Sheet Metal Routing and Operation Cost Worksheet
A clear routing is the backbone of a sheet metal quote. This worksheet lets you list each operation, enter setup and run minutes plus a rate, and see hours and cost per step and for the whole job.
| Operation | Work center | Setup (min) | Run per part (min) | Quantity | Rate ($/h) | Hours | Operation cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.25 | $175 | |||||||
0.75 | $41 | |||||||
2.6667 | $253 | |||||||
0.6667 | $40 | |||||||
4.5 | $338 | |||||||
1 | $65 |
Conversion cost only. Add material, outside processing such as plating, packaging, freight and margin separately. Use the same quantity on all rows for a single batch quote.
Routing standards vs actuals
We can compare your routing standards with reported times from your ERP. Optional.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the worksheet
Add one row per operation in the order the part moves through the shop. Pick the work center, enter setup minutes, run minutes per part, the batch quantity and the hourly rate for that work center. Hours and cost are calculated for you. Totals and a blended rate appear below the table. Edit the sample rows, add or delete lines, and export to Excel to share with purchasing or the customer. Keep the quantity consistent across rows for a single batch.
The calculation
For each row, hours equal (setup minutes + run minutes x quantity) divided by 60, and cost equals hours times rate. Totals are simple sums. The blended rate, total cost divided by total hours, helps you check that the mix of operations matches your expected overhead recovery. If the blended rate drifts well below your target, you may be underpricing labour intensive steps such as welding or deburring, which are often underestimated in quotes.
- Hours = (setup + run x qty) / 60
- Cost = hours x rate
- Blended rate = total cost / total hours
Tips and common mistakes
Time several real jobs before trusting your run minutes, and separate setup from run so quantity breaks work. Include secondary operations that are easy to forget, such as hardware insertion, masking, packing and inspection. Do not mix setup standards from repeat and first-time jobs. Once you have a stable routing, load it into your ERP as a routing or BOM operation set so the same times drive scheduling, costing and shop floor reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What rate should I use per work center?
Use a fully loaded hourly rate that includes labour, machine depreciation, power, consumables, space and overhead. Rates normally differ widely between a laser and a deburr bench.
How do I handle batches with different quantities?
Keep one worksheet per quantity break, or change the quantity column and compare totals. Setup stays fixed while run time scales with quantity.
Where do outside processes go?
Add them as rows with a rate or enter the lot charge as setup minutes at an equivalent rate, or track outside processing separately and add it to the quote.
Can I import this into an ERP?
Export to Excel and map the columns to your ERP routing fields, such as operation number, work center, setup time and run time. The exact import format depends on the system.
If your routings live in spreadsheets today, we can help load and validate them in your ERP and compare standards against actual reported times.
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