Please note:

1. This is not a comprehensive list, but includes the major areas of functionality likely to be significant in deciding which product is suitable
2. For information relating to general, non module-specific differences between Sage 50 and Sage 200 Manufacturing, such as locations and traceability please click here.

Versioning

The Sage 200 product has a facility called Versioning which will automatically increment a BOM version number each time a record is amended. Each BOM is given a Version Status to ensure that only one version (the ‘active’ status) can be used at any time. To amend a BOM it must first be ‘checked-out’. This effectively creates a copy of the ‘active’ BOM which can be used normally whilst the ‘checked-out’ version is being amended. A revision history may be stored against the BOM record. BOM Versioning may be turned off if not required.

The facility is useful when a tight control needs to be kept on BOM amendments but does have two drawbacks. Firstly, any amendment to a BOM no matter how minor, including e.g. the correction of a spelling mistake or the addition of an attached file, results in a new ‘version’ which can result in lots of unnecessary versions being created. Secondly, the automatic incrementing only works on whole numbers, so you cannot create e.g. Version 1.1 to be followed by 1.2, 1.3 etc.

The Sage 50 product has no equivalent facility but it does have a 'Revision' field which can be maintained manually. Only one BOM record can be held for each product in Sage 50 which precludes storing older versions of a BOM on the system unless a workaround is employed such as suffixing the product code with e.g. ‘/old’ and using the Validity Dates to minimise the risk of using the older version in error.

Costing

The Sage 200 product derives its costing basis from each component’s Product Group stored in the Stock Control module, which may be set to Average, FIFO or Standard, whilst the Sage 50 product costs all components on the basis found in BOM Default Settings which offers Average or Last Price Paid. (Sage 50 does have a field for Standard Material Costs but the functionality is limited. Stock Control is only ever updated using the default setting, not at standard).

Overhead Recovery

In Sage 200 Manufacturing it is possible to set overhead recovery rates using a percentage of e.g. labour, machines or material costs etc. Details entered are sent to Works Order Processing and the program will then integrate with the Sage 200 Nominal Ledger to automatically create the relevant journal entries based on actual costs incurred, if entered. There is no equivalent process in Sage 50 Manufacturing, where, if required, overheads must be included in e.g. the standard hourly labour or machine rate.

Transfer

Because the Sage 50 BOM is also available as a stand alone module, it includes a ‘transfer’ facility which is used to adjust stock when a finished product has been made. When a product code and finished quantity have been entered, the program will downdate the necessary component stock and update the appropriate finished stock item. The Sage 200 manufacturing BOM is not available as a stand alone module and has no equivalent facility.