Routing
A routing defines the sequence of operations, the steps, work centers and times, needed to manufacture a product. Together with the BOM (the components), the routing (the process) defines how a product is made.
The routing drives production scheduling (using operation times and work-center capacity), capacity planning, and the labour/machine cost in product costing.
- A routing lists the operations to produce a material in order, each assigned to a work center (where it happens) with standard…
- Operations & sequence: the manufacturing steps.
- Work centers: where each operation runs.
- Watch out: Inaccurate times, bad scheduling/costing.
What a routing is
A routing lists the operations to produce a material in order, each assigned to a work center (where it happens) with standard times (setup, machine, labour). It is the process counterpart to the BOM’s materials, and drives scheduling, capacity and costing.
Key concepts
- Operations & sequence: the manufacturing steps.
- Work centers: where each operation runs.
- Standard times: for scheduling and costing.
- Components assignment (which BOM items are used at which operation).
Why it matters
The routing drives production scheduling (using operation times and work-center capacity), capacity planning, and the labour/machine cost in product costing. With the BOM, it forms the basis of the production order. Inaccurate routings cause bad scheduling and wrong costs.
Common pitfalls
- Inaccurate times, bad scheduling/costing.
- Wrong work-center assignment.
- Components not assigned to operations.