Work order completion triggers
Every work order has a Completion Trigger that controls how it moves from In Progress to Completed. Set it in the work order form under Schedule & Completion.
The three options
| Trigger | When the work order closes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Manual (default) | Only when a user explicitly marks it complete | Most workflows — gives you a deliberate close gate |
| Finish Step | Automatically, once every production step has reached its planned quantity (skipped steps count as done) | Short, simple runs where auto-close is fine |
| Receipt | When someone clicks Receive on the work order after finished goods arrive at the destination | Co-manufacturing runs where receiving is the natural end |
Manual (recommended for most teams)
The work order stays In Progress until someone clicks Complete on the work order page. Use this when you want a review after the last batch is reported, or when draft assembly orders still need confirming.
Finish Step
The work order closes as soon as every step's produced quantity meets or exceeds its planned quantity. Work orders with no steps never auto-close.
Receipt
When the trigger is Receipt and the work order is In Progress, a Receive button appears on the work order page. Click it when the finished goods arrive at the destination warehouse. Luminous records the receipt and completes the work order.
Changing the trigger later
Click Edit on the work order and choose a different option under Completion Trigger. You can do this on Draft, Planned, and In Progress work orders. The current trigger is shown in the Details panel on the work order page.
Setting the default for new work orders
An admin can set this under Settings → Inventory → Work orders → Default completion trigger. New work orders start with this trigger, including ones created through the API that don't send one. Existing work orders aren't changed, and the setting affects everyone in your organization. If it's never been set, the default is Manual.