Getting Started

Production Flow

A PDF version with screenshots is available for download and printing here.

What you need for a Smooth Production Flow

• You can save time and money by using FrameReady. It’s built-in tools are designed to help you effectively track of orders from start to finish - and to complete them on time.

• FrameReady has tools for each step of the process. Let's look at one example process: production.

Example Production Flow

After creating a Work Order, you need to fulfill the order by creating the product. Here's a 30,000 foot view:

Take the Order

• Create the Work Order.

• Use the Location field to identify where the art will be stored for the framer/production staff.

• See also: Getting Started with Work Orders tutorial

Print the Work Order

• The printed Work Order document is for the framer / production staff and not for the customer (for customers, use the Summary, Proposal or Estimate.)

• See also: Work Order Printing

Print the Art ID Tag

• This small strip of paper stays with the artwork as it flows through the framing process. Tape it to the side of the wrapped package for quick and easy identification.

• You can print the Art ID Tags for the current Work Order or, at the end of the day, find all the incomplete orders created today and print the entire set.

• See also: Print Art Identification Tags

Create the Production List

You have two choices to create a printed lists of Work Orders:

1. From Work Orders click the List of Incomplete Orders side button or (from Main Menu > Find Incomplete Work Orders) and then Print List.

Tip: You can customize your search by clicking the Find button and marking the Incomplete radio button along with any other criteria (e.g. orders created this week only, orders due next week, etc.)

OR

2. From Work Orders, click Menu Bar > Reports > Incomplete Schedule.
   
   As orders are completed in the back room, the framer can cross off the completed orders and identify where they have been stored for customer pickup. If you have a computer in the production area, this can be done directly in FrameReady in the List view.

• (Optional) Click the Go To Materials List button. This feature creates a list of all the materials required for this order. Items can be marked off as they are available for the order. Use the Find Items Not Yet Received button to locate needed components.

Create the List of Materials to be Ordered

1. From Main Menu in the Work Orders section, click Create Frame Order.

2. Check the box to Create Purchase Orders.

3. Click Proceed.

FrameReady compiles and creates the following documents:

• Moulding Cut List - sorted by order # with all frames, liners and fillets grouped together

• Matboard Cut List - sorted by Work Order number

• Frame Order Labels - attach to back of assembled frame

• Frame Order - list of all materials needed, sorted by Manufacturer or Distributor

• Artwork Order - list of purchased artwork

• Purchase Order - materials compiled onto order for each supplier identified to order from:

• • items on the Purchase Order can be: consolidated, deleted, moved to another order, modified, or back ordered. New items can be manually added.

  • the Purchase Order can be: printed, saved as a PDF, faxed, set as an email message with the order in the body or sent with the order attached as a PDF.

When the Materials Arrive

1. Go to Purchase Orders > Adjust Quantity if necessary and click the Accept button to have inventory automatically updated.

2. Go to Work Order > Go To Materials List sidebar button. Put a tick in the Received box to show items now in stock.

3. Find all Work Orders to be worked on (Find Incomplete or customized search) and click Menu Bar > Reports > Print and select:

   • Moulding Cut List

   • Matboard Cut List

   • Glazing Cut List

When the Framing is Complete

1. In your Work Orders click the List of Incomplete Orders button, locate the Work Order and click it. Mark the following:

   • Status: select Complete from the drop-down in the Shop tab.

   • Location: set the Location where finished art is stored, e.g. Ready 3 (the Location field is completely customizable).

   • Email: click blue-grey Email button to automatically send a completion email notifying the customer that framing is done (or contact customer by phone).

2. Remember to take a digital image of finished piece and store it in Work Order > Shop tab > Picture File button or Work Order > Shop tab > Picture tab in lower right.

When the Customer Picks Up Framing

1. Find the Work Order for the customer.

2. Look in Location field to see where finished piece is stored.

3. Change Location field to Picked Up.

4. Click Find Invoice sidebar button (or Post to Invoice sidebar button if no payment has yet been made).

5. Look at the Invoice screen, and let the customer know the Balance owing or if it is Paid in Full. Retrieve finished piece for client while they decide how to pay the balance.

6. Show the artwork to the client and take their final payment if necessary.

7. Click Print Invoice icon button if necessary.

Rinse and repeat!