A lightweight order type in Business Central that combines components into a finished item using an assembly BOM, without the full manufacturing module.
An Assembly Order in Business Central puts together a finished item from components listed in an assembly BOM, which can include both items and resources (labour). It is the light alternative to manufacturing: no routings, no work centres, and output plus consumption are posted in a single step when the order is posted.
There are two policies, set on the item card. Assemble-to-Stock: you create assembly orders ahead of demand and the output goes into inventory. Assemble-to-Order: when a sales order line for the item is entered, BC creates a linked assembly order automatically, keeps quantities and dates in sync, and posts the assembly together with the sales shipment.
The distinction from manufacturing matters for licensing and complexity: assembly BOMs and assembly orders are available in the Essentials licence, while production BOMs come with routings, capacity planning, and production orders and require the Premium licence. The cost of an assembled item is simply the sum of its component and resource costs.
In practice, assembly fits kitting, light configuration, and simple value-add work (packing a bundle, adding a manual). If you need multi-step operations, machine capacity, or scrap tracking, a production order is the right tool.
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