diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/__manifest__.py b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/__manifest__.py
index e4a82818..b1d4e54b 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/__manifest__.py
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/__manifest__.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 {
     'name': 'Fusion Plating',
-    'version': '19.0.10.3.0',
+    'version': '19.0.10.4.0',
     'category': 'Manufacturing/Plating',
     'summary': 'Core plating / metal finishing ERP: facilities, processes, tanks, baths, jobs, operators.',
     'description': """
diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/js/simple_recipe_editor.js b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/js/simple_recipe_editor.js
index 0eb2e43d..b5aefbb2 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/js/simple_recipe_editor.js
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/js/simple_recipe_editor.js
@@ -32,7 +32,11 @@ export class FpSimpleRecipeEditor extends Component {
             librarySearch: "",
             templateOptions: [],
             selectedTemplate: "",
-            dragOverIndex: null,
+            // Drop-position simulator (snaps to line above/below the
+            // hovered row based on cursor Y vs row midpoint).
+            dragOverIndex: null,        // 0..N (insertion index)
+            dragPreviewLabel: "",       // shown next to the indicator line
+            dragPreviewIcon: "fa-cog",
         });
 
         this._recipeId = null;
@@ -155,25 +159,51 @@ export class FpSimpleRecipeEditor extends Component {
         ev.dataTransfer.effectAllowed = "move";
         ev.dataTransfer.setData("application/x-fp-step", String(stepId));
         ev.dataTransfer.setData("text/plain", String(stepId));
+        const step = this.state.steps.find((s) => s.id === stepId);
+        this.state.dragPreviewLabel = step ? step.name : "";
+        this.state.dragPreviewIcon = (step && step.icon) || "fa-cog";
     }
 
     onLibraryDragStart(templateId, ev) {
         ev.dataTransfer.effectAllowed = "copy";
         ev.dataTransfer.setData("application/x-fp-library", String(templateId));
         ev.dataTransfer.setData("text/plain", "library");
+        const tpl = this.state.library.find((t) => t.id === templateId);
+        this.state.dragPreviewLabel = tpl ? tpl.name : "";
+        this.state.dragPreviewIcon = (tpl && tpl.icon) || "fa-cog";
     }
 
-    onDragOver(index, ev) {
+    /**
+     * Compute the insertion index from the cursor Y vs row midpoint:
+     *   above midpoint → insert BEFORE this row (index = rowIndex)
+     *   below midpoint → insert AFTER this row (index = rowIndex + 1)
+     */
+    onRowDragOver(rowIndex, ev) {
         ev.preventDefault();
         ev.dataTransfer.dropEffect =
             ev.dataTransfer.types.includes("application/x-fp-library")
                 ? "copy"
                 : "move";
-        this.state.dragOverIndex = index;
+        const rect = ev.currentTarget.getBoundingClientRect();
+        const before = (ev.clientY - rect.top) < (rect.height / 2);
+        this.state.dragOverIndex = before ? rowIndex : rowIndex + 1;
     }
 
-    async onDrop(targetIndex, ev) {
+    /** Trailing dropzone — always inserts at the end. */
+    onTailDragOver(ev) {
         ev.preventDefault();
+        ev.dataTransfer.dropEffect =
+            ev.dataTransfer.types.includes("application/x-fp-library")
+                ? "copy"
+                : "move";
+        this.state.dragOverIndex = this.state.steps.length;
+    }
+
+    async onDrop(ev) {
+        ev.preventDefault();
+        const targetIndex = this.state.dragOverIndex !== null
+            ? this.state.dragOverIndex
+            : this.state.steps.length;
         const fromLibrary = ev.dataTransfer.getData("application/x-fp-library");
         if (fromLibrary) {
             await this.insertFromLibrary(parseInt(fromLibrary, 10), targetIndex);
@@ -184,11 +214,26 @@ export class FpSimpleRecipeEditor extends Component {
                 await this.reorderStep(draggedId, targetIndex);
             }
         }
-        this.state.dragOverIndex = null;
+        this._clearDragState();
     }
 
-    onDragLeave() {
+    onDragLeave(ev) {
+        // Only clear when leaving the panel entirely. Browser fires
+        // dragleave when crossing into a child element too — guard against
+        // that by checking relatedTarget.
+        if (!ev.currentTarget.contains(ev.relatedTarget)) {
+            this.state.dragOverIndex = null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    onDragEnd() {
+        this._clearDragState();
+    }
+
+    _clearDragState() {
         this.state.dragOverIndex = null;
+        this.state.dragPreviewLabel = "";
+        this.state.dragPreviewIcon = "fa-cog";
     }
 
     // --------------------------------------------------------------- helpers
diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/scss/simple_recipe_editor.scss b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/scss/simple_recipe_editor.scss
index ca6fdef5..1b867acb 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/scss/simple_recipe_editor.scss
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/scss/simple_recipe_editor.scss
@@ -93,6 +93,50 @@ $fp-se-drop:   var(--fp-drop-bg, #{$_fp_se_drop_hex});
     }
 }
 
+// ===================================================== Drop simulator
+//
+// Thin reservation line between rows that activates only when the
+// cursor crosses a row's vertical midpoint. The active indicator
+// expands to show a ghost-preview chip with the dragged step's icon
+// + name so the operator knows EXACTLY where the drop lands.
+
+.o_fp_drop_indicator {
+    height: 0;
+    margin: 0;
+    border: 0;
+    transition: height .08s ease, margin .08s ease, background .08s;
+    background: transparent;
+    border-radius: 2px;
+    overflow: hidden;
+
+    &.o_fp_drop_indicator_active {
+        height: 2.25rem;
+        margin: .25rem 0;
+        background: $fp-se-drop;
+        border: 2px dashed $fp-se-accent;
+        display: flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        padding: 0 .75rem;
+    }
+
+    .o_fp_drop_label {
+        display: flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: .5rem;
+        font-weight: 600;
+        color: $fp-se-accent;
+        font-size: .85rem;
+
+        &::before {
+            content: "↓ insert here →";
+            font-weight: 500;
+            color: $fp-se-muted;
+            font-size: .75rem;
+            margin-right: .5rem;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 .o_fp_step_row {
     display: flex;
     align-items: center;
diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/xml/simple_recipe_editor.xml b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/xml/simple_recipe_editor.xml
index fa217bda..d3eb2937 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/xml/simple_recipe_editor.xml
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating/static/src/xml/simple_recipe_editor.xml
@@ -33,17 +33,29 @@
         </div>
 
         <div class="o_fp_simple_editor_body" t-if="!state.loading">
-            <div class="o_fp_selected_panel">
+            <div class="o_fp_selected_panel"
+                 t-on-dragleave="(ev) => this.onDragLeave(ev)"
+                 t-on-dragend="() => this.onDragEnd()"
+                 t-on-drop="(ev) => this.onDrop(ev)">
                 <h3>Selected (drag to reorder)</h3>
                 <div class="o_fp_steps_list">
+
+                    <!-- Top drop indicator (insertion at index 0). Visible
+                         only when dragOverIndex === 0 — i.e. cursor is
+                         hovering above the first row's midpoint. -->
+                    <div class="o_fp_drop_indicator"
+                         t-att-class="state.dragOverIndex === 0 ? 'o_fp_drop_indicator_active' : ''">
+                        <span class="o_fp_drop_label" t-if="state.dragOverIndex === 0">
+                            <i t-att-class="'fa ' + (state.dragPreviewIcon || 'fa-cog')"/>
+                            <span t-esc="state.dragPreviewLabel"/>
+                        </span>
+                    </div>
+
                     <t t-foreach="state.steps" t-as="step" t-key="step.id">
                         <div class="o_fp_step_row"
-                             t-att-class="state.dragOverIndex === step_index ? 'o_fp_drag_over' : ''"
                              draggable="true"
                              t-on-dragstart="(ev) => this.onSelectedDragStart(step.id, ev)"
-                             t-on-dragover="(ev) => this.onDragOver(step_index, ev)"
-                             t-on-dragleave="() => this.onDragLeave()"
-                             t-on-drop="(ev) => this.onDrop(step_index, ev)">
+                             t-on-dragover="(ev) => this.onRowDragOver(step_index, ev)">
                             <span class="o_fp_drag_handle">⠿</span>
                             <span class="o_fp_step_position"><t t-esc="step_index + 1"/>.</span>
                             <i t-att-class="'fa ' + (step.icon || 'fa-cog')"/>
@@ -57,13 +69,26 @@
                                 ×
                             </button>
                         </div>
+
+                        <!-- Indicator AFTER each row (insertion at index = step_index + 1) -->
+                        <div class="o_fp_drop_indicator"
+                             t-att-class="state.dragOverIndex === (step_index + 1) ? 'o_fp_drop_indicator_active' : ''">
+                            <span class="o_fp_drop_label" t-if="state.dragOverIndex === (step_index + 1)">
+                                <i t-att-class="'fa ' + (state.dragPreviewIcon || 'fa-cog')"/>
+                                <span t-esc="state.dragPreviewLabel"/>
+                            </span>
+                        </div>
                     </t>
+
                     <div class="o_fp_step_dropzone"
                          t-att-class="state.dragOverIndex === state.steps.length ? 'o_fp_drag_over' : ''"
-                         t-on-dragover="(ev) => this.onDragOver(state.steps.length, ev)"
-                         t-on-dragleave="() => this.onDragLeave()"
-                         t-on-drop="(ev) => this.onDrop(state.steps.length, ev)">
-                        Drop here to add at end
+                         t-on-dragover="(ev) => this.onTailDragOver(ev)">
+                        <t t-if="state.steps.length === 0">
+                            Drag a library step here to start
+                        </t>
+                        <t t-else="">
+                            Drop here to add at end
+                        </t>
                     </div>
                 </div>
                 <button class="btn btn-secondary o_fp_inline_add"