A “Bill of Materials” (BoM) is a structured list of all components, assemblies, raw materials, and quantities required to manufacture, assemble, or configure a product. A BoM is a key foundation for production, procurement, costing, variant management, and quality processes - often across the entire product lifecycle (from engineering to service).
BoM creation and maintenance: Creating, editing, and versioning BoMs including items, quantities, units, and substitute parts.
Multi-level BoMs: Modeling assembly structures across multiple levels (assembly, sub-assembly, component).
Variant and configuration BoMs: Managing product variants (e.g., size, color, options) and selecting components based on rules.
Engineering BoM (eBoM) and Manufacturing BoM (mBoM): Separating and reconciling engineering structures with production/assembly structures.
Change management (ECR/ECO): Tracking BoM changes with approval processes, revision states, and an audit trail.
Release and workflow control: Role-based review and approval workflows (e.g., engineering → purchasing → production).
Costing and calculation features: Material costs, manufacturing costs, and roll-up costing across all BoM levels (including surcharges/routings if integrated).
MRP based on BoMs: Deriving material requirements from BoMs, orders, and forecasts including availability checks.
Spare parts and service BoMs: Managing spare part structures, as-built/as-maintained information, and service kits.
Integration with CAD/PLM/ERP: Importing/reconciling from CAD/PLM and handing over to ERP for purchasing, inventory, and production control.
Validation and consistency checks: Checks for duplicates, missing attributes, invalid units, obsolescence, or non-released parts.
Linking documents and specifications: Linking drawings, datasheets, inspection plans, and work instructions to BoM items.
A machine builder maintains a multi-level BoM for a packaging line with assemblies such as drive system, frame, sensors, and controls.
An electronics manufacturer manages a PCB BoM with components (resistors, ICs, capacitors) including substitutes and manufacturer part numbers.
A furniture manufacturer uses a variant BoM to automatically derive different configurations (fabric, color, legs) from a base structure.
An automotive supplier reconciles eBoM and mBoM because production requires different pre-assemblies and packaging units than engineering.
A service team builds a spare-parts BoM for maintenance kits to bundle frequently used parts.
