How should a product structure or recipe change be managed?
Record the reason, approver and effective date. Check the effect on open work orders and retain prior versions for historical reporting.
ERP Guides
Production data preparation guide
How to Prepare a Bill of Materials and Production Recipe for Use
Before using product structure and production recipe records in a plan or work order, check version, validity, item codes, quantities and operation links. This preparation guide focuses on governance and validation for correct use in production.
Six checks for a production-ready product structure
- 1
Set scope and owners
Define the product, model, production site and method covered by the record. Assign separate owners for preparation, review and change approval.
- 2
Set version and effective date
Specify by date/version which work orders use a material or quantity change. Replacing old records without history can make past plan and actual-consumption comparisons difficult.
- 3
Validate item codes, units and quantities
Verify that each component uses the correct item code, unit of measure and production-quantity basis. Where alternatives exist, state their use conditions and approval rules; similar names are not a substitute for code validation.
- 4
Relate operations and consumption points
Map the operation or production stage where material is needed, linking route and work-center information where relevant. Validate through a sample flow that material preparation and consumption recording happen at the right stage.
- 5
Document scrap and quantity assumptions
Define how differences between planned quantities and actual consumption will be tracked. Document the source and scope of scrap or yield assumptions; do not treat estimates as measured production results.
- 6
Approve with a sample work order
Before release, create a sample work order for a product, quantity and any relevant variant. Confirm with production and materials owners that expected components, quantities, operation links and valid version appear correctly.
Final checklist before release
- Are product/recipe version and effective date clear?
- Have item codes and units been verified?
- Is the production basis for quantities clear?
- Are selection rules for alternative materials defined?
- Are materials linked to the relevant operation or consumption stage?
- Have production and materials owners approved a sample work order?
Frequently asked questions
What should be considered when defining an alternative material?
Clarify technical suitability, unit of measure, applicable products/operations and selection or approval rules. Actual consumption should record the material selected.
Are the bill of materials and production route the same record?
No. A bill of materials/recipe defines product components and quantities; a route defines operation sequence and production resources. Their relationship should be consistent so the work order uses the right materials and workflow.
Should old product-structure versions be deleted?
Prior versions generally need to remain traceable to explain historical work orders and cost/consumption results. Retirement should follow the company’s recordkeeping and audit policy.