Variability in production isn’t just a scheduling headache—it’s a hidden cost driver that impacts everything from labor efficiency to product quality and financial accuracy. With the Routing Analysis tool inside Business Central, manufacturers can spot and fix these problems before they snowball.
What is variability and why does it matter in Business Central?
Variability refers to inconsistency in performing the same routing step across production orders or employees. For example, your routing may estimate 2 hours for a laser cut, but if real execution ranges from 30 minutes to 4 hours, you face:
- Costing inaccuracies
- Unreliable scheduling
- Quality risks from process inconsistency
Reducing variability means better planning, margins, and shop floor control.
How does Routing Analysis show actual vs. planned time?
The Routing Analysis screen breaks it all down:
- Actual Standard Deviation: Shows how consistent your run times are
- Mean Time per Quantity: Average actual runtime per unit
- Avg. Actual Difference: Shows how far actual time strays from planned time
- % Difference: Highlights efficiency gaps
Clicking into any row (e.g., a 4000 WATT LASER operation), reveals the calculation of discrepancies—sometimes over 1.8 hours per unit. That’s not just data—it’s real money.
Can I adjust routing directly based on this data?
Yes. Routing Analysis lets you edit:
- Run time
- Setup, wait, and move times
In just a few clicks, you can align standard times with what’s really happening, certify changes, and push them forward to future production orders. This improves both costing and scheduling accuracy instantly.
Who benefits from reduced routing variability?
Everyone on your production team gains:
- Cost Accountants: Align actual vs. standard costs
- Schedulers: Plan based on true cycle times
- Quality Teams: Catch training or SOP issues
- Continuous Improvement: Use standard deviation to drive process improvements
Accurate routing leads to better decisions, fewer surprises, and leaner operations.
You can learn more about Routing Analysis in this blog post.
Disclosure: This post summarizes published guidance for Business Central users looking to improve routing accuracy and reduce variability. No paid content or promotional links included.
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