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A process order is used to manage and control production in process manufacturing industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food and beverage. Unlike discrete manufacturing (e.g., automotive or machinery), where production involves assembling individual parts, process manufacturing deals with the transformation of raw materials—through activities like mixing, blending, or chemical reactions—into finished products. In an ERP system, a process order acts as a digital blueprint for this production, providing detailed instructions, time lines, and resource planning across the entire production life cycle.
In MINT, process order sharing enables better collaboration between a MAH and a CMO. For example, the MAH generates a Planned Order, which is sent to the CMO to signal upcoming production needs. Upon receiving the planned order, the CMO may convert it into a process order within their own ERP system. Process Order specifies what will be produced, how much, and by when—allowing the CMO to plan materials, allocate resources, and assess production capacity. Typically, a process order is not released—and production does not officially begin—until the CMO receives a firm purchase order (PO) from the MAH. However, in well-established and trusted partnerships, the CMO may choose to proceed based on the planned order alone, with the expectation that a firm PO will be issued shortly thereafter.
Once the CMO is ready to begin manufacturing, they release the process order, initiating critical activities such as material reservation, production scheduling, and shop floor execution. At this stage, the CMO sends a Process Order Release transaction to the MAH via MINT. This transaction includes detailed production information, giving the MAH full visibility into the manufacturing start and enabling them to align their downstream processes accordingly.
By sharing process order status through MINT, both parties benefit from improved coordination, reduced risk, and greater transparency across the pharmaceutical supply chain.
