Automated BOM Generation
Blog Post 4.01.02 - Automate Generation of Manufacturing Bill of Materials
Automatically generate a complete manufacturing bill of materials from your engineering bill of materials. Read More ...
Global Edge Video Blog-4.01
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Automate Generation of Manufacturing Bill of Materials
Global Edge Engineering Assistant includes functionality that automates the generation of a manufacturing bill of materials from your engineering / CAD bill of materials. This is made possible from an innovative "Configuration Engine" that automatically generates optimal routing steps based of the CAD Part Parameters of each component in an assembly.
This also includes time and material cost rollups based on the latest labor and material costs from ERP. Global Edge Engineering Assistant provides the following features and benefits:
- Automated BOM Generation with Complete Optimal Routings
- Eliminates Labor-Intensive Engineering Workflow Tasks
- Provides Manufacturing Enterprise with Accurate Bill of Materials
Automating the Generation of Manufacturing Bills of Materials
Transforming Engineering Data into Manufacturing Excellence with Global Edge Engineering Assistant
In today’s dynamic manufacturing landscape, efficiency, precision, and agility are the cornerstones of a successful enterprise. One of the most significant steps toward operational excellence is the automation of the Manufacturing Bill of Materials (MBOM) generation process directly from the Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM), leveraging advanced digital tools such as Global Edge Engineering Assistant. This innovative solution streamlines the intricate path between engineering design and manufacturing execution, empowering organizations to deliver products faster, with higher quality, and at reduced cost.
Understanding the Bill of Materials (BOM) Landscape
A Bill of Materials is a comprehensive inventory detailing every item, assembly, and subassembly required to manufacture a finished product. Within most manufacturing organizations, two principal BOMs are crucial in the product lifecycle:
- Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM): Derived from engineering drawings and CAD models, the EBOM captures the product’s design intent. It lists all parts and assemblies as designed, including materials, part numbers, and relationships as defined by engineering teams.
- Manufacturing Bill of Materials (MBOM): The MBOM builds upon the EBOM by incorporating manufacturing-specific details. It includes routing information, manufacturing steps, resources required, and additional items such as adhesives, fasteners, and packaging, which may not appear in the EBOM.
Manual conversion from EBOM to MBOM is traditionally labor-intensive, error-prone, and time-consuming as it often involves re-entering data, cross-referencing CAD files, and understanding complex assembly processes. This is where automation provides a significant leap forward.
The Role of Global Edge Engineering Assistant
Global Edge Engineering Assistant represents a transformative step in synchronizing engineering with manufacturing. Its core functionality enables the automatic generation of a complete, manufacturing-ready BOM from your engineering or CAD BOM. This seamless automation is underpinned by a proprietary Configuration Engine that interprets part parameters and orchestrates optimal manufacturing steps for each component.
Key Features and Innovations
- Automated BOM Generation with Complete Optimal Routings: At the heart of Global Edge’s solution is its ability to analyze each CAD part parameter and automatically generate the necessary manufacturing steps—known as routings. For instance, if a component requires machining, painting, and assembly, the Configuration Engine sequences these steps optimally based on best practices and the latest engineering data.
- Elimination of Labor-Intensive Engineering Workflow Tasks: By automating the translation process from EBOM to MBOM, the solution liberates engineering and manufacturing professionals from repetitive data entry and manual documentations. This translates to faster workflows, fewer bottlenecks, and reduced human error.
- Accurate and Up-to-Date Manufacturing BOMs: MBOMs generated by Global Edge Engineering Assistant are consistently accurate and reflect the latest design and manufacturing intent. By integrating with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, the tool ensures that all relevant data—material quantities, supplier information, and cost factors—remain current.
- Time and Material Cost Rollups: The Configuration Engine not only defines the process steps but also aggregates labor and material costs, drawing on the latest data from ERP platforms. This enables real-time cost analysis and supports agile decision-making for pricing, sourcing, and scheduling.
How the Automation Process Works
The journey from concept to manufacturing-ready documentation is streamlined through a series of sophisticated, automated steps:
- Import Engineering BOM: The process begins with the importation of a structured EBOM from a CAD or PLM system. This typically involves part numbers, descriptions, quantities, and CAD parameters.
- Analyze and Interpret CAD Part Parameters: The Configuration Engine examines part geometry, materials, tolerances, and assembly relationships. It assesses manufacturing techniques required for each component, such as cutting, welding, finishing, or sub-assembly.
- Generate Optimal Routing Steps: For each part and assembly, the system automatically creates a routing—a sequence of manufacturing steps needed to fabricate, assemble, and finish the product. These steps are ordered for maximum efficiency based on internal best practices and historical data.
- Roll Up Time and Material Costs: Drawing from ERP, the tool calculates the required labor and material for each step and aggregates costs at every assembly level. This provides an instant, accurate estimate of product manufacturing costs.
- Create Manufacturing BOM: The final MBOM encapsulates all parts, materials, subassemblies, required manufacturing resources, and associated routing information. It is exportable to ERP or shop floor execution systems for production scheduling and execution.
Benefits to the Manufacturing Enterprise
Automating MBOM generation has far-reaching implications for operational excellence and competitiveness:
- Accelerated Time-to-Market: By condensing a process that once took days or weeks into minutes, enterprises can respond faster to design changes, customer demands, and market opportunities.
- Enhanced Data Consistency and Quality: Automation ensures that MBOMs are always in sync with the latest design revisions, minimizing discrepancies that could otherwise lead to production delays, scrap, or rework.
- Cost Transparency and Control: Real-time cost aggregation supports more effective budgeting, bidding, and supplier negotiations. It also enables manufacturers to identify cost drivers and optimize resources proactively.
- Resource Optimization: The automatic generation of routings ensures that manufacturing steps are sequenced for maximum efficiency, reducing downtime and improving throughput.
- Improved Collaboration Between Departments: With centralized, up-to-date BOM data, engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and finance teams can collaborate more effectively, breaking down silos and supporting a unified approach to product delivery.
- Scalability: Automated systems can handle simple or highly complex assemblies with ease, making them suitable for a wide range of products and industries.
Beyond Automation: The Strategic Value of Integrated BOM Management
While automation delivers immediate productivity and quality gains, the true value of such systems lies in their ability to serve as a strategic backbone for digital manufacturing transformation. Integrated BOM management enables advanced analytics, supports digital twins, and lays the groundwork for Industry 4.0 initiatives such as IoT-enabled smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and flexible production lines.
Future Capabilities and Considerations
As manufacturing evolves, so too will the capabilities of automated BOM generation systems. Future innovations may include:
- AI-Assisted Process Optimization: Machine learning algorithms that analyze historical production data to suggest routing improvements and detect inefficiencies before they arise.
- Dynamic Supply Chain Integration: Real-time updates from suppliers and logistics partners directly feeding into MBOMs for instant impact analysis and contingency planning.
- Automated Compliance and Sustainability Tracking: Built-in checks for regulatory compliance, environmental impact assessments, and materials traceability as part of the BOM workflow.
Conclusion
The automation of manufacturing Bill of Materials generation marks a new era in product lifecycle management. Tools like Global Edge Engineering Assistant do not merely expedite existing processes—they redefine the relationship between design and production, fostering a culture of innovation, responsiveness, and excellence. For organizations seeking to enhance productivity and maintain a competitive edge in today’s market, the adoption of such technologies is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity.With automated MBOM generation, the future of manufacturing is not just efficient—it is intelligent, connected, and ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Automated Bill of Materials Generation
To see a demonstration as to how Global Edge Engineering Assistant can increase your engineering capacity, click on the link below to schedule a software demonstration.