Understanding Bill of Material (BOM)
If you are in the garment manufacturing business, you probably have heard of BOM. But what exactly is a BOM, and why is it important for your production process? In this blog post, we will explain what a BOM is, what it contains, how to create one, and how it can help you improve your efficiency and profitability.
What is a BOM?
BOM stands for Bill of Material. It is a document that lists all the raw materials, components, and quantities required to make a finished garment. It is like a recipe and a shopping list for your production. A BOM helps you plan, source, and manage your materials effectively and accurately.
A BOM is usually prepared by a production or factory merchandiser after receiving the order details from the buyer. The BOM is then approved by the responsible person from the factory owner and handed over to the purchasing department to start sourcing the materials. The production department also uses the BOM to monitor and control material consumption and wastage.
What does a BOM contain?
A BOM contains various information about the materials and components of a garment, such as:
The name and description of each material or component
The quantity and unit of measurement of each material or component
The consumption rate of each material or component per garment
The supplier name and contact details of each material or component
The projected cost and total cost of each material or component
The quality and specification of each material or component
The colour name or code of each material or component
The product code or style number of each material or component
The size or length of each material or component
Example of a BOM
A BOM can be presented in different formats, such as a table, a spreadsheet, or a diagram. Here is an example of a BOM for a pair of jeans:
An example BOM
This is an example of a BOM for a pair of jeans. As you can see, a BOM contains all the information you need to source, produce, and cost your products.
How to create a BOM
Creating a BOM can be challenging and time-consuming, but it is essential for your production process. Here are some steps and tips on how to create a BOM:
Start with your design: You should have a clear and detailed product design, including sketches, drawings, tech packs, or spec sheets. You should also have a sample or prototype of your product to test and verify your design.
Break down your product: You should identify and list all the materials and components that make up your product, such as the fabrics, trims, threads, labels, tags, etc. You should also measure and calculate the quantity and consumption of each material or component per product.
Find your suppliers: You should research and select the best suppliers and manufacturers for your materials and components based on their prices, qualities, quantities, lead times, and reputations. You should also contact them and request quotations, samples, or catalogues of their products.
Fill in your BOM: You should fill in your BOM with all the information you have gathered from your design, breakdown, and sourcing. You should also check and verify the accuracy and completeness of your BOM before finalizing it.
How a BOM can help you
A BOM can help you improve your efficiency and profitability in many ways, such as:
It can help you plan and manage your production process more effectively and efficiently. You can use your BOM to estimate the time, cost, and resources needed for your production. You can also use your BOM to track and control the material flow and inventory throughout your production.
It can help you reduce errors and wastage in your production process. You can use your BOM to ensure you have the right materials and components in the right quantities and qualities for your production. You can also use your BOM to avoid over-ordering or under-ordering materials and components that may result in delays or losses.
It can help you improve the quality and consistency of your products. You can use your BOM to ensure that you follow the standards and specifications of your design in your production. You can also use your BOM to monitor and maintain the quality and performance of your products throughout their lifecycle.
If you need help creating or managing a BOM for your clothing line, you can always rely on Sun Glory (HK) Enterprise. We are a garment manufacturing company based in Hong Kong. We specialize in making OEM orders for fashion brands. We can assist you with creating or managing a BOM for your products.
Partnering with Sun Glory for Your Production Need
We have over 40 years of experience in the garment industry. We have a professional team of designers, technicians, quality controllers, and workers who can handle any customization and specification. We use high-quality fabrics and materials from China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Europe.
We offer competitive prices and fast delivery. We have a minimum order quantity (MOQ) of 100 pieces per style per colour. We can provide free samples upon request. We accept T/T or L/C as payment methods. We ship worldwide by sea or air.
You can contact us through our website here. We hope you learned something new from this blog post about what a BOM is. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!