5.6. Structures

Bill of Materials

Bill of materials (BOM) are used to specify the composition of a product. To enter BOM and BOM Components, the product needs to have the BOM checked. Once the BOM setup is complete it needs to be successfully verified before you can use that product. In the BOM tab of the Product BOM window you define a bill of materials. The bill of materials can also be viewed in the BOM tab of the Product window.

• BOM Type - indicates if a structure is in use, has been used or may be used in the future.

  • Current Active - mandatory for the structure to be active;

  • Future - used as a future proposal;

    • Previous, Spare - used for maintaining a record history.

• BOM Use - the use of the bill of material. By default the Master BOM is used, if the alternatives are not defined.

• Explode Standard Components Only - if on document details a structure is selected, depeding on this option, when processing the document, lines will be created using the structure components:

  • Checked - only "Standard Product" type components will be expanded on documents;

  • Unchecked - all the components of a defined bill of materials for a product will be expanded on documents.

Starting with v15.02 you can copy a BOM from one product to another, using the Create lines from button:

In the Create lines from window you can indicate the source Product (Product field) and the respective BOM (BOM field). You may copy all the products or only the ones you decide to check. Both the products and their quantities will be copied. After the process is complete the quantities for the BOM components can be set to appropriate values in the BOM Component tab.

BOM Components

The BOM Component tab is used to define the components and their quantity that make up a product.

• If the products are obtained through production, in the BOM Component tab, enter the elements used to obtain the product.

• If the products come in packages (e.g. two or more product, usually commercialised together in a promotional package), in the BOM Component tab enter the products that make up the package. The products need to be of Item type and have a defined price.

The following fields are available:

• Component Type - select a type for the component from the predefined list: Standard Product, Optional Product, Alternative, Discount.

  • For an "Alternative" component you will have to select an alternative group.Alternative groups allow you to group BOM components, which are exclusive (i.e. only one is valid). Examples different engine sizes. To define new alternative groups, open the Alternative Groups tab. Another way to define them would be through the Product BOM Alternative Group window from the Product Setup menu. You may optionally restrict alternative groups to a specific product.

• Component - product that is part of the bill of materials. The component can also be a BOM product, in which case there should not be any cyclical references;

• Quantity - number of the product in its primary Unit of Measure;

• Deviation Allowed % - percent value, used for generating reports.

In order to use a BOM it must be verified. You have two options:

• at product level you can press the Verify BOM button;

• you can verify multiple BOM products (depending on the selected parameters). Run the Verify BOMs process from the Product Setup menu:

• • Product Category - only products from this category will be checked;

• Re-Validate - checks all BOM products, including those already checked;

• Check Price List - checks if components are included on all the price list versions the BOM product is included on.

Note: Starting with 15.04, in the "Product" window, the "BOM" tab will display a read only list of all the bills of materials that contain the respective product. The information displayed for each BOM includes e the name, description, component type and quantity.

BOM Explode

The BOM Explode window, located in the Material Management menu, offers the possibility to insert the structure of a list of components of a product, in a Sale Order/ Purchase Order/ Customer Invoice/ Vendor Invoice/ Project- type document. This process can be run for the Drafted documents.

• Product, Quantity - select the product and it's quantity. Products with a bill of materials should not be stockable. The components of the product quantities corresponding to the number of pieces will automatically be displayed. All quantities are editable.

• Order, Invoice or Project - select the document on which you want to generate lines;

• Press the Process button.

• A message containing the number of created lines will pop up, depending on how many components have been selected.

The lines created on the selected document will contain the quantities entered for each component.

Related Products

SocrateCloud also offers the option to link products, such that when launching an order, the user can view and select the linked products. Specifying the linked products is achieved by using the Related tab of the Product window. The related products will be visible the moment you select a product in the Related Products tab of the Info-Product window.

• Related Product Type - select from a list of predefined values: Web promotion, Alternative, Non deductible expenses, Supplemental;

• Related Product - select the product;

Notes:

• • to be displayed, the related products must be on the same price list as the main product

  • related products cannot be selected directly from the Related Products tab, Product Info window. To select them you most search for them independently;