inventree-docs/docs/build/bom.md

---
title: Bill of Materials
---

## Bill of Materials

A Bill of Materials (BOM) defines the list of component parts required to make an assembly, [create builds](./build.md) and allocate inventory.

A part which can be built from other sub components is called an *Assembly*. 

## BOM Line Items

A BOM for a particular assembly is comprised of a number (zero or more) of BOM "Line Items", each of which has the following properties:

| Property | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Part | A reference to another *Part* object which is required to build this assembly |
| Quantity | The quantity of *Part* required for the assembly |
| Reference | Optional reference field to describe the BOM Line Item, e.g. part designator |
| Overage | Estimated losses for a build. Can be expressed as absolute values (e.g. 1, 7, etc) or as a percentage (e.g. 2%) |
| Inherited | A boolean field which indicates whether this BOM Line Item will be "inherited" by BOMs for parts which are a variant (or sub-variant) of the part for which this BOM is defined. |
| Optional | A boolean field which indicates if this BOM Line Item is "optional" |
| Note | Optional note field for additional information

!!! missing "Overage"
    While the overage field exists, it is currently non-functional and has no effect on BOM operation

!!! missing "Optional"
    The Optional field is currently for indication only - it does not serve a functional purpose (yet)

### Inherited BOM Line Items

When using the InvenTree [template / variant](../part/template.md) feature, it may be useful to make use of the *inheritance* capability of BOM Line Items.

If a BOM Line Item is designed as *Inherited*, it will be automatically included in the BOM of any part which is a variant (or sub-variant) of the part for which the BOM Line Item is defined.

This is particulary useful if a template part is defined with the "common" BOM items which exist for all variants of that template.

Consider the example diagram below:

{% with id="inherited_bom", url="build/inherited_bom.png", description="Inherited BOM Line Items" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

**Template Part A** has two BOM line items defined: *A1* and *A2*.

- *A1* is inherited by all variant parts underneath *Template Part A*
- *A2* is not inherited, and is only included in the BOM for *Template Part A*

**Variant B** has two line items:

- *A1* is inherited from parent part *A*
- *B1* is defined for part *B* (and is also defined as an inherited BOM Line Item)

**Variant C**

- *A1* inherited from *A*
- *C1* defined for *C*

**Variant D**

- *A1* inherited from *A*
- *B1* inherited from *B*
- *D1* defined for *D*

**Variant E**

- Well, you get the idea.

Note that inherited BOM Line Items only flow "downwards" in the variant inheritance chain. Parts which are higher up the variant chain cannot inherit BOM items from child parts.

!!! info "Editing Inherited Items"
    When editing an inherited BOM Line Item for a template part, the changes are automatically reflected in the BOM of any variant parts.

## BOM Creation

BOMs can be created manually, by adjusting individual line items, or by upload an existing BOM file.

### Add BOM Item

To manually add a BOM item, navigate to the part/assembly detail page then click on the "BOM" tab. On top of the tab view, click on the <span class='fas fa-edit'></span> icon then, after the page reloads, click on the <span class='fas fa-plus-circle'></span> icon.

The `Create BOM Item` form will be displayed:
{% with id="bom_add_item", url="build/bom_add_item.png", description="Create BOM Item Form" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

Fill-out the `Quantity` (required), `Reference`, `Overage` and `Note` (optional) fields then click on <span class="badge inventree confirm">Submit</span> to add the BOM item to this part's BOM.

### Add Substitute for BOM Item

To manually add a substitute for a BOM item, click on the <span class='fas fa-exchange-alt'></span> icon in the *Actions* columns.

The `Edit BOM Item Substitutes` form will be displayed:
{% with id="bom_substitute_item", url="build/bom_substitute_item.png", description="Edit BOM Item Substitutes" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

Select a part in the list and click on "Add Substitute" button to confirm.


### Validate BOM

After [adding BOM items manually](#add-bom-item) or [uploading a BOM file](./bom_import.md), you should see the following view:
{% with id="bom_invalid", url="build/bom_invalid.png", description="Invalid BOM View" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

The first message in the red box `The BOM for PCBA TEST has changed, and must be validated.` points out that InvenTree BOM needs to be "validated". BOM validation is a way to ensure a BOM does not have duplicate items/parts.

To process with BOM validation, click on the <span class='fas fa-clipboard-check'></span> icon and the `Validate BOM` form will be displayed. Click one the "Validate" switch then click on <span class="badge inventree confirm">Submit</span>

{% with id="bom_valid", url="build/bom_valid.png", description="Valid BOM View" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

## Multi Level BOMs

Multi-level (hierarchical) BOMs are natively supported by InvenTree. A Bill of Materials (BOM) can contain sub-assemblies which themselves have a defined BOM. This can continue for an unlimted number of levels.

When viewing a BOM table, sub-assemblies are not loaded by default, but can be loaded "on demand" by pressing the <span class='fas fa-sync-alt'></span> icon associated with the particular subassembly:

{% with id="bom_flat", url="build/bom_flat.png", description="Flat BOM Table" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}

{% with id="bom_expanded", url="build/bom_expanded.png", description="Expanded BOM Table" %}
{% include 'img.html' %}
{% endwith %}