Creating an order

Create a new order from components and suppliers, set dates, and review.

Why orders matter

Orders represent the operational link between what your organisation needs and the suppliers who provide it. Whether you’re sourcing raw materials, components, or assemblies, every procurement step begins with creating an accurate order.

A well-structured order ensures:

  • The right supplier receives the correct request
  • Quantities are accurate
  • Components align with your BOMs and projects
  • Delivery expectations are clear
  • Audits and tracking later remain reliable

This guide walks you through creating an order in Laminar, what each field represents, and how to avoid common mistakes.

Where order creation begins

The quickest, most consistent way to create an order is through the New menu in the top bar.

  1. Click the New button near the global search bar.
  2. A two-column panel of shortcuts appears.
  3. Select Order.

Laminar will open the order creation page at:

/orders/create

This workflow works from anywhere in the system—BOMs, Suppliers, Components—so you never have to navigate back to the Orders module manually.

Tip Make the New menu your default starting point for creating all major items.

Understanding the Order Creation page

The order creation screen is structured into a few clear sections:

  1. Basic Details
  2. Supplier
  3. Items
  4. Dates
  5. Attachments (if enabled)
  6. Associations (Project/Product)

Each section is designed to be quick to complete while keeping all critical information intact.

Basic Details

Title (Optional)

You can optionally give your order a more descriptive title. This is useful when:

  • Orders belong to a specific project
  • Multiple orders are being placed to the same supplier
  • You want an internal label for easier filtering

If left blank, the system still identifies your order using its generated number (e.g., ORD-00123).

Description (Optional)

Add context such as:

  • Purpose of the order
  • Special instructions
  • Batch notes
  • Internal remarks

Descriptions help project managers and procurement teams stay aligned.

Selecting a supplier

The Supplier field is required.

Start typing the supplier’s name—Laminar autofills matching results:

  • Select the correct supplier from the dropdown
  • The order will now be linked to them, and all future supplier-specific workflows will use this information

If the supplier doesn’t exist yet:

  • Open the New → Supplier option in a separate tab
  • Create the supplier
  • Return and refresh the dropdown

Tip Use partial names (“acm”, “steel”, “power”) to find suppliers quickly.

Adding items to an order

An order must include at least one item. Each item consists of:

  • Part Number (text field)
  • Component (dropdown from your Components module)
  • Quantity
  • Supplier (for that item)

To add an item:

  1. Click Add Item
  2. Enter the Part Number if your organisation uses them
  3. Select a Component
  4. Enter Quantity
  5. Optionally, select a supplier per item (if configurations allow multiple suppliers)

Component field

This field pulls from your organisation’s components list.

If a component doesn’t exist, use New → Component to create it quickly.

Quantity

Required. Use whole numbers or decimals depending on your operations.

Note The Part Number field is useful when components have internal codes beyond their names.

Adding multiple items

Orders often include multiple components. Repeat the add-item workflow for each line.

You can:

  • Edit any row
  • Remove items
  • Reorder if supported by your layout

This builds an itemised purchase list for the supplier.

Setting order dates

The Dates section helps track planning and delivery.

Ordered Date

Required. Defaults to today’s date, but you can choose another if the order is being logged retroactively.

Expected Delivery Date (Optional)

Enter the date you expect to receive the items. Helps with scheduling, production, and inventory planning.

Delivered Date (Optional)

Leave blank initially. Fill this only after items actually arrive.

Tip Updating expected and delivered dates helps maintain clearer reporting.

Adding attachments (if enabled)

Your order may include file attachments, depending on your configuration.

Common examples:

  • Quotations
  • Supplier-provided proforma invoices
  • Technical reference sheets
  • Internal approval documents

To upload:

  1. Click Upload
  2. Select the file
  3. Files appear immediately in the list

Attachments are visible to anyone with access to the order.

Associating orders with products or projects

Orders can optionally be linked to:

  • A Project
  • A Product

Associations help clarify why the order was placed.

To link:

  1. Find the Project or Product field
  2. Search by name
  3. Select from the dropdown

This ensures project managers know what orders belong to which initiative, and product managers can track procurement related to each production cycle.

Saving your order

Once all fields are complete:

  1. Scroll to the bottom
  2. Click Save

Laminar will:

  • Create the order
  • Assign a new order number (e.g., ORD-00124)
  • Redirect you to the Order Detail Page

From this view, you can:

  • Edit the order
  • Update delivery details
  • Manage attachments
  • Review order items
  • Track the timeline
  • Update status (based on your workflow)

What happens after creation

Your new order becomes part of the system instantly:

  • It appears in the Orders list
  • It is indexed in global search
  • Procurement and project teams can start using it
  • Status can be updated throughout the lifecycle
  • Attachments and dates can be updated

Orders evolve over time—Laminar is designed to keep tracking simple.

Avoiding mistakes and duplication

Search before creating

Use global search to check whether a similar order already exists for:

  • The same supplier
  • The same project
  • The same component(s)
  • The same time period

Use consistent naming

If using optional titles, keep naming uniform across teams.

Enter accurate quantities

A single wrong quantity can disrupt deliveries or cause budgeting overruns.

Verify supplier

Be certain you're selecting the correct supplier—many organisations have similarly named vendors.

When to create a new order

You should create a new order when:

  • Procuring materials for a project
  • Purchasing components for production
  • Re-ordering inventory parts
  • Sourcing prototypes or samples
  • Placing replacement or updated orders

If an order is part of a sequence or recurring cycle, mention it in the description for clarity.

Editing an order after creation

To edit:

  1. Open the order

  2. Click Edit

  3. Update fields such as:

    • Items
    • Quantities
    • Expected date
    • Attachments
    • Supplier (if permitted)

  4. Save

Editing is safe—historical data stays intact.

Common issues

“My supplier isn’t appearing in the dropdown.”

You may be in the wrong organisation or the supplier doesn’t exist yet.

“A component is missing from the list.”

Create it using New → Component.

“My order didn’t save.”

Check if all required fields are filled in.

“Delivered Date can’t be set.”

You must save the order first; then you can update delivery information.

Best practices

  • Use clear, descriptive order titles (if enabled)
  • Always search first to avoid duplicates
  • Keep attachments consistent for documentation
  • Update expected and delivered dates for planning accuracy
  • Link orders to the correct project/product for traceability
  • Review order items carefully before saving

These habits help maintain clean procurement workflows and accurate tracking.

Related guides