Despite its name, a bill of materials (BOM) is not a product invoice. In the manufacturing world, it is typically a comprehensive list of all the parts needed to build a product from start to finish. And in some cases, it can also include materials, assemblies, sub-assemblies, and other critical items like part numbers and specifications. A well-planned and populated BOM can function as a working blueprint for the building of a product, whether simple or complex.
The Benefits of Using a BOM
If you’re just playing around with electronics and building some of the projects you can find on the CircuitBread website, like our digital clock in the tutorials section, you probably don’t need a BOM. But if you’re a student building prototypes to support a design, or a budding entrepreneur with a great idea, you need a resource document you can turn to for guidance and as a baseline repository for change data as you tweak and test your designs. Using a BOM that matches your own production needs can help you remember critical points in your production process and track your progress.
BOMs can also help you plan component purchases, keep track of costs and budget, reduce waste, and enhance your productivity. Even more important, a comprehensive BOM can reduce waste of critical materials, avoid costly production errors, and identify failures before they reach your shipping department.
If your products or production line requires certification, a BOM can also be used to record batch checks or test points for quality reviews or production audits. And a basic BOM is not difficult to create. Our friends over at OnlineComponents will let you use their online BOM tools, and even build your own custom BOM for a project at: www.onlinecomponents.com/en/bomquotes. Plus, building a BOM for your project and sharing it with a qualified component distributor is an efficient way to get current price and availability quotes for the components you need in your build.
Types of BOMs
The basic BOMs that are used in electronics include: Manufacturing BOMs listing all required components and materials; Engineering BOMs that cover product components and assemblies by individual function; Sales BOMs, which are used to manage the parts needed to complete the sale of a product; Configurable BOMs used for products with multiple options; and Template BOMs that come into play with products that require regular service.
How Can I Make a BOM Work for Me?
So, if you’re used to making lists and using them in your work or your everyday life, you know the most important part of them is customization to your needs. The basic items to include in your BOM are: part names and numbers (including a manufacturer's unique name for a part), part quantities in inventory, critical parts, alternate parts, whether a part is built in-house or outside-sourced, and any related comments.
To make your BOM work harder to meet your needs, you could also include additional items to track, including: component costs, budget levels, alarms or trigger points, part location information, test points for future audits or requirements, and production or process details.
In short, a BOM can contain whatever you think is necessary to track and improve your manufacturing process. Remember, however, that all of your data points will require information gathering and input, which takes time and people power. Depending on the complexity of your build, your BOM may also require frequent updates and revisions.
Summary
BOMs are useful tools that can be matched to your individual product needs and tweaked as necessary to grow along with and adapt to your business. They can offer critical help and are of most use when you take the time upfront to understand your product, how it is built, and how it may change in the future. So, stop writing your component list on a cue card. Create your own custom BOM and amp up your game.
