What is Routing?
The defined sequence of operations and work centers a product passes through during manufacture, with standard times for each step.
Definition
A routing is the manufacturing roadmap for an item, listing the ordered sequence of operations, the work center or machine that performs each one, and the standard setup and run times. Where the bill of materials answers what goes into a product, the routing answers how and where it is made. Routings drive scheduling, capacity planning, and labor and machine costing, because the standard times determine how long each operation takes and what it costs. They can include alternate routings for different machines, outside-processing steps sent to subcontractors, and operation-level instructions or quality checks.
How Routing Works in ERP
When a work or production order is created, the ERP pulls the item's routing to schedule each operation against the assigned work centers and to compute required capacity. Standard setup and run times feed both finite or infinite scheduling and the labor and overhead portion of product cost. As operators report time at each operation, the system compares actual to standard, tracks the order's progress through the shop, and updates work-in-process by operation.
ERP Vendors with Strong Routing
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a routing and a BOM?
A bill of materials lists the components and quantities that go into a product, while a routing lists the operations, work centers, and standard times used to make it. The BOM is about materials; the routing is about process and labor. Together they let the ERP calculate full product cost, schedule the shop, and plan both material and capacity.
What are standard times in a routing used for?
Standard setup and run times in a routing drive capacity planning, production scheduling, and the labor and overhead components of standard cost. They tell the ERP how long each operation should take so it can load work centers and estimate completion dates. Comparing reported actual times to these standards reveals efficiency variances and helps refine future estimates.