Glossary

Routing execution

Routing execution is the shop-floor execution and recording of the approved sequence of manufacturing operations.

Core Aerospace Operations Execution Aerospace MES and Digital Travelers (Execution Control)Digital Travelers and Routing

Routing execution is the shop-floor execution and recording of the approved sequence of manufacturing operations for a part, order, batch, or assembly. It refers to carrying out the defined routing steps, capturing required production and quality data, and confirming that each operation is completed in the expected order or under controlled exception handling.

In manufacturing systems, routing execution is commonly managed through an MES, digital traveler, electronic batch record, or similar execution layer. It may include operation start and completion, work center assignment, labor reporting, material consumption, inspection results, equipment usage, nonconformance links, and operator signoffs.

Routing execution should not be confused with routing design or process planning. Routing design defines the intended sequence of operations, resources, and controls. Routing execution is the actual performance and documentation of that sequence on the shop floor. It is also distinct from network routing in IT and from logistics route optimization, although data from ERP, scheduling, quality, and inventory systems may interact with the execution process.

The execution layer (typically MES, digital travelers, and associated shop-floor systems) does not in itself make you AS9100 compliant, but it is where most of the real traceability evidence is generated and linked. Its role is to enforce data capture, link materials, processes, and people to each serialized unit or lot, and feed trustworthy records back to the QMS and ERP. Its effectiveness depends heavily on integration quality, procedure design, and disciplined use in a brownfield environment.

How should aerospace teams measure work-order aging?

Aerospace teams should measure work-order aging with defined clock rules, aging buckets, and reason codes, not as one generic “days open” metric. The useful view separates queue time, active work, holds, nonconformance, material shortages, engineering delays, and closure latency.

Is MES required for predictive maintenance?

No, a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is not strictly required for predictive maintenance. Predictive models can run from sensor, historian, or CMMS data alone. However, without MES integration you lose context such as product, route, operator, and schedule, which limits root cause analysis, prioritization, and traceability in regulated environments.

Which aerospace machines should be connected to MES first?

Connect the machines that create the most execution risk first, not simply the newest or most automated assets. Good first candidates are bottleneck, quality-critical, or traceability-heavy equipment with reliable interfaces, stable data definitions, and manageable validation impact.

Related Glossary

Work-order tracking

Work-order tracking is the monitoring of production or maintenance work orders from release through completion.