One item can be made different ways, using different operations, work centers, machines, or different components. Each of these variations is called an alternate routing.

One of the more common uses of an alternate route is in the case of an alternate product structure. Often the use of alternate components or materials requires the use of alternate operations. Other uses include alternate work centers, machines that require more time, or the use of subcontract operations to deal with capacity issues.

An alternate route can also be used as a set of default operations. For example, in cutting slacks of a specific size the route does not care what color the material is or often what type of material is being cut.

Often, routings are named the same as the items they produce.

Alternate routings have a name that does not match any item. You assign items to the routing in Alternate Routing Maintenance, then actually use them in Work Order Maintenance or Shop Floor Control to override the item’s usual routing with the alternate. An alternate route can also be assigned as a default for an item in Item Planning Maintenance or Item Site Planning Maintenance.

Discussed in Training Guide: Shop Floor Control.

In this function, you assign items to the alternate routings created in Routing Maintenance or Process Definition Maintenance. MRP and manufacturing orders always use the standard Routing Code and BOM/Formula associated with the item in Item Planning Maintenance or Item-Site Planning Maintenance as do the costing functions