I have a Bill of Materials that contains other assemblies that in turn contain other assemblies. When a work order at the top level item is released the work orders for the next level is generated with the status of processed. Is there a way to make them generate with the status of released? I tried to use suitescript but at the time of the Aftersubmit event (after releasing the top level order) the work order for the next level isn't created yet.

Are you trying to set the native Status field in NetSuite? Haven't worked with Work Orders before, but most of the time, you have to perform certain actions to successfully set the Status (e.g. for Purchase Requisition to become Fully Ordered, you have to create the PO)