Work-Order Travelers

A work-order traveler is an on-demand internal PDF that carries the current job plan to the shop floor. Use it for picking, recovery counts, serial capture, labor notes, inspection, and sign-off when a printed packet is part of your process.

​

Open and print a traveler

Go to Manufacturing > Work Orders and open the work order. You need manufacturing.view permission. Before printing, confirm:

• Work-order type, status, priority, quantity, and location.
• BOM name and revision.
• Planned start and end dates.
• Source product and source serial for disassembly or conversion.
• Required, issued, and remaining material quantities.
• BOM instructions and notes.

Then:

1. Open the work-order action menu in the header.
2. Click Print traveler.
3. Wait for the PDF to open in a new browser tab.
4. Review the work-order number and barcode before printing.
5. Use the browser’s print or save controls for your approved internal process.

Arcus renders the traveler from the work order’s saved material lines together with current work-order and selected BOM-level details. The PDF is not stored as a work-order attachment, and printing it does not release, issue, complete, or otherwise change the work order.

​

Outcome

You receive an internal PDF for the current job. Inventory, work-order cost, GL, status, and Timeline remain unchanged.

​

Read the traveler

The footer uses the entity’s configured contact details when available.

​

Use the pick list correctly

The pick list includes BOM lines with Consume or Add disposition. It shows the quantity already issued and the remaining planned quantity at the time the PDF is generated. The Bin value is a best-effort suggestion. Arcus derives it from an active default or stocked bin for that product at the work-order location. A -- value means no suggested bin was found. After gathering material, record the real transaction on the work order. A checkmark on paper alone does not issue stock. Follow Materials and Substitutions.

​

Use type-specific recovery sections

​

Assembly

The traveler focuses on the input pick list, output quantity and serial capture, labor, and sign-off. It does not add a source-recovery section.

​

Disassembly

The traveler adds the source product and serial when present, expected Return-to-stock recovery, Scrap lines, and actual-recovery write-in fields. Match recovered quantities to what is physically usable before recording completion.

​

Conversion

The traveler adds the source, inputs and added parts, removed parts expected to return to stock, Scrap lines, and components retained in the converted unit. The paper records floor observations. Arcus inventory changes only when a user records Return, Scrap, Issue, or Completion in the application.

​

Capture serialized output

When the work order’s output product is serialized, the traveler includes one write-in line per planned unit, up to 40 rows. If planned quantity exceeds 40, the PDF tells the operator to attach a serial sheet for the remaining units.

1. Write each physical output serial legibly.
2. Check for duplicates on the paper before leaving the floor.
3. Enter exactly one unique serial per completed unit in the completion modal.
4. Compare the entered serials with the paper traveler before clicking Complete.

The traveler itself does not create serial records. See Partial Completions and Undo for the system-of-record serial step.

​

Complete labor and sign-off

The printed labor strip uses the BOM’s estimated minutes and rate. It does not list the work order’s booked timer or manual labor entries. Use the ruled fields for your approved floor process:

• Actual hours and operator.
• Built by and date.
• Inspected by and date.
• QA pass and notes.

Then book actual labor in Arcus when the work order uses timers or manual entries. A handwritten hour does not post labor cost or GL. Follow Track Manufacturing Labor.

​

Common scenario: run a conversion with a paper packet

A conversion job replaces one component, retains another component in the unit, and expects an old part back into stock.

1. Print the traveler after the correct BOM revision, source serial, and location are on the work order.
2. Use Inputs / Pick List to gather the added component.
3. Match the Source card to the physical serialized unit.
4. Record the removed part’s actual quantity in the recovery section.
5. Confirm the retained component stays in the unit and keep scrap segregated.
6. Capture operator, inspection, and QA sign-off.
7. In Arcus, record any manual material action, book labor, and complete the conversion.
8. Compare Inventory Movements and Serials with the signed packet.

The paper supports the floor workflow, while Arcus remains the inventory and accounting system of record.

​

Reprint when the plan changes

The traveler reflects the data available when it is generated. Reprint it after a material issue, substitution, work-order quantity change, schedule change, or a current BOM-level instruction, labor-plan, or overhead change that matters on the floor. BOM component and revision edits do not rewrite the material lines already saved on an existing work order. If its pick plan is wrong, stop and resolve the work order through your approved process instead of expecting a reprint to adopt the edited recipe.

​

Troubleshoot traveler problems

​

Frequently asked questions

​

Related guides