How do I handle outsourced production steps?

Managing vendor-driven manufacturing processes

In DigitBridge, outsourced steps in a WIP job represent processes performed by third-party vendors rather than your internal team. These steps can be added to your Bill of Materials (BOM) and automatically populated into the WIP during job creation. Each outsourced step can be managed independently, and you can generate Purchase Orders (POs) directly from the WIP screen.

Add Outsourced Steps in the BOM

To include outsourced production in your workflow:

When creating or editing a BOM, go to the Processes tab
Select Process Outsourced as the process type
Fill in the required fields:
- Material SKU
- Product Name (auto-filled)
- BOM Quantity, Base, Alternate (optional), Notes
Save the BOM

Once this is done, the step will appear in the WIP when a job using this BOM is created.

Generate an Outsource PO from the WIP

In the WIP screen:

Go to Manufacturing > WIP, and open the desired WIP job
In the Processes tab, locate the row(s) labeled Process Outsourced
From the Action dropdown at the top right, select Create Outsource PO
A purchase order will be generated for each vendor related to the outsourced process

Tip: Make sure vendor information and pricing are set up for these SKUs in advance.

Start and Complete Outsourced Processes

You can track the status of outsourced steps just like in-house ones:

Use Start All Process or manually mark the outsourced step as started
Once completed, update the step in the Processes tab
This status change will contribute to the WIP's overall progress rate

Note: Outsourced steps do not use internal warehouses. Materials should be staged accordingly if needed prior to shipment.

Related Guides

How do I create and manage a Work in Progress (WIP) job?
What actions can I take from the WIP screen?
How do I start and finish in-house processes?
How do I update in-house completion quantities?
How do I record the final goods yield?
How do I use the WIP Transaction Inquiry Report?