Linking orders and Bills of Materials to projects
Associate orders and Bills of Materials with projects for better visibility.Why linking matters
Projects in Laminar become truly useful when they’re associated with the BOMs and Orders that support them. Linking these items transforms a project from a simple label into a structured operational hub.
With linking:
- Engineers know which BOM defines the build
- Procurement knows which orders belong to which initiative
- Project managers can track material flow and progress
- Teams gain visibility into dependencies and scope
- Reporting and auditing become far clearer
This guide explains how to link Orders and BOMs to a Project, when to do it, and how these links help streamline work.
Where linking happens
All linking is done directly on the BOM or Order you want to associate with the project—not on the project page itself.
This ensures each BOM or Order can choose its correct project independently.
To link a BOM
Navigate to the BOM Detail Page → Click Edit → Select Project → Save
To link an Order
Open the Order Detail Page → Click Edit → Select Project → Save
Once saved, the project appears in the item’s metadata, and the item will also be visible from the Project’s page.
Tip You can link items during creation or anytime afterward—Laminar treats both methods the same.
Linking a BOM to a Project
BOMs represent the engineering or manufacturing structure for an assembly. Linking them to a project signals that the project depends on that particular BOM.
How to link
- Open the BOM via global search or the BOMs module
- Click Edit
- Look for the Project field
- Type part of the project’s name
- Select from the dropdown
- Save your changes
The BOM is now officially associated with that project.
What happens after linking
- The project will show the linked BOM in its detail view
- Teams working on the project can quickly access its BOM
- Ordering workflows can reference the correct assembly
- Traceability improves across engineering and operations
Note A BOM can be linked to one project at a time. This keeps ownership clear.
Linking an Order to a Project
Orders represent the material flow that supports a project. Linking them ensures your procurement team knows exactly what each project requires—and when.
How to link
- Open the order
- Click Edit
- Find the Project field
- Start typing the project name
- Select the correct project
- Save
The order immediately reflects this association.
What happens after linking
- The project page shows the order once the system updates
- Team members can track what materials have been requested
- Delivered vs expected items become easier to monitor
- Audits can trace procurement decisions to project goals
Tip Always link orders as soon as they’re created—it prevents confusion and improves visibility.
Viewing linked items from the Project page
Once BOMs and Orders are linked, they appear in the Project Details view.
You’ll see sections such as:
Linked BOMs
A list of BOMs associated with the project, including:
- BOM name
- Quick navigation
- Metadata
Linked Orders
A list of all orders supporting the project, including:
- Order number
- Supplier
- Status
- Delivery progress
These sections make the project page a central source of truth.
When to link BOMs
You should link a BOM to a project when:
- A new project requires a specific assembly or sub-assembly
- Engineering finalises a prototype BOM
- A project revision introduces a new BOM
- You want predictable material breakdown for the project
- You’re preparing a production cycle and want clarity on components
Each project can have multiple BOMs if needed (for phase-specific builds, multiple assemblies, or layered structures).
When to link Orders
Link an order to a project when:
- It procures components required by the project’s BOM
- It’s a purchase made specifically for that project
- You’re sourcing materials for prototypes or R&D
- You want to build a clear procurement record
- You need traceability for reporting
This gives your team transparency into how much material and cost is flowing into each project.
Changing or removing links
You can always update a BOM or Order link:
To change
- Open the BOM/Order
- Click Edit
- Choose a different project
- Save
To remove
- Open the item
- Edit
- Clear the Project field
- Save
The item will no longer appear in the project’s linked lists.
Note Removing an association does not delete or break anything. It simply detaches the relationship.
What linking does not do (important)
Linking BOMs and Orders to projects helps with organisation and visibility, but it does not:
- Move items physically
- Duplicate BOMs or Orders
- Lock items to a specific project
- Prevent items from being reused elsewhere
- Automatically update BOM structures or quantities
- Auto-create orders from BOMs (future possibility)
The linking is intentionally lightweight and flexible.
Best practices
Link early
Link BOMs and Orders as soon as they’re created to avoid ambiguity later.
Use clear naming for projects
Short, recognisable names make linking easier and reduce mistakes.
Keep project scopes clean
Avoid linking unrelated orders or BOMs just because they seem “similar.”
Review project associations periodically
Especially for long-running initiatives or multi-phase builds.
Keep multiple BOM versions organised
When revisions occur (Rev A, Rev B, etc.), link only the version relevant to the project.
Communicate changes
If a BOM or Order is reassigned to another project, let the team know.
Common issues and solutions
“I can’t find my project in the dropdown.”
Possible reasons:
- Wrong organisation selected (check your avatar menu)
- You don’t have permission to view that project
- Typing too much—try a smaller fragment
- The project hasn’t been created yet
“The project shows no linked items.”
Refresh the page. Some associations show after a reload.
“I linked a BOM but the project page shows the wrong version.”
You may have linked an older revision—edit the BOM to update the link.
“Orders aren’t showing up under the project.”
Make sure you saved the order after linking.