Measuring what you lose
Some loss in production is normal; unmeasured loss is expensive. IEMSuite lets you record wastage on a batch and compare actual output to the expected output from the recipe, so you can see where value is leaking.
Expected vs actual
Each recipe carries a Std. Wastage per ingredient - your planned loss. When a batch runs, the real consumption and output are recorded, so you can compare planned yield with what actually came out.
Where wastage is recorded
Material scrapped or lost during a batch is written to the stock log as a Wastage movement (distinct from normal consumption), so it's visible in the Transaction Log and factored into the batch's numbers.
Using the data
- Persistent wastage above standard on an ingredient points to a process or supplier issue.
- Lower-than-expected yield eats margin - feed it back into your recipe's standard wastage and your pricing.
Tips
- Keep standard wastage realistic rather than optimistic, so plans and costs aren't misleading.
- Review wastage trends alongside downtime - they often share a root cause.
FAQ
Is wastage the same as consumption?
No. Consumption is material that went into the product; wastage is material that was lost. They're separate movement types.
Does wastage affect cost?
Yes - lost material is real cost. See How production cost is calculated.