Manufacturing Terms

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Bill of Materials (BOM)

manufacturing

A comprehensive list of raw materials, components, and assemblies required to manufacture a product.

expanded

A Bill of Materials (BOM) is an essential document in manufacturing that details the hierarchy and quantity of each material needed for production. It serves as both a recipe and a planning document, ensuring that all necessary materials and parts are available for assembly processes. BOMs are crucial for inventory management, production scheduling, and cost estimation, making them indispensable in efficient manufacturing operations.

examples

Production of a smartphone involves a BOM listing components such as 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and a 3000 mAh battery.

BOMs are used during the assembly phase in electronics manufacturing plants to ensure all components are available for a specific smartphone model.

In automotive manufacturing, a BOM would include items such as 1500 kg steel, 4 wheels, and 25 liters of paint for vehicle assembly.

BOMs are crucial in automotive factories to coordinate logistics and inventory for assembling cars on production lines.

related terms

Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
Material Requirements Planning (MRP) is a production planning and inventory management system used to manage manufacturing processes.
Raw material
Raw material refers to the basic, unprocessed substances used in manufacturing processes.
Batch production
A manufacturing process where products are produced in groups or quantities instead of a continuous stream.
Supply Chain Management (SCM)
A systematic approach to managing the flow of goods and services within a manufacturing environment.
Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) is the use of software to control machine tools and related machinery in the manufacturing of workpieces.