A Work Order is a processing event that affects the aggregate weight of cannabis in a Bulk Lot and/or converts the cannabis from one form to another. Work Orders are cyclical in nature, and cannabis is usually processed into a saleable form through a series of Work Orders.
This workflow describes how to process fresh cannabis into saleable cannabis oil capsules in 7 work orders:
Keep in mind that this is a sample workflow. Processing Technicians should adjust this workflow to suit the needs of their facility.
Requirements
Complete the cultivation stage of the Seed-to-Sale Process. Processing Technicians should have a Bulk Lot of freshly harvested cannabis.
As cannabis is processed through work orders, it changes forms many times through several unique processing events. Before getting started, ensure the Ample Organics environment has the following Cannabis Forms and Work Order Types configured:
Cannabis Forms: Bulk Fresh (Branch), Bulk Dry (Branch), Bulk Dry (Buds), Decarb, Extract (Unrefined), Extract (Refined), Diluted Oil, and Capsules.
Work Order Types: Drying, Trimming, Decarboxylation, Extraction (using a specific extraction method), Refinement (using a specific refinement method), Dilution, and Encapsulation.
Work Order 1: Drying
In the first Work Order, Processing Technicians hang freshly harvested branches of cannabis on drying racks to dry out over a period of several days or weeks.
Give the work order a descriptive name.
Select the Drying Work Order Type.
Assign the Work Order to a Drying room, if one exists.
In the Input section, select the Bulk Fresh (Branches) Bulk Lot as the source lot.
Once the branches have dried, Finalize the Work Order.
The Output Weight should be the weight of the dried cannabis branches. Typically, cannabis loses 40-60% of its fresh weight in the drying process.
The Output Volume field should be left blank, as this process does not produce liquid.
The Output Units field should be left blank, as this process does not produce discrete units.
In the Destructions section, record the weight of any waste produced during the Work Order. In this context, waste may come from leaves, buds, or branches that fall off during the drying process.
Select an Output Bulk Lot, and Close the Work Order. The conditions of this Work Order allow you to output the weight back to the source Bulk Lot. This converts the Bulk Lot's type to Dried.
Change the source/destination Bulk Lot's Cannabis Form to Bulk Dried (Branches).
Work Order 2: Trimming
In the second Work Order, Processing Technicians trim the dry cannabis branches down to the bud level. This may be done manually or with the help of a trimming machine. To finalize the Work Order, Processing Technicians will output the weight of the buds to a new Bulk Lot and destroy the stems, leaves, twigs, and any other waste.
Give the Work Order a descriptive name.
Select the Trimming Work Order Type.
Assign the Work Order to a Trimming location, if one exists.
In the Input section, select the Bulk Dry (Branches) Bulk Lot as the source lot.
Once the dried branches have been trimmed down to the bud level, Finalize the Work Order.
The Output Weight should be the weight of the dried cannabis buds.
The Output Volume field should be left blank, as this process does not produce liquid.
The Output Units field should be left blank, as this process does not produce discrete units.
In the Destructions section, record the weight of any waste produced during the Work Order. In this context, you will discard the branches, stems and leaves.
Select an Output Bulk Lot, and Close the Work Order. The conditions of this Work Order do not allow you to output to the source Bulk Lot. You will have to create a new Bulk Lot.
The new Bulk Lot's type should be Dried.
The new Bulk Lot should not be measured in discrete units.
The cannabis form should be Bulk Dry (Buds).
Work Order 3: Decarboxylation
In the third Work Order, Processing Technicians decarboxylate the cannabis to activate the cannabinoids. Usually, this is achieved by heating the cannabis to 105-118°C for 30-45 minutes.
Give the Work Order a descriptive name.
Select the Decarboxylation Work Order Type.
Select an appropriate location, if one exists.
In the Input section, select the Dry Buds Bulk Lot as the source lot.
Once the buds have been decarboxylated, Finalize the Work Order.
The Output Weight should be the weight of the dried cannabis buds. The buds may lose some weight to drying during the decarboxylation process.
The Output Volume field should be left blank, as this process does not produce liquid.
The Output Units field should be left blank, as this process does not produce discrete units.
In the Destructions section, record the weight of any waste produced during the Work Order. In this context, there should be little waste.
Select an Output Bulk Lot, and Close the Work Order. You will need a new Bulk Lot for the new cannabis form.
The new Bulk Lot's type should be Dried.
The new Bulk Lot should not be measured in discrete units.
The cannabis form should be Decarb.
Work Order 4: Extraction
In the fourth Work Order, Processing Technicians extract cannabis oil from the decarboxylated buds. This may occur through CO2 Extraction, Ethanol Extraction, Carrier Oil Extraction, or another extraction method. The example in this workflow uses CO2 Extraction.
Give the Work Order a descriptive name.
Select the CO2 Extraction Work Order Type.
Select an appropriate location, if one exists.
In the Input section, select the Decarb Bulk Lot as the source lot.
Once the extraction process is complete, Finalize the Work Order.
The Output Weight should be the weight of the cannabis oil extract. The weight will reduce significantly.
The Output Volume should be the volume of cannabis oil extract produced through the Work Order.
The Output Units field should be left blank, as this process does not produce discrete units.
In the Destructions section, record the weight of any waste produced during the Work Order. In this context, Processing Technicians will discard the processed cannabis buds.
Select an Output Bulk Lot, and Close the Work Order. You will need a new Bulk Lot for the new cannabis form.
The new Bulk Lot's type should be Pure Intermediates. This describes, pure, unrefined extract that requires further processing. Pure Intermediates Bulk Lots cannot be measured using discrete units.
The cannabis form should be Extract (Unrefined).
Work Order 5: Refinement
Before cannabis extract is fit for human consumption, it must be refined to remove any impurities. Refinement methods include distillation, winterization, and flash chromatography, and most cannabis processors use two or more methods in combination.
Give the Work Order a descriptive name.
Select the Refinement Work Order Type.
Select an appropriate location, if one exists.
In the Input section, select the Pure Intermediates Bulk Lot as the source lot.
Once the refinement process is complete, Finalize the Work Order.
The Output Weight should be the weight of the refined extract. The weight will reduce significantly. If the goal product is a refined extract, the weight will decrease to about 20% of the input weight. If the goal is a distillate product, the weight will decrease to as little as 4% of the input weight.
The Output Volume should be the volume of the refined extract.
The Output Units field should be left blank, as this process does not produce discrete units.
In the Destructions section, record the weight of any waste produced during the Work Order. In this context, Processing Technicians will discard the weight and volume of any impurities removed from the extract.
Select an Output Bulk Lot, and Close the Work Order. You will need a new Bulk Lot for the new cannabis form.
The new Bulk Lot's type should be Extracts-Ingested.
The new Bulk Lot should not use discrete units.
The cannabis form should be Extract (Refined).
Work Order 6: Dilution (Optional)
In the final, optional Work Order, Processing Technicians dilute the oil extract with an edible carrier oil, such as olive oil or a coconut oil derivative. This decreases the oil's strength and makes the oil easier to consume.
Give the Work Order a descriptive name.
Select the Dilution Work Order Type.
Select an appropriate location, if one exists.
In the Input(s) section, select the Extract (Refined) Bulk Lot as the source lot.
Add untracked input to account for the weight and volume of the carrier oil.
Once the dilution is complete, Finalize the Work Order.
The Output Weight should be the combined weight of the oil extract and carrier oil, in grams.
The Output Volume should be the combined volume of the oil extract and carrier oil, in millilitres.
The Output Units field should be left blank, as this process does not produce discrete units.
In the Destructions section, record the weight and volume of any waste produced during the Work Order. In this context, there should be little waste.
Select an Output Bulk Lot, and Close the Work Order. You will need a new Bulk Lot for the new cannabis form.
The new Bulk Lot's type should be Extracts-Ingested.
The new Bulk Lot should not use discrete units.
The cannabis form should be Diluted Oil.
Work Order 7: Encapsulation
In the seventh, final Work Order, Processing Technicians encapsulate the diluted cannabis oil in gelatin/glycerin to produce cannabis oil capsules. This is done through the use of encapsulation machinery, which carefully measures a specific volume of oil into each capsule.
Give the Work Order a descriptive name
Select the Encapsulation Work Order Type
In the Input(s) section, select the Diluted Oil Bulk Lot as the source lot.
Add untracked input to account for the weight of the gelatin/glycerin mixture.
Once the oil has been encapsulated in the gelatin/glycerin, Finalize the Work Order.
The Output Weight should be the total weight of the capsules, including the weight of the oil and the weight of the gelatin/glycerin capsules.
The Output Volume should be the total volume of the oil. The capsules should not affect this value.
The Output Units should be the total quantity of capsules produced.
In the Destructions section, record the weight and volume of any waste produced during the Work Order.
Select an Output Bulk Lot, and Close the Work Order. You will need a new Bulk Lot for the new cannabis form.
The new Bulk Lot's type should be Extracts-Ingested, it should use discrete units, and its cannabis form should be Capsules.
Once the cannabis has been processed into its final, saleable form–cannabis oil capsules–proceed with QA and packaging.
Ample Organics also provides sample Work Order workflows for producing Dried Cannabis, Cannabis Oil, and Pre-Rolls.