❓ FAQs for the Routes Section

Below are clear and detailed answers to the most commonly asked questions about configuring and managing Routes in Fabritec.

1️⃣ What exactly is a Route and why is it important?

A Route is the full sequence of Production Stages an item goes through from start to finish.
Routes determine:

How items are manufactured

Which WorkStations they pass through

Where QC checks are required

How progress is tracked

What appears in dashboards and reports

Routes ensure that every item follows a consistent, controlled workflow, regardless of operator or shift.

2️⃣ How many Routes should my factory have?

It depends on your production diversity:

Simple factories → a few Routes per Category

Complex factories → separate Routes for major Marks (Columns, Beams, Rafters, Trusses, Bracings…)
You should create a Route whenever the manufacturing steps differ in a meaningful way.

3️⃣ What is the difference between “Mark” and “Category” in a Route?

Category groups similar item families (Built-up, Hot Rolled, Trusses).

Mark is the specific item identifier (CL-01, BM-200, TR-05).
Routes use both:

Category → Ensures the route applies to the correct item type

Mark → Specifies which unique items the route belongs to
This allows accurate routing during the BOM import process.

4️⃣ What happens if I choose the wrong Category for a Route?

The system may assign incorrect stages or skip the right workflow.
However, you can fix this by:

Editing the Route

Changing its Category

Reassigning affected items
The correction applies immediately in Phase Explorer and Production.

5️⃣ When should I use the Operation Type “Manufacture” vs “Stock” vs “Outsourcing”?

Manufacture → Full fabrication inside your factory

Stock → Item comes from inventory; no production required

Outsourcing → Fabrication happens partially or fully at a subcontractor
Choosing the right operation type ensures accurate capacity planning and reporting.

6️⃣ How does “Track per Unit” affect production and QC?

When enabled, Fabritec tracks each individual piece instead of grouping them by quantity.
Use it when:

Items require individual inspection

Each unit has different dimensions or weights

Clients require unit-level traceability
It results in more granular tracking, especially in QC and Shipping.

7️⃣ Do I need to assign a WorkStation to every stage in the Route?

Yes.
Each stage must have a corresponding WorkStation for:

Operator updates

Machine reporting

Capacity calculations
If a stage has no WorkStation, production tracking may be incomplete.

8️⃣ Can a Route have repeated stages (e.g., Cutting twice)?

Yes.
Some items need the same operation more than once:

Cutting → Drilling → Cutting again

Fit-up → Welding → Fit-up (Re-weld)
Fabritec fully supports repeated stages in the sequence.

9️⃣ Can I reorder or edit the stages in a Route later?

Yes, you can edit at any time.
However:

Changing the order affects items not yet processed

Ongoing items may follow the old order
Always coordinate Route changes with Production and Planning teams.

🔟 What happens if a Route is deleted while items are already using it?

Fabritec prevents deletion of a Route that is assigned to:

Items in Phase Explorer

Active production tasks

Revision-linked data
This protects workflow integrity and historical tracking.

11️⃣ How does Duration in each Route stage affect planning and dashboards?

Durations help Fabritec estimate:

Production time

Capacity usage

Stage-level performance

Shop load
Realistic durations create more accurate forecasting and productivity reporting.

12️⃣ What is the purpose of “Select from Existing Mark”?

It allows you to copy an existing Route instead of building one from scratch.
This is useful for:

Similar Marks

Standardized workflows

Repetitive designs
It ensures consistency and speeds up configuration.

13️⃣ Can one Mark have multiple Routes?

Yes.
If the same Mark can be produced in different workflows (e.g., different thicknesses, finishing methods, or client requirements), you can assign multiple Routes and choose the appropriate one during production.

14️⃣ Do outsourced stages affect production tracking and capacity?

Yes.
Outsourced stages:

Appear differently on dashboards

Do not consume internal capacity

Are tracked as external operations
This helps separate in-house workload from subcontracted work.

15️⃣ How are Routes applied to BOM items during Phase Explorer import?

When importing items, Fabritec checks the Mark and Category to automatically match the correct Route.
If multiple Routes match a Mark, you can select the appropriate one manually.
This ensures every item has a predefined workflow before entering production.

FAQs for the Routes

❓ FAQs for the Routes Section#

1️⃣ What exactly is a Route and why is it important?#

2️⃣ How many Routes should my factory have?#

3️⃣ What is the difference between “Mark” and “Category” in a Route?#

4️⃣ What happens if I choose the wrong Category for a Route?#

5️⃣ When should I use the Operation Type “Manufacture” vs “Stock” vs “Outsourcing”?#

6️⃣ How does “Track per Unit” affect production and QC?#

7️⃣ Do I need to assign a WorkStation to every stage in the Route?#

8️⃣ Can a Route have repeated stages (e.g., Cutting twice)?#

9️⃣ Can I reorder or edit the stages in a Route later?#

🔟 What happens if a Route is deleted while items are already using it?#

11️⃣ How does Duration in each Route stage affect planning and dashboards?#

12️⃣ What is the purpose of “Select from Existing Mark”?#

13️⃣ Can one Mark have multiple Routes?#

14️⃣ Do outsourced stages affect production tracking and capacity?#

15️⃣ How are Routes applied to BOM items during Phase Explorer import?#