismatch breaks the scheduling engine.

To set up proper mapping:

1. Create standard NetSuite Work Centers in your manufacturing routing settings
2. Navigate to Advanced Manufacturing administration and location setup
3. Access the Work Centers configuration area
4. Create new AM Work Center entries
5. Select matching NetSuite Work Center from the dropdown
6. Enter the AM Work Center name exactly as it appears in NetSuite
7. Save

Establish a naming convention document before setup begins. Create a spreadsheet mapping all work centers and audit names for exact matches, including capitalization and spaces.

Navigating the Work Bench Interface for Routing Management

The Work Bench interface centers on individual records tied to each routing operation. Unlike standard routing where you edit a single record with multiple lines, Work Bench records are standalone entities linked by routing name and operation sequence.

Key Interface Elements

When you access a Manufacturing Work Bench record, you'll find several subtabs:

• Main Tab: Process type, routing name, assembly item, operation sequence, work center assignment
• Work Instructions: Process notes and file attachments for shop floor guidance
• Planning: Planned start/end times, resource demand calculations
• Assets: Specific machine or equipment assignments
• Labor Requirement: Labor codes and headcount specifications

The Mfg Work Bench ID field requires a unique identifier. Best practice suggests using a format like "RoutingName-OpSeq" (e.g., "FinalAssembly-010") for easy reference.

Real-Time Data Visibility

Once configured, the Work Bench integrates with NetSuite's Manufacturing Mobile SuiteApp for wireless barcode scanning. Shop floor workers scan work orders, record operation completions, log downtime, and report material usage—all feeding back to the Work Bench in real time.

This replaces the traditional end-of-shift reporting model with continuous visibility into production status.

Creating and Modifying Routing Extensions with the Work Bench

Building Work Bench records follows a specific sequence. Each standard routing operation needs a corresponding Work Bench record for the extension to function correctly.

Step-by-Step Record Creation

1. Confirm your standard routing exists: Verify the routing record with all operation steps in your manufacturing routing list
2. Create the Work Bench record: Access the Manufacturing Work Bench creation interface
3. Configure primary fields:
4. Select Process Type (manufacturing activity type)
5. Select your Routing Name from the dropdown
6. Select the Assembly Item associated with this routing
7. Enter Operation Seq number—this must match the NetSuite routing sequence exactly
8. Select Operation Name (must match NetSuite operation name)
9. Select Work Center (must match NetSuite work center name)
10. Add work instructions: Access the Work Instructions area and enter process notes. Attach PDF files, images, or documents that shop floor workers need
11. Configure planning: Set planned start/end times and resource requirements
12. Assign assets: If specific machines are required, add them in the assets area
13. Define labor: Enter labor codes and headcount requirements
14. Save the record

Repeat this process for each operation in your routing. A 10-step routing needs 10 Work Bench records.

Managing Revisions and Version Control

When routing changes occur, Work Bench records need corresponding updates. Oracle's best practices recommend:

• Documenting all routing changes in a change log
• Updating Work Bench records immediately when routing sequences change
• Auditing for orphaned Work Bench records that no longer match active routings

For organizations needing formal revision control, consider implementing custom workflows to manage approval processes for routing changes.

Optimizing Production with Advanced Routing Features

Beyond basic setup, the Work Bench enables several optimization capabilities that justify the additional module cost.

Finite Capacity Scheduling

Standard WIP & Routings provides infinite capacity scheduling—it assumes unlimited resources. The Advanced Manufacturing module adds finite capacity scheduling that considers actual work center availability.

This means:

• Work orders schedule based on realistic resource constraints
• Bottleneck operations get identified automatically
• Delivery date promises reflect actual production capacity

Downtime and Material Loss Tracking

Configure tracking categories under your Advanced Manufacturing administration settings:

• Downtime Categories: Equipment failure, changeover, material shortage, quality hold
• Downtime Reasons: Linked to categories for granular analysis
• Material Loss Categories: Scrap, rework, sample, spillage

When shop floor workers log these events through mobile devices, data flows into reporting for OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) analysis and continuous improvement.

Batch Production and Recipe Management

For food and beverage manufacturers or process industries, the Work Bench supports:

• Batch increment controls for recipe-based production
• Co-product and by-product handling
• FIFO material issuance for lot-controlled items
• Complete lot traceability from raw materials to finished goods

Troubleshooting Common Issues in Routing Extensions

Even well-planned implementations encounter problems. Here are the most frequent issues and their solutions.

Work Center Name Mismatch

Symptom: Scheduling doesn't work; work orders appear stuck or show incorrect capacity calculations.

Cause: Advanced Manufacturing Work Centers and NetSuite Work Centers have different names.

Fix: Audit all work center names for exact matches. If already in production, plan a systematic renaming during a low-activity period. Document the downtime window and communicate changes to affected users.

Operation Sequence Errors

Symptom: Work orders generate incorrectly or Work Bench records don't appear on work orders.

Cause: Operation Seq in Work Bench doesn't match routing sequence numbers.

Fix: Reference the routing record when creating Work Bench records. Use a spreadsheet to track sequence numbers across all operations. If extensively misaligned, you may need to delete and recreate Work Bench records.

Work Orders Won't Schedule

Symptom: Users attempt scheduling on work orders but nothing happens.

Cause: Work orders in "Planned" status don't support scheduling—only "Released" work orders do.

Fix: Train users that scheduling requires Released status. Update documentation and consider a custom workflow to prevent scheduling attempts on Planned work orders.

BOM Fields Not Populating

Symptom: Issued Step and Auto-Issue columns show blank when editing existing work orders.

Cause: These fields only populate at work order creation, not when editing.

Fix: Finalize BOMs before creating work orders. Create a checklist for BOM validation as part of the work order creation process.

Tablet Display Limitations

Symptom: Not all operations display on mobile devices.

Cause: Tablet displays limited to 45 operations per work order due to script timeout limitations.

Fix: For work orders exceeding 45 operations, consider splitting into multiple linked work orders or prioritizing critical operations for mobile display.

Best Practices for Effective Routing Extension Management

Successful implementations share common patterns that prevent problems and accelerate value realization.

Establish Standards Before Configuration

• Create a naming convention document covering work centers, operations, and Work Bench IDs
• Define which fields are mandatory for your organization beyond NetSuite defaults
• Document the process for routing changes and Work Bench updates
• Assign ownership for maintaining routing accuracy

Prioritize Data Quality

BOM data cleanup is critical and can consume a significant portion of implementation time for most manufacturers. Dedicate time before go-live to:

• Validate all BOM structures for accuracy
• Remove inactive items from BOM Revision records
• Audit for circular references or missing components
• Reconcile with physical inventory counts

Train Shop Floor Users Thoroughly

The most sophisticated configuration delivers zero value if workers don't use it. Budget for:

• On-site training at each work station
• Quick reference guides posted at work centers
• Supervisor training on data review and exception handling
• Refresher sessions after initial stabilization

Consider downloading the keyboard shortcuts reference to help users navigate more efficiently.

Schedule Regular Audits

Create a quarterly review process:

• Audit BOM Revisions for inactive items before they cause work order errors
• Review Work Bench records for alignment with current routings
• Analyze downtime and material loss data for process improvement opportunities
• Validate scheduling accuracy against actual production results

Integrating Routing Extensions with Other NetSuite Modules

The Work Bench doesn't operate in isolation—it connects to multiple NetSuite functions for unified operations.

Inventory and Material Management

Work Bench records link to advanced inventory management through:

• Operation-level material issuance (track which materials go to which step)
• Lot and serial number tracking at consumption points
• Real-time inventory reservations as work orders release
• Automatic backflush or manual issue options per operation

Financial Integration

Manufacturing costs flow automatically to advanced financials:

• WIP account postings by operation
• Labor cost accumulation tied to work center rates
• Variance tracking (standard vs. actual) at operation level
• Cost roll-ups for finished goods valuation

Quality Management

For manufacturers using NetSuite Quality Management, inspection points integrate with routings:

• In-process quality checks at specified operations
• Hold/release workflows based on inspection results
• Defect tracking linked to specific routing steps
• Quality cost allocation to responsible operations

CRM and Sales Integration

The connection extends to customer-facing functions:

• Accurate delivery date promises based on finite capacity
• Visibility into production status for customer service teams
• Automatic updates when work orders complete
• Integration with SuiteCommerce for customer portal order tracking

How Anchor Group Helps Manufacturers Succeed with NetSuite

Configuring the Advanced Manufacturing Work Bench involves more than following documentation—it requires understanding how routing extensions fit your specific production processes. That's where working with experienced NetSuite consultants makes the difference.

Anchor Group brings deep manufacturing expertise to Work Bench implementations. As an Oracle NetSuite Partner with specific recognition in the manufacturing space, our team has configured routing extensions for wholesale distributors, discrete manufacturers, and process industries.

What sets Anchor Group apart:

• Industry-specific experience: We've helped manufacturers implement work orders, BOMs, WIP and routings, labor costing, and scheduling across dozens of implementations
• Practical approach: We focus on what you actually need, not selling you features you won't use
• Ongoing support: Our managed services keep your manufacturing configuration optimized as your business evolves

One client described working with our team: "Within the first two meetings, our team's morale and hope for the future dramatically improved since your team is totally on it. They communicate super clearly, and they get things done efficiently."

If you're evaluating whether the Advanced Manufacturing Work Bench fits your operations, or you've started implementation and hit roadblocks, schedule a consultation to discuss your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary benefit of using the Advanced Manufacturing Work Bench for routing extensions?

The Work Bench transforms basic routing records into detailed production guides with work instructions, operation-level material tracking, and real-time data collection. Manufacturers report up to 40% reduction in production errors compared to disconnected systems because shop floor workers access current instructions and log activity in real time.

How do routing extensions impact manufacturing costs in NetSuite?

Routing extensions enable operation-level cost tracking rather than aggregate work order costing. This granularity supports variance analysis by specific operation, identification of cost drivers, and more accurate product costing. Organizations implementing proper routing extensions typically see up to 30% production cost reduction through better visibility into inefficiencies.

Can the Work Bench handle complex, multi-stage manufacturing processes?

Yes, but with considerations. The Work Bench supports multi-level assemblies, batch production, co-products, and complex routings. However, tablet displays are limited to 45 operations per work order due to script timeouts. Very complex products may need split work orders or prioritized mobile operation displays.

What kind of reporting is available for routing performance within NetSuite?

The Work Bench feeds data into NetSuite's standard reporting, saved searches, and SuiteAnalytics. You can build reports on downtime by category, material loss trends, operation cycle times, labor efficiency, and capacity utilization. Custom dashboards provide real-time visibility for production managers.

How does Anchor Group support NetSuite manufacturing implementations?

Anchor Group provides end-to-end NetSuite implementation services specifically tailored for manufacturers. This includes discovery and requirements gathering, Work Bench configuration, data migration from legacy systems, user training, and post-go-live support. Our manufacturing industry expertise means we understand the operational context behind the technical configuration.