ROUTING WITH pc/MRP

15.14.1 Routing Overview

Routing modules allow sales and work orders to be tracked throughout the manufacturing floor as the final assy(s) are moved from workstation to workstation. A comprehensive routing module exists as an optional module. To learn more about this optional module you can go to the Routing Module Chapter 16.14.1. In lui of paying for the optional module, pc/MRP's Sales and BOM modules can be used to incorporate routing functions. Five such methods are listed below.

15.14.2 Place Routing Instructions in the Part Master's Memo field

Routing instructions can be placed in the Part Master's MEMO FIELD for each final assy as shown in the picture below.




Whenever a sales or work order is created, the routing instructions will automatically be transferred the sales/work order comments field, provided you have configured pc/MRP to do so. To configure pc/MRP to automatically transfer the partmaster's memo field into the sales/work order comments field select pc/MRP's Configuration Menu, select "Settings and Utilities", select "Next", select option 22, and select "Sales" as per the screen shown below.



Click on the Yes radio button to "Transfer the partmaster's memo field into the sales order comment field" as shown below.




Now whenever sales orders will contain that assys routing instructions. To find out the status or edit of a sales or work order, one only needs to edit the sales order and look at or change the status. The advantage of this method is that the routing information is transferred automatically and available online. The disadvantage of this method is that the partmaster's memo field and the sales/work order fields can only contain 5 lines of routing instructions and the data can not be parsed.

15.14.3 Place routing instructions in a notepad file with pc/MRP Versions 6.77 and higher

The sales and work order comment fields in pc/MRP versions 6.77 and higher are not limited to 5 lines. In fact, the size of the comments fields are unlimited. As such router instructions can be entered into a notebook text files. They can then be copied and pasted into a sales/work orders comments fields. The advantage of this method is that the data is available online and unlimited in size. The disadvantage is that the routing data can not be parsed.

15.14.4 Place universal routing instruction in the sales order's boiler plate area s

This particular method once again utilizes option 22 and placing a universal routing list in the boiler plate area of the sales form. Instead of adding the routing list to the line item comments area, it adds a universal routing ticket to the bottom of each sales/work order. The advantage of this method is that the boiler plate area is somewhat larger than the comments area (46 characters wide and 9 lines deep). The disadvantage of this method is that the routing data is not on line and all routing instructions regardless of assy must be exactly the same.

15.14.5 Place routing instructions in the BOM's comment field

Routing instructions can be entered into the comments section of a BOM whenever that BOM is created or edited. The comments section of a BOM prints out on a second page whenever the BOM is printed. The advantage of this method is that a routing ticket will print out whenever the BOM is printed out. The disadvantage of this method is that the routing data is not on line nor can it be parsed.

15.14. Duplicate BOM and Insert Routing Instructions

Another method to build a traveling ticket would be to use the BOM module. Here end-users could duplicate the BOM that they wish to have a traveler for and enter instructions, stations, or specifications in the reference designator field for this new BOM. Reference designators would exist in the original BOM while sign-off instructions, station information, date and times would exist in this duplicated BOM. When you issue BOMs to the work floor, issue the regular BOM, however print the duplicate as an exploded BOM with reference designators. This is now your traver. The disadvantage of this method similar to the other methods above is that the data is simply filled in as you go. Data that you wished to parse and extract reports from would have to be done manually and through a seperate program or Excel spreadsheet.

15.14.7 Order a custom routing module

Understandably, the routing suggestions made above may fall short from fully meeting a companies needs. The final option would be to request custom modifications to pc/MRP. Due to the complexity of routers and their almost proprietary nature a custom router may be the best choice. In order to best meet the needs of our customers we would request the end users routing tickets and detailed specifications for the routing module. At that time would would provide the end user with a quote for the custom modifications.