How can you manage BOMs with multiple variants and options?

1 Define your product structure

The first step to manage BOMs with multiple variants and options is to define your product structure clearly and consistently. Your product structure is the hierarchy of components and subcomponents that make up your product, as well as the relationships and dependencies between them. You can use a product structure diagram or a spreadsheet to visualize your product structure and identify the common and variable elements. For example, if you are making a bicycle, you can have a common frame, wheels, and brakes, but variable gears, handlebars, and seats.

3 Use configuration rules

The third step to manage BOMs with multiple variants and options is to use configuration rules. Configuration rules are logical expressions that define the conditions and constraints for selecting and combining the modules and components of your product. Configuration rules can help you automate and validate your BOMs by ensuring that only compatible and feasible variants and options are generated and that no errors or conflicts occur. For example, if you are making a bicycle, you can have configuration rules that specify the maximum and minimum number of gears, the types of handlebars that match the frame size, and the colors that are available for each component.

4 Use parametric BOMs

The fourth step to manage BOMs with multiple variants and options is to use parametric BOMs. Parametric BOMs are BOMs that use parameters or variables to represent the variable elements of your product, such as dimensions, quantities, or attributes. Parametric BOMs can help you create and maintain BOMs more efficiently and accurately by avoiding duplication and manual updates, enabling dynamic changes and calculations, and facilitating data integration and communication. For example, if you are making a bicycle, you can use parameters to indicate the size, color, and quantity of each component, and link them to the configuration rules and the product structure.

5 Use BOM management software

The fifth step to manage BOMs with multiple variants and options is to use BOM management software. BOM management software is a specialized software application that helps you create, edit, store, and share your BOMs with multiple variants and options. BOM management software can help you improve your BOM quality and productivity by providing features such as templates, version control, revision tracking, approval workflows, collaboration tools, and integration with other systems and platforms. For example, if you are making a bicycle, you can use BOM management software to generate, compare, and export your BOMs for different models and customers.

6 Review and optimize your BOMs

The sixth and final step to manage BOMs with multiple variants and options is to review and optimize your BOMs regularly. Reviewing and optimizing your BOMs can help you ensure that your BOMs are accurate, complete, and up to date, as well as identify and eliminate any errors, inconsistencies, or inefficiencies. You can use various methods and metrics to review and optimize your BOMs, such as checking for completeness, accuracy, clarity, and readability, measuring the cost, time, and quality of your BOMs, and analyzing the impact of changes and variations on your BOMs. For example, if you are making a bicycle, you can review and optimize your BOMs by verifying the specifications, quantities, and prices of each component, evaluating the performance and profitability of each variant and option, and assessing the feasibility and flexibility of your product structure and configuration rules.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?