1. A bill of materials (BOM) is a comprehensive list of parts, items, assemblies, and other materials required to create a product, as well as instructions required for gathering and using the required materials.
2. The bill of materials can be understood as the recipe and shopping list for creating a final product. The bill of materials explains what, how, and where to buy required materials, and includes instructions for how to assemble the product from the various parts ordered.
3. All manufacturers building products, regardless of their industry, get started by creating a bill of materials (BOM).
4. Because the bill of materials pulls together all sorts of product information, it is common that several disciplines (design and engineering, document management, operations, manufacturing, purchasing, contract manufacturers, and more) will consume data contained within the BOM record to get the job done right.
5. In fact, engineers and manufacturers rely so heavily on BOMs that their own special subsets called the engineering bill of materials and the manufacturing bill of materials.
6. The BOM guides positive results from business activities like parts sourcing, outsourcing, and manufacturing, so it is important to create a BOM that is well organized, correct, and up-to-date.
7. And for companies that outsource manufacturing activities, it is especially important to create an accurate and revision-controlled bill of materials. Any time the BOM is handed off to a contract manufacturer (CM) or supplier, it should be correct and complete to avoid unnecessary production mistakes and product launch delays.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN AN EFFECTIVE BILL OF MATERIALS
1. Because one of the main functions of the BOM is to ensure that the product is built right, it is best to include specific pieces of product data in the BOM record. Whether you are creating your first bill of materials or are looking for ways to improve how you create a bill of materials, here is a high-level list of information to include in your BOM record:
2. BOM Level—Assign each part or assembly a number to detail where it fits in the hierarchy of the BOM. This allows anyone with an understanding of the BOM structure to quickly decipher the BOM.
3. Part Number—Assign a part number to each part or assembly in order to reference and identify parts quickly. It is common for manufacturers to choose either an intelligent or non-intelligent part numbering scheme. Whichever scheme you use, make sure you avoid creating multiple part numbers for the same part.
4. Part Name—Record the unique name of each part or assembly. This will help you identify parts more easily.
5. Phase—Record what stage each part is at in its lifecycle. For parts in production, it is common to use a term like ‘In Production’ to indicate the stage of the part. New parts that have not yet been approved can be classified as ‘Unreleased’ or ‘In Design’. This is helpful during new product introduction (NPI) because it allows you to easily track progress and create realistic project timelines.
6. Description—Provide a detailed description of each part that will help you and others distinguish between similar parts and identify specific parts more easily.
7. Quantity—Record the number of parts to be used in each assembly or subassembly to help guide purchasing and manufacturing decisions and activities.
8. Unit of Measure—Classify the measurement in which a part will be used or purchased. It is common to use ‘each’, but standard measures like inches, feet, ounces, and drops are also suitable classifications. Be consistent across all similar part types because the information will help make sure the right quantities are procured and delivered to the production line.
9. Procurement Type—Document how each part is purchased or made (i.e. off-the-shelf or made-to-specification) to create efficiencies in manufacturing, planning, and procurement activities.
10. Reference Designators—If your product contains printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), you should include reference designators that detail where the part fits on the board in your BOM. Capturing this information in the BOM can save time and help you avoid confusion down the road.
11. BOM Notes—Capture other relevant notes to keep everyone who interacts with your BOM on the same page.
ISSUES TO TACKLE BEFORE CREATING BOM
1. Will you document consumables in your BOM record? Many manufacturers second-guess the decision to include glue, wires, fasteners, and other non-modeled parts like labels and boxes in their BOM record. But if the part does not make it into your BOM, it might not make it into your product. So take the time to document these parts.
2. How will you attach files to your BOM record? As you create your BOM, keep records of supporting documentation like CAD drawings, part datasheets, and work instructions. It is best to also associate these files with their specific BOM level items.
3. Who is going to use the BOM record? It is important to include as many details as possible in your BOM. You may never interact face-to-face with some of the people utilizing your BOM, so it should convey all the information they might need throughout the product’s lifecycle.
4. How will you reconcile your BOM record? Your BOM record may go through several iterations during the design phase, so you should have a way to distinguish between multiple BOM record versions. That way, when it is time for production, you can be sure each person who uses your BOM is consulting the correct version.
EFFECTIVE BOM
1. Creating a bill of materials is not only a necessary step in the product development process, it is also what makes your product design a reality. Most bills of materials go through multiple iterations as your finished product and manufacturing processes evolve, which means it’s also likely to be handled by multiple people.
2. As such, using only a spreadsheet to manage a BOM is not ideal, because information will constantly need to be re-entered—opening you up to costly human errors that can throw off your entire production—and it is difficult to track what version of the document is being shared and used by your staff.
3. Effective BOM management means you need to establish a fail-proof system that ensures that the latest version is always in use by anyone accessing it.
4. ERP systems built for manufacturers are the best way for custom manufacturers to create and manage BOMs. ERPs act as a single source of truth for your company, meaning that you can be assured that everyone is working off of the same, and most up-to-date, version of a BOM. Using an ERP to manage your BOM will eliminate headaches and get everyone on the same page.
Source:
https://www.geniuserp.com/blog/how-to-make-a-bill-of-materials-the-right-way
https://www.arenasolutions.com/resources/category/bom-management/creating-a-bill-of-materials/
