Routings are the backbone of efficient manufacturing in Dynamics 365 Business Central. They define the labor steps required to produce a finished good, working hand-in-hand with Bills of Material (BOMs), which specify material requirements. Once set up, Routings are automatically reused in Production Orders, helping manufacturers save time and reduce errors.

I’ve helped many manufacturing clients configure Routings in Business Central to streamline their production processes and reduce setup errors. In this article, I’ll walk you through how Routings work, how to modify them when production changes occur, and how to troubleshoot common errors.

Table of Contents

• How to Access and Manage Routings
• Modifying Routings
  • How to Modify a Routing
  • Copying an Existing Routing
  • Handling Machine Breakdowns
• Troubleshooting a Common Work Center Calendar Error
• Best Practices for Routing Setup

What Are Routings in Dynamics 365 Business Central?

Routings in Dynamics 365 Business Central define the labor steps required to produce a finished good. Each step is tied to a Work Center or Machine Center, and Routings are part of the Manufacturing module in Dynamics 365 Business Central. They help define the sequence, duration, and dependencies of production steps.

Each Routing can be set up with:

• Setup Time
• Run Time
• Wait Time
• Move Time

Run Time is the most commonly used and defines the actual amount of time that labor step takes at that Machine Center. If there is Setup Time associated with getting the Machine or Work Center ready, that can optionally be factored in. Similarly, Wait Time or Move Time can be added if needed.

A Unit of Measure can be defined for each type of time. Hours are most commonly used, followed by Minutes.

How to Access and Manage Routings in Business Central

To create, edit, or manage your Routings, navigate to the Routings page in Business Central. Here, you’ll see a list of all existing Routings. To review a specific Routing, click the Routing ‘No.’ in teal color text.

From this view, you can add new steps, modify existing ones, or update the sequence. Use the ‘Certified’ status for finalized Routings, and switch to ‘Under Development’ when making edits.

When to Modify a Routing

Routings are usually modified when/if:

• A new machine is added to the production line
• A step in the process changes (e.g., assembly now requires more time due to the addition of another component on the BOM)
• A machine breaks and needs to be replaced

Note: There are no automatic triggers in Business Central that notify users to update a Routing. Modifications are typically driven by real-world changes on the shop floor. However, if a Production Order fails or yields unexpected results, that may prompt a review of the Routing setup.

If a Routing is under review for any reason, it can be changed from ‘Certified’ Status to ‘Under Development’, indicating the Routing is undergoing edits.

How to Modify a Routing in Business Central

To modify a Routing:

1. Navigate to the Routings list page in Business Central.
2. Open the Routing to be modified.
3. Change the Status from ‘Certified’ to ‘Under Development.’
4. Add or edit steps in the appropriate sequence by assigning them an Operation No.
5. Assign a Work Center or Machine Center to the step.
6. Define the duration of each step with a Run Time and optionally any of the other Times.
7. Adjust the ‘Previous Operation No.’ and ‘Next Operation No.’ of any affected steps before or after the newly added step.
   1. Note: if the Routing is of Type ‘Serial’, the system will automatically update these values according to the Operation No. sequence when the Status is changed back to ‘Certified.’
8. Update the Status back to ‘Certified.’

Note that the Setup Time is per Production Order, irrespective of the Quantity being produced, whereas Run Time is calculated by the Quantity for scheduling purposes.

When defining durations, Wait Time can be added when there needs to be a pause before the next step can begin. For example, if one of the steps is Painting, consider adding the appropriate amount of Wait Time before the Packaging step to allow for drying.

Copying an Existing Routing

When setting up a new Routing, you can save time by copying an existing one:

1. From the Routings page, click New.
2. Enter the No. and Description.
3. From the top ribbon, click Copy Routing.
4. Choose the existing Routing to copy and click OK.

The lines from the existing Routing are then brought in, and updates can be made in line with the steps outlined above before the new Routing is set to ‘Certified’.

How to Handle Machine Breakdowns

If a machine breaks and needs to be replaced, any associated Routings using that Machine Center or Work Center must be updated to reflect the change.

Steps to update the Routing:

1. Open the affected Routing.
2. Set the Status to ‘Under Development.’
3. Locate the step tied to the broken machine
4. Change the value in the ‘No.’ field with the new Machine Center or Work Center No.
5. Adjust the duration fields if the new machine has different capabilities.
6. Change the Status back to ‘Certified.’

Troubleshooting a Common Work Center Calendar Error

Error: Work Center Calendar Not Calculated

If the Shop Calendar isn’t calculated for a Work Center, users may see an error when trying to schedule a Production Order:

Error when calculating backward. Calendar is not available before XX/XX/XX for Work Center XX

How to Fix It:

1. Go to the Work Centers list page.
2. Ensure that the Work Center that resulted in the error has a Shop Calendar Code populated.
3. Under the Home tab, click Calculate Work Center Calendar.
4. Input the Starting and Ending Dates to calculate the calendar. Typically, I recommend calculating through the next year following the current year so that as Production Orders get scheduled in the last quarter of the year, users won’t run into this error once Production Orders start being scheduled into January.
5. Optionally filter on the Work Center No. to calculate, although typically I run this wide open to allow all Work Centers to be calculated through the same dates. There is no harm in calculating them again if they have already been calculated previously.
6. Click OK.

Best Practices for Routing Setup

• Set up Shop Calendars to reflect actual hours the production floor is available so that Production Order scheduling is accurate.
• Include any holidays in the Shop Calendar so that production isn’t scheduled during off days.
• Use Setup Time, Run Time, Wait Time, and Move Time for their respective purposes to ensure accurate scheduling with any buffer time needed built in.
• Keep Routings up to date based on changes to machinery or manpower over time.

Routings are a foundational configuration tool in Business Central’s manufacturing module. They define the labor steps required to produce a finished good and are used automatically in Production Orders. Knowing when and how to modify them ensures smooth production and fewer errors.

Final tip: Routings are only as good as the data behind them. Regular reviews and updates help ensure they continue to support efficient, accurate production.

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