A routing defines the manufacturing recipe: which operations are performed, in what order, at which work centers or machines, with what setup and run times. Routings are the counterpart to BOMs — where the BOM says what goes into a product, the routing says how it is made.
Each routing step typically specifies: the operation (turning, milling, welding, assembly, inspection), the work center or machine, setup time, run time per piece, and any special instructions or tooling requirements. Alternate routings may exist for different lot sizes or machine availability.
Routings are used for production scheduling, cost estimation, and capacity planning. Accurate routing data — particularly setup and run times — directly impacts quote accuracy, production scheduling, and on-time delivery. Shops that track actual times against routing standards can continuously refine their estimates.