Direct Definition: A job card (also called a job traveler or work order) is a physical or electronic document that accompanies a manufacturing job as it moves across the shop floor. It contains detailed production specifications, technical drawings, material lists, and routing steps for operators to follow.
In modern manufacturing, a job card serves as the primary communication link between the planning office and the shop floor. It ensures that operators have all the technical data needed to execute a job correctly without constant supervision.
The Anatomy of a Job Card
A typical job card contains several critical pieces of operational data:
- Header Information: Job ID, customer name, target completion date, and priority level.
- Routing Steps: The sequential list of machines or work centers the job must pass through (e.g. cutting, welding, assembly, paint, packaging).
- Material List: The parts and raw materials required for the build.
- Operator Logs: Columns for operators to record their initials, active setup times, run times, and count of good parts produced.
The Transition to Digital Job Cards
Historically, job cards were printed on heavy cardstock paper and physically carried in plastic folders along with drawings. However, paper job cards are easily lost, get covered in grease, and keep the front office in the dark regarding active job status. Digital job cards display this information on screens or tablets, updating job progress in real-time as operators tap to complete steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a job card used for?
- A job card is used to guide operators through the specific steps, materials, and quality requirements needed to manufacture a particular order.
- What is a job traveler?
- A job traveler is simply another common industry term for a job card. It 'travels' physically or digitally along with the product through every work center.
- Why go digital with job cards?
- Digital job cards eliminate paper waste, prevent lost drawings, and sync completion status instantly with the front office scheduling board.