A manufacturing bill of materials is something that is really crucial to building products in a successful way. I have included some reasons that back up why it is so important, and some of the negative things that could happen if you do not set up a bill of materials.
Details Are Key
The biggest reason why anyone would say that a bill of materials is important is that it helps people pay attention to the details. Imagine a snowball that starts out small, and then as it rolls down the hill the snowball gets bigger and bigger.
That analogy is pretty similar to how things can go wrong in manufacturing. A little problem can be irrelevant for a while until it compounds and becomes a massive problem later down the road. For instance, if you do not include a material that has a small cost in the BOM, it might not be a big deal at first.
But, if you made 20 million units of that product, then that inexpensive material will actually add up to cost quite a bit. That number could even be enough to put you in the negative in your manufacturing business if you are not careful.
All kinds of details are vital to see success in manufacturing and that is why everyone uses a bill of materials. It is a preventive way to limit yourself from mistakes and a lot of headaches down the line. Details like the PLM from OPENBOM for example do help with keeping track of details.
Communication Across Manufacturers
Another important thing about a bill of materials is that it puts plans into a format that is easily readable by everyone. A BOM is a common language that manufacturers speak in, and it is helpful to break down product plans in the same format.
It is almost like a language, and each plant should all be on the same page and speaking in that same language, or BOMs. A consistent blueprint will make everyone on the same page and create more unity.
A great bill of materials is going to make everyone’s life easier because it is a blueprint that everyone has and since it is always in that format everyone understands it at the plant.
Keeps You Organized
Another important thing that a bill of materials helps manufacturers is being organized with a specific list of parts to make a product. With that detailed plan, it really does keep everyone on the same page, which is important because manufacturing is not as easy business to keep everyone in the loop and on the same page.
A BOM is something that is vital if you want to pay attention to details that could eventually hurt you if you are not eyeing them down. It is also important so that you have a consistent way of communicating and staying organized throughout your assembly of the product.
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