Overview
A Routing defines the sequence of operations/work steps required to manufacture a product. It contains work centers, control keys, standard times (setup, machine, labor), and is a key master data for Production Orders, Capacity Planning, and Costing.
Prerequisites
- Material Master of the header material exists
- Work Centers are already created (CR01)
- Plant is defined
- Authorization for transaction CA01
Step-by-Step Process
1
Enter Transaction Code
Go to transaction CA01 (Create Routing) and press Enter.
2
Initial Screen
- Material: Enter the material for which you are creating the routing
- Plant: Enter the plant
- Key Date: Enter the valid-from date
- Usage: Enter usage (usually 1 – Production)
- Press Enter
3
Header Details
- System proposes Task List Group and Group Counter
- Enter a short Description
- Set Status to 4 – Released (important)
- Enter From Lot Size and To Lot Size if required
- You can maintain planning and costing relevance
4
Create Operations
- Go to the Operations overview
- Enter Operation Number (e.g., 0010, 0020, 0030)
- Enter Work Center
- Enter Control Key (e.g., PP01 for internal processing)
- Enter short text for the operation (e.g., “Cutting”, “Assembly”, “Packing”)
- Enter Standard Values:
- Setup Time
- Machine Time
- Labor Time
5
Maintain Operation Details (Optional)
- Double-click an operation to go to details
- You can maintain:
- Base Quantity
- Scrap percentage
- Activity types
- Sub-operations
- Production resources/tools (PRTs)
- Inspection characteristics (if QM is active)
6
Component Allocation (Optional)
- You can allocate BOM components to specific operations
- This controls when components are staged or backflushed
7
Save the Routing
Click the Save button. The Routing is created and can now be used in Production Orders and Production Versions.
Quick Process Flow
CA01 → Material + Plant + Usage → Header (Status = Released) → Operations + Work Center + Times → Save
Common Control Keys
| Control Key | Description |
|---|---|
| PP01 | Internal processing (most common) |
| PP02 | External processing |
| PP03 | Internal processing with automatic GR |
| QM01 | Quality inspection operation |
Related Transaction Codes
| T-Code | Description |
|---|---|
| CA01 | Create Routing |
| CA02 | Change Routing |
| CA03 | Display Routing |
| CA11 | Create Reference Operation Set |
| CA21 | Create Rate Routing |
| CR01 | Create Work Center |
| CEWB | Engineering Workbench |
| CA60 | Routing Changes |
| CA80 | Work Center Where-Used |
Important Notes:
- Status must be set to 4 – Released, otherwise the routing cannot be used in production orders.
- Routing + BOM together form the basis of a Production Version.
- Standard times (Setup, Machine, Labor) are used for scheduling and costing.
- For process industries, use Master Recipe (C201) instead of Routing.
Helpful Tips
- Always release the routing (Status 4) after creation.
- Use meaningful operation short texts for better shop floor understanding.
- You can copy an existing routing using the “Copy from” function.
- Maintain accurate standard times for correct capacity planning and product costing.
- After creating both BOM and Routing, create a Production Version (C223 or in Material Master) for best results.