What is the Bill of Materials (BOM)?

The Bill of Materials (BOM) refers to a complete list of items needed to assemble a manufactured product. It serves as a crucial document in the manufacturing process, detailing every part, component, and raw material required to create a finished item. This includes descriptions, quantities, and often the relationships between the components, such as how they fit together or their assembly order.

Understanding the BOM is essential for effective production planning, inventory management, and cost estimation. The accuracy and completeness of a BOM can significantly affect the efficiency of the manufacturing process, ensuring that all necessary components are available when required, thus avoiding production delays.

While other options mention aspects of procurement and production, they do not capture the specific purpose of the BOM, which is centered around the assembly of products.