What is the term for information detailing the manufacturing path of a product, including the sequence of operations and the work centers involved?

• A. Routing
• B. Seasonal inventory
• C. Shipping manifest
• D. Single-level bill of material

Answer: (A)

Routing defines the path a product follows on the shop floor—the sequence of operations and the work centers (machines or labor groups) that perform each step. It specifies where each operation is done and often includes times, setup requirements, and the order of steps needed to convert raw materials into finished goods. This makes routing a key driver for scheduling, capacity planning, and shop-floor control.

A bill of materials, in contrast, lists the components needed to build the product, not the process steps. A shipping manifest is about the items being transported, and seasonal inventory concerns stock levels over time rather than the production path.