Create and approve a routing

A routing is the recipe for the work, where the BOM is the recipe for the materials. It lists the operations in order, where each one runs and how long it takes. Its labor and overhead rates are what bring labor and factory overhead into the cost of the finished product.

Before you start

• Create the work centers the operations will use.

• The product must exist as an item. A BOM is not required to write the routing, but a work order needs both.

Create the routing

1. Open Manufacturing › Engineering › View Routings and select New routing.

1. Enter a Name, choose the Product and set the Version. Leave Status on Draft while you prepare it.

2. Optionally record the routing's overall Lead time and Setup time (hrs).

3. Under Operations, fill one block per step, in the order they run. Select Add operation for each extra step:

   • Work center: where the operation runs.

   • Operation code (optional) and Operation name.

   • Setup time (hrs): the time to prepare the work center, counted once per work order.

   • Run time (min per unit): the time to process one unit.

   • Wait time (hrs): idle time before the next step, such as drying or cooling.

   • Labor rate (per hr) and Overhead rate (per hr): the cost of one hour of this operation.

   • QC: switch on if the step needs a quality check.

4. Select Save.

Approve the routing

1. In the list, open the routing's actions menu and select Approve.

2. Confirm Approve routing "…"? Once approved it can no longer be edited.

The status changes to Approved and work orders can now use it. To withdraw a routing you no longer want, select Reject instead. The routing is marked Obsolete and can no longer be used.

How the times drive cost and planning

For each operation of a work order, the estimated hours are the setup time plus the run time multiplied by the quantity. These hours multiplied by the labor rate give the operation's labor cost, and by the overhead rate its overhead. Both are charged to the work order and end up in the finished product's cost. The same hours feed capacity planning.

The routing detail page

Click a routing to see its operations: Seq, Work center, Operation name, Setup time (hrs), Run time (min), Wait time (hrs), Labor rate (/hr), Overhead rate (/hr), QC and Total time (hr). Routings that are not yet approved show Edit, Approve, Reject and Delete at the top.

Common questions

Can a work order change its routing later? Only while it is still planned, and only until an operation has logged labor or production. After that the routing is locked.

Why does a work center refuse to delete? It is used by a routing operation. Remove it from the routings first.