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During new product introduction (NPI), engineers and product managers usually use detailed bills of materials (BOMs) to show the design, structure of modules, and how parts fit together. However, when planning for procurement, cost estimation, or validating part quantities, a flattened bill of materials (BOM) offers a concise and streamlined list of components. It assists with supplier proposals, material cost aggregations, inventory management, and order scheduling.
From a bill of materials management standpoint, the flattened BOM simplifies complexity for several users. Procurement can swiftly assess overall part utilization, recognize duplication, or evaluate alternative parts without needing to access deep hierarchies. It facilitates downstream processes, including cost estimate, parts consolidation, component substitution, and order generation.
Consequently, the flattened bill of materials (BOM) provides a supplementary perspective inside the BOM management lifecycle: structural (hierarchical) views for design and assembly, and flattened views for procurement, cost, and supply chain considerations.
In a PLM (product lifecycle management) system, the flattened BOM view often serves as an alternative representation of the standard multi-level BOM. The PLM system maintains the complete assembly hierarchy (including engineering, design, and assembly sequence) while providing a simplified perspective for downstream stakeholders (such as procurement, cost analysis, and supplier interaction). The controls of the quality management system (QMS) remain applicable: any modifications to the foundational bill of materials (BOM) must undergo change control, and the flattened view must remain synchronized as a derivative representation.
Upon implementing a change (ECO), the system must recalculate the flattened BOM to accurately represent revised quantities or components, ensuring consistency. The flattened BOM functions as a verifiable document in audits and quality assessments.
A flattened BOM is advantageous for obtaining a consolidated list of components for procurement, cost roll-ups, or item ordering, eliminating the complexity of traversing parent/child relationships. It enhances transparency for procurement, forecasting, and supplier interaction.
No. A flattened bill of materials (BOM) is a derivative representation used for reporting or subsequent procedures. The multi-level BOM (hierarchical) is crucial for documenting assembly structure, design rationale, and manufacturing sequences.
Upon modifications through ECOs or revisions in the PLM, the system reconstructs the flattened BOM to ensure that quantities and components accurately represent the current status. The flattened view is recalibrated based on the revised hierarchical structure.
The loss of structure obscures context, including the origin of a component (its subassembly) and constraints (which components are optional versus mandatory). Users may misunderstand the total amounts or fail to recognize the dependencies between variations. Furthermore, change propagation must be meticulously managed to prevent drift.
