There is no easy way to have some work orders without serialization and some with for the SAME product.  Turning on Serial Numbers on a product with OPEN Work Orders must be done carefully.  Here are some processes:

1.  Using the same product and the SAME Revision – ship all of the non-serial numbered product PRIOR to turning on serialization OR don’t turn on serialization until you are ready to serialize everything not shipped.  To serialize everything not shipped, you will have to move product back to the Work Center where serialization is started, then turn on serialization in Work Order Traveler Setup (for further information see Article #1134) and click on the “Update Open Work Orders”.  Be sure to update all of the open work orders.  If you don’t, you won’t be able to ship anything that was not updated.  (The items will be in a black hole and will need a programmer to get them out.)

2.  Using the SAME Revision, but using the special character trick:

a.  Copy the product number to the new product in the Inventory Control item Master but put "00" in front of the Rev.  See Article #1058 for further instructions on copying a product number. 

b.  Then copy the existing product BOM to the new 00 revision product. See Article #1104  for further instructions on copying a BOM.

c.  Turn on serialization for the new 00 rev product and copy the routing from the old product.  Be sure to select which Work Center you want serialization to start. See  Article #1106 for further instructions on how to turn on the serialization. 

d.  Enter all new Sales orders using the 00 revision product number.

e.  When you have shipped all of the old non-serialized product, inactivate the product number in the Inventory Control module.  See Article #1058 for further instructions on how to inactivate a product number. 

3.  Using a different revision number:

a.  Copy the product number to the new product revision in the Inventory Control Item Master.  See Article #1058 for further instructions on copying a product number. 

b.  Then copy the existing product BOM to the new revision product.  See Article #1104  for further instructions on copying a BOM.

c.  Turn on serialization for the new revision product and copy the routing from the old product. Be sure to select which Work Center where you want serialization to start. See  Article #1106  for further instructions on how to turn on the serialization. 

d.  Enter all new Sales Orders using the revision product number.

4.  You may prefer to create new revisions using the ECO module.  It can change the revision of product in Work orders in WIP, but DO NOT turn on the serialization in the ECO module.  See Article #1133 for further instructions on the ECO module.

a.  First change the revision of the product using the ECO module

b.  Then move the product back to the Work Center where you want serialization to begin in the Shop Floor Tracking module.  See Article #1106 for further instructions on how to turn on the serialization. 

c.  Then turn on serialization and select “Update Open Work Orders” in the Work Order Traveler Setup and click on the “Update Open Work Orders”.   Be sure to update all of the open work orders.  If you don’t, you won’t be able to ship anything that was not updated.(The items will be in a black hole and will need a programmer to get them out.)