diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_jobs/models/fp_job.py b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_jobs/models/fp_job.py
index 0b2fb519..dcb1aa93 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_jobs/models/fp_job.py
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_jobs/models/fp_job.py
@@ -224,7 +224,24 @@ class FpJob(models.Model):
                             'thickness_uom' in coating._fields
                             and coating.thickness_uom
                         ):
-                            vals['thickness_uom'] = coating.thickness_uom
+                            # fp.coating.config uses long-form uom names
+                            # (mils / microns / inches); fp.job.step uses
+                            # short codes (mil / um / inch). Map between
+                            # them. Unknown values fall through to the
+                            # step's default ('um').
+                            _UOM_MAP = {
+                                'mils': 'mil',
+                                'mil': 'mil',
+                                'microns': 'um',
+                                'micron': 'um',
+                                'um': 'um',
+                                'inches': 'inch',
+                                'inch': 'inch',
+                                'in': 'inch',
+                            }
+                            mapped = _UOM_MAP.get(coating.thickness_uom)
+                            if mapped:
+                                vals['thickness_uom'] = mapped
 
                     step_vals_list.append(vals)
                     if instructions: