With release 2025.2 around the corner, I wanted to swing back to release 2025.1 which introduced two significant enhancements to the work-in-process and manufacturing routing modules. One of the changes introduced was the ability to add and edit manufacturing operation steps. However, the one I would like to tell you about in this blog is the ability to define a connection type for each operation step in a routing. This feature impacts production scheduling in NetSuite in a big way, and process manufacturers using NetSuite’s work in process and routing module would be wise to review as there is a significant value add here.
Understanding Connection Types
What is a connection type anyway? In short, a connection type is a dropdown available at the operation level that allows you to generate those operations, and schedule them, in a way that is more in line with how you run your business.
Before the NetSuite 2025.1 release, manufacturing operations were scheduled in a sequential “Finish-To-Start” fashion. That is, each operation started only when the preceding operation before it was completed. Operation steps could include lag between each operation step, but there was no ability to define a set of operations that could be running concurrently. This was a significant limitation if your business operated using process manufacturing. Due to the nature of process manufacturing, multiple operations may be running at any given time. Prior to Release 2025.1, production run that may take two days, would (in NetSuite), be scheduled to take five days due to its “Finish-To-Start” scheduling approach.
Introducing Start-To-Start
With Release 2025.1, you now have the ability to define a “Start-To-Start” connection type. Effectively, “Start-To-Start” allows you to define a series of operations that can start at the same time. From a scheduling perspective, this impacts production lead time significantly and can be more in line with your manufacturing operation if you have operations that can begin concurrently. More importantly, this allows production managers to have a more accurate view of the production schedule at a given time. I definitely recommend you review the feature if you fall under process manufacturing, as it can provide a more accurate system generated production schedule.
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Concentrus is a leading provider of innovative cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, including NetSuite. Our team of NetSuite experts offers a range of services, including NetSuite price analysis, NetSuite training, and NetSuite integration services.
Our goal is to help businesses of all sizes maximize their investment in NetSuite by providing expert NetSuite cost optimization and implementation strategies. With years of experience as a NetSuite partner, our NetSuite administrators and NetSuite consultants are well equipped to help businesses of all sizes with their NetSuite consulting needs.
Whether you're looking for a NetSuite consultant to help with your NetSuite implementation or you need ongoing NetSuite support, Concentrus is here to help.
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