Creating a Bill of Materials

Build a Bill of Materials by adding components, quantities, and notes.

Why BOMs matter

A Bill of Materials (BOM) represents the full breakdown of components needed to build a part, assembly, sub-assembly, or final product. In Laminar, BOMs act as the connective layer between:

  • Components
  • Suppliers
  • Projects
  • Products
  • Orders

Creating a clear and well-structured BOM ensures accuracy during manufacturing, purchasing, planning, and costing. A clean BOM also helps your team avoid errors such as missing parts, incorrect quantities, or outdated component references.

Where BOM creation begins

The quickest way to create a BOM is through the New menu in the top bar.

  1. Click New in the top bar.
  2. A grid of creation shortcuts appears.
  3. Select BOM.

Laminar opens the BOM creation screen at:

/boms/create

You can trigger this from anywhere—Components, Orders, Suppliers—without navigating through the sidebar.

Tip Always use the New menu for consistency. It ensures you stay within your workflow without unnecessary back-tracking.

Understanding the BOM creation page

The BOM creation form has two major sections:

  1. Basic Information
  2. Items Table (Components + quantities)

Some setups may also include optional fields like attachments or descriptions, but the core experience is always consistent.

Basic Information

This section defines the identity of your BOM.

Name

Required. Enter a clear name like:

  • “Control Unit Assembly – Rev A”
  • “Battery Module – V2”
  • “Prototype PCB BOM – 2025”

Choose names that your organisation will understand at a glance.

Description (Optional)

Use this to add context such as:

  • Purpose of the BOM
  • Revision notes
  • Assembly instructions
  • Special considerations

Descriptions help downstream users understand the BOM’s intention.

Tip If your teams work across multiple projects, include project codes or version identifiers in the name or description.

Adding items to the BOM

Items represent the components used in your assembly. Each item includes:

  • Component (selected from your component library)
  • Quantity
  • Optional metadata depending on your setup

To add an item:

  1. Click Add Item (or the + button).
  2. Select a component from the dropdown.
  3. Enter the required quantity.

The component list is populated from your organisation’s Components module. If the part doesn’t exist yet, click New → Component in the top bar to create it first.

Component selection

Typing in the component field filters the available list. You can search by:

  • Name
  • Material
  • SKU
  • Keywords

Choose the most accurate component. Selecting the wrong one can affect orders and future costing.

Quantity

Required. Enter how many of that component are needed for the assembly.

Examples:

  • Bolts (x4)
  • PCB board (x1)
  • Connectors (x2)

Decimal quantities work if your process uses fractional units.

Adding multiple items

You can add as many items as needed. Every new row follows the same pattern:

  1. Pick a component
  2. Enter quantity

The list grows into a full BOM structure. You can scroll or reorder items depending on layout, though order does not affect functionality.

Note If your BOM includes alternatives or optional items, represent them in separate rows and clarify in the description if needed.

Editing or removing items

You can modify any row before saving:

To edit

  • Change the component selection
  • Update the quantity

To remove

Click the remove/delete icon at the end of the row. Removing a row never deletes a component—it just removes it from this BOM.

Saving the new BOM

When your item list and basic details are ready:

  1. Click Save
  2. Laminar creates the BOM
  3. You are redirected to the BOM’s detail page

From here you can:

  • Review the structure
  • Add or edit items
  • Attach documents (if supported)
  • Link the BOM to projects or products
  • Track uses in orders (future functionality)

Your new BOM becomes instantly usable across the system.

What happens after creation

Once created:

  • The BOM appears in the BOMs list
  • It becomes searchable through global search
  • It can be linked to Projects
  • It can be referenced in Orders
  • Team members can view or edit it depending on permissions

The BOM becomes part of your organisation’s structured manufacturing data.

Avoiding duplicates

BOM duplication is common when teams don’t verify existing BOMs first.

Before creating a new BOM:

  1. Use global search to check for similar assemblies
  2. Confirm BOM versions (Rev A, Rev B, etc.)
  3. Look for earlier prototypes
  4. Check the Projects or Products module for existing associations

Avoiding duplicates helps maintain clarity when referencing BOMs in orders or costing.

When to create a new BOM

Create a new BOM when:

  • Starting a new assembly or sub-assembly
  • A product revision requires updated components
  • Project requirements change
  • You’re creating a prototype that differs materially from production
  • You want to maintain versioned BOMs (“Rev A”, “Rev B”)

Clear versioning prevents historical confusion.

Editing a BOM after creation

Editing a BOM is straightforward:

  1. Open the BOM detail page
  2. Click Edit
  3. Add, remove, or update items
  4. Save changes

Editing is safe—historical references remain consistent, and no downstream documents are broken.

Note Editing a BOM does not affect orders already placed. Those retain their historical details.

Best practices

  • Use clear names for BOMs—include version or revision if relevant
  • Keep descriptions short but informative
  • Always search first to avoid duplicates
  • Break complex assemblies into sub-assemblies for clarity
  • Add items in a logical grouping (fasteners together, electronics together, etc.)
  • Keep quantities accurate—small errors can create big downstream issues
  • Update BOMs whenever component specs change

Following these habits improves traceability and prevents order errors.

Troubleshooting

“I don’t see BOM in the New menu.”

Your role may not permit BOM creation. Contact your admin.

“I can’t find the component I need.”

It may not exist yet. Create it using New → Component.

“My BOM didn’t save.”

Check for required fields (Name and at least one item).

“I added a component but can’t find it in the list anymore.”

You may have selected the wrong organisation—check via the avatar menu.

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