Creating and Managing BOMs

• Introduction
• BOM Creation
• User Interface
• Add Items
• Add Property
• Essentials for Spreadsheet Preparation
• Import From Excel
• Create From Catalog
• Conclusion

Introduction

Efficient BOM  creation is essential for precise product manufacturing and assembly planning. In OpenBOM, mastering the creation process ensures accurate documentation of every component and part required. From navigating the user interface to importing data seamlessly, understanding these methods empowers users to streamline their workflow and enhance productivity.

BOM Creation

Learn the methods to create a BOM in OpenBOM, starting with the User Interface

User Interface

•       Navigate to Create and Select Create BOM
•       Create BOM dialog box will appear
•       Choose the catalog you want to work with.

In this example, “SecureTech Lock”.

•       Type in the part number.

In this example, “STL-EL-001”.

•       Name your BOM for easy reference.

In this example, “STL-EL-001”.

•       Select a custom BoM template or stick with the default.

Here default is selected

•       Click on ‘Create BoM’.

Fig 1: Create BOM from User Interface

Add Items

•       Click on the Add Item menu:

Use the interface to add items to your newly created BOM.

•       Type in the required Item details (In this example “Part Number: STL-LA-001, Name: Door Lock Assembly”):

Enter the necessary information for the item you’re adding. Fig 2: Add Item to the BOM

•       Insert New Item from BOM Page Context Menu:

Use the context menu on the BOM page to insert a new item.

•       Search the catalog for the desired item and insert it into the BOM.

Fig 3: Add Item from Context Menu to the BOM

Add Property

•       Click on the drop-down arrow for Context Menu or Click on Add property menu:
•       Access the options to modify the BOM table.
•       Type in the required Property (In this example “Created by”):
•       Enter the name of the property you want to add to the BOM table.
•       Click Add:
•       Confirm and add the property to the BOM table.

Fig 3.1: Add Property to BOM

Essentials for Spreadsheet Preparation

•     Preparing Your Spreadsheet
•     Part Number Column: Ensure a unique “Part Number” for each item.
•     Avoid Duplicate Headers: Use distinct column headers to prevent confusion.
•     Simplify Formatting: Advanced formatting is ignored; keep it straightforward.
•     Single Sheet Import: OpenBOM imports data exclusively from the first sheet.
• Image Integration: Images tied to cells will be seamlessly imported.

•     Updating an Existing BOM
•     Add New Items: Include new spreadsheet entries into the BOM.
•     Update Existing Items: Sync changes from the spreadsheet with existing BOM entries.
• Delete Missing Items: Remove items no longer present in the spreadsheet.

Import From Excel

OpenBOM provides two ways to import a BOM

•       First, Navigate to Create and Select Import BOM:

Access the option to import a BOM.

•       Select the Excel having the BOM data

Fig 4: Sample Excel BOM

•       Click on Import menu:

Initiate the import process. Fig 5: Import BOM from Create Menu

•       Alternatively, go to the BOM created and choose the import menu at the top right corner next to history.
•       Import BOM dialog box opens (From both methods):

The dialog box appears, offering import options.

•       Choose the source of your catalog, either from Excel or Google Sheets.

In our example, we used Excel: Select the appropriate source for your catalog data. Fig 6: Import BOM from BOM Page Import Menu

•       Click “Import”:

Confirm the import action.

•       After confirming, you’ll see a notification stating ‘BOM was imported successfully’.
•       Final Imported BOM will be created as shown in the below image

Fig 7: BOM Created Successfully

Create From Catalog

From the catalog page context menu, create a new BOM for the selected item as shown in the below image Fig 8: BOM From Catalog

Conclusion

Mastering BOM creation in OpenBOM is crucial for maintaining organized and efficient manufacturing operations. By utilizing the user-friendly interface to create, update, and import BOMs, teams can ensure clarity and accuracy in product documentation. Whether adding new items, managing properties, or integrating data from spreadsheets, adhering to best practices ensures consistency and reliability across all BOMs. Embrace these methods to optimize your manufacturing processes and achieve seamless collaboration across your teams, driving towards enhanced product development and operational excellence.