The sales configurator in Business Central can build production order hierarchies directly from a production order. You do not need a sales order to use this functionality.
To build a hierarchy from a production order, you create a firm planned production order, add the master data on the line, and assign a reference number. The reference number is what ties the orders together, and you create it manually.
When you run the action to select orders and refresh the hierarchy, the configurator builds all the underlying production orders for you. In the example shown, it created eight underlying orders automatically.
This lets you bundle production orders even when you produce top-level items for stock rather than for a specific sales order.
Build production order hierarchies without a sales order
Most people associate the sales configurator with the sales order flow, where you configure a product and the system generates the production structure underneath it. But you can also work with the hierarchy directly from a production order. This means you do not need a sales order at all to take advantage of the functionality.
This is useful when you produce top-level items for stock or for some other purpose where there is no customer order driving the production. You still get the full benefit of the configurator building the underlying orders for you.
How to set up a production order hierarchy in the sales configurator
The process works like this. You start with a firm planned production order. You can create it manually on whatever item number you need and enter the quantity, for example four units, then refresh the order.
On the line, you add the master data information directly. This is the configuration data that tells the system what to produce.
From the actions menu, you can then work with the hierarchy in the same way you would from a sales order. When you select orders and hierarchy, the system asks you for a reference number, because the reference number is what ties the orders together.
Why you need a reference number
On a sales order, the reference number is generated automatically as part of the flow. On a production order, you create it manually. You can use any number you like, but you have to make sure it does not already exist, since that is what links the related orders into one hierarchy.
Once you have entered the reference number, you select order and hierarchy and refresh the hierarchy. The configurator then builds the underlying production orders. In the example, this produced eight underlying orders. You can open the hierarchy view to see every order it has created as a complete production order hierarchy.
When to use this in practice
Use this approach when you want to bundle production orders together but there is no sales order in the picture. A typical case is producing top-level items that go to stock or are saved for later use. The configurator still does the work of generating and linking the underlying orders, so you get the same structure and overview you would get from a sales-driven configuration.
Q&A
Can you use the sales configurator without a sales order?
Yes. You can build production order hierarchies directly from a production order, so you do not need a sales order to use the functionality.
What type of production order do you start with?
You start with a firm planned production order. You create it manually on the item number you need, enter the quantity, and refresh the order.
Why do you need a reference number when building the hierarchy?
The reference number ties the related orders together into one hierarchy. On a production order you create it manually, and you have to make sure the number does not already exist.
What happens when you refresh the hierarchy?
The configurator builds all the underlying production orders for you. In the example shown, it created eight underlying orders, which you can view as a complete production order hierarchy.
When is it useful to build a hierarchy from a production order?
It is useful when you produce top-level items for stock or for other purposes where there is no sales order driving production, but you still want the configurator to generate and link the underlying orders.