---
pdfexport: true
module: Electronics
timetoread: True
tutorial: deepdive
alias: tutorials-start-materials-creation
glightbox: True
---

# Tutorial: Start Materials Creation

## Objective

Learn how to start materials for a Production Order, ensuring they are correctly created or assigned and aligned with production requirements.

---

## Step 1: Select the Production Order

- Navigate to **Production Orders**
- Open the Production Order where you want to start materials

![Production Order View](images/pocreation.png)

---

## Step 2: Start Materials

- Click the **Start Materials** action

- The material start wizard will open

![Start Material Wizard](images/wizardpage.png)

---

## Step 3: Define Material Quantity

- Enter the quantity to be created or assigned

- Adjust quantity based on production constraints:
    - Use **Fit to panel size**
        - Automatically adjusts quantity to match valid multiples based on the expansion factor

    - Use **Allow mismatch with expansion factor**
        - Enabled: allows any quantity
        - Disabled: only valid multiples of the expansion factor are allowed

> Available from SMT Template version 3.4.0 onwards

![Fit to Panel Size button](images/adjustbuttons.png)

---

## Step 4: Confirm Material Creation / Assignment

- Review the information in the wizard
- Click **Finish**

- A confirmation message is displayed indicating success

![Materials Created after Start Materials](images/success.png)

---

## Step 5: Validate Result

- Return to the Production Order

- Confirm that:

- The material is now listed under the Production Order
- The material state is **Active**

![Confirm Assigned Materials in the Production Order](images/assignend.png)

---

## Expected Result

- Materials are successfully created or assigned to the Production Order
- Materials are set to **Active**
- The Production Order **Completed Quantity remains unchanged**

---

## Frequent Configuration Questions

### Why can't I start materials for a Production Order?

Verify that the user has the required permission:

- `SMT.StartMaterialsForProductionOrder`

### Why is the generated quantity incorrect?

Review the configuration of:

- The expansion factor settings.
- The expansion factor toggle and its intended behavior.

### Why is the "Fit to Panel Size" option not working?

Ensure that the form configured in `/SMT/StartMaterialsForProductionOrder/Form/` matches the form configured in the `SMTMaterialExpandContext` Smart Table.

### Why are materials not being created?

Validate the product configuration and confirm that the `MaterialStartMode` attribute is correctly defined.