Production Basics · 5 min read
What Is a Bill of Materials (BOM)? A Simple Guide for Makers
Short answer
A bill of materials (BOM) is the list of every part, raw material and quantity needed to make one unit of a product. It is the foundation for product cost, stock planning and production runs.
BOM in one sentence
A BOM is a recipe for your product: what goes in, and how much of it.
What a BOM contains
Each line of a BOM typically holds:
- Component or material name
- Quantity per unit (pieces, meters, kilograms, hours)
- Unit price
- Optional: storage location and supplier
Why it matters for small workshops
With a BOM you can tell how many products you can build from current stock, what to reorder before a big order, and what each unit really costs.
Start product-first
You do not need a full inventory before you begin. In robeen you can type a product name and its parts, and fill in prices and stock later.
FAQ
Can labor and energy be part of a BOM?
Yes. Treating labor hours and kWh as BOM lines is the easiest way to include them in product cost.
Is a spreadsheet enough for a BOM?
For one product, yes. Once products share parts, a dedicated tool avoids errors and keeps stock in sync.
Track product cost, BOM and stock automatically with robeen.
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