The BOM Module stores all data relating to the make-up of finished products and sub-assemblies, including materials, operations, set-up, tooling, sub-contract and piecework costs. It is straightforward to use, integrating directly with Stock Control which eliminates any need for duplication of data entry. There is no limit to the number of components or sub-assemblies which may be entered on a BOM, nor is there a limit to the number of levels. It is easy to ‘drill-down’ from a BOM to a sub-assembly.

Manufacturing operations are set up in the Operations Register, which in turn uses information from the Labour and Machine Registers. The information stored includes run-time quantities, set-up times, hourly rates, delays and overlaps etc. Any operation can be selected from the Operations Register for use on a BOM as and when needed, amending the default information if necessary. Details of sub-contract operations can also be entered in the Operations Register, and subsequently used on BOMs, the system being capable of raising Purchase Orders and recording despatches plus receipts to and from sub-contractors.

The ‘Attached Files’ tab provides the facility to link other files on your network to a BOM, such as a spreadsheet, Word document, drawing or even a web-site URL. Attached files are instantly accessible at the click of a button.

Once set up, BOMs can be copied (a useful way of creating new BOMs for similar products) and costed. Individual BOMs or a selction of BOMs can be costed at any time. The results of each costing are written back to the BOM Record along with the costing date. This enables the user to run reports based on that date e.g. print all BOMs not costed since.dd/mm/yy.

Trial Kitting is a useful feature which allows the user to interrogate the system as to whether it is possible to make x quantity of any finished product or sub-assembly given the free stock currently available. Any shortages are highlighted in red. The user can then opt to automatically create a Sales Order, Works Order or create a ‘Make to Stock’ demand.

Similarly, the Maximum Build feature provides the maximum number of the selected product which may be built, again based on current free stock of raw materials or components.

BOMs may be displayed using the normal 'List' view or using an 'Exploded' view, which presents the data in a tree view list enabling the user to expand each product to see its components and sub-assemblies. Sub-assemblies may then also be expanded right down to ground level, eventually displaying what is effectively an on-screen indented parts list which many users find easier to work with than the traditional ‘list’ view.

There is also an 'implosion' view which presents a ‘component up’ view of the data, as opposed to the ‘product down’ view given by the exploded view. This is effectively an on-screen ‘where used’ list.

Standard reports available include summary and detailed lists as well as ‘Where Used’ lists and detailed costing reports. Users can create their own customised reports using Sage’s Report Designer.

Next: Differences between Sage 200 and Sage 50 BOM