Definition
Routing dependency describes the operation-to-operation sequence a part must follow through the factory — including required precedence, alternate routes, splits to parallel paths, and merges before assembly. Every scheduling decision must honor these dependencies, or the plan will place a downstream operation before its prerequisite is complete.
Why it matters
Routing dependency is what makes scheduling combinatorially hard. A 12-operation routing across 8 work centers, with 3 alternate routes and one merge, has thousands of feasible sequences and only a handful that minimize lead time. Manual sequencing in Excel or a whiteboard collapses past ~50 open work orders because the planner cannot hold all the dependencies in their head.
Common failure mode
The planner sequences Op 30 ahead of Op 20 on the dispatch list because the machine for Op 30 is open. The operator starts setup, realizes the part has not been through Op 20, and stops. The half-set-up machine sits while the rework propagates.
How Skody approaches it
Skody respects every routing dependency as a hard constraint and evaluates alternates as part of the placement decision. When the primary route is blocked, qualifying alternates are surfaced with their full downstream impact computed.
Related terms
Questions
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