MasterControl Inc. Releases Bill of Materials (BOM) Software Solution

Jan. 28, 2008 - PRLog -- SALT LAKE CITY, UT, USA –  MasterControl Inc., a global leader in GxP process management solutions for the life sciences industry, today announced the availability of the MasterControl BOM™ (Bill of Materials) solution, an invaluable tool for medical device developers and other manufacturing companies. MasterControl BOM™ integrates the BOM with the document management system, allowing multiple revisions to be approved and used for reference while permitting all departments to have easy viewing of in-process changes.

“Every manufacturer’s production process is reliant on a Bill of Materials that can accurately identify and list the components required to produce a particular product at any given revision level. The MasterControl BOM solution incorporates security, traceability, and instantaneous electronic communication,” said Matthew M. Lowe, MasterControl product manager, medical device expert. “With MasterControl, different teams or departments can all have access to BOMs throughout the entire design process and life of the product.”

The flexible, easy-to-use MasterControl solution controls the multiple iterations of a BOM generated during the design process and enables users to exchange BOM data with suppliers, buyers, and planners. MasterControl BOM insures that all departments have an accurate, updated view of the revision levels of every component in their particular configurations. Documents defining the components are easily viewed directly from the BOM, insuring that the correct documents and revisions are used in the manufacturing process. MasterControl can also extract BOM data from PDM systems and automatically push that data through to ERP systems.

The MasterControl BOM solution is a robust software system that includes the tools necessary to simplify and standardize BOM management across departments while still retaining the document security for which MasterControl is renowned. The solution facilitates dynamic and profitable manufacturing by keeping engineering BOM data synchronized with manufacturing BOMs.

Because MasterControl is a Web-based solution, it is also a useful tool in facilitating collaboration with external parties. Users can give authorized suppliers restricted access to MasterControl BOM, allowing them to make markups to design files and associated BOMs at any point in the design process. This saves time and money by eliminating the need to implement suppliers’ modifications into reworked designs after manufacturing has commenced. MasterControl can also grant potential bidders limited access to vital documentation within the system, resulting in a wider range of potential suppliers and more competitive quotes.

Other distinctive features of the MasterControl BOM solution include:

• “Where-used” Feature: MasterControl can display exactly where a part is used across multiple BOMs, permitting users to determine the impact of a single part change and updating subsequent changes where needed. Assembly or sub-assembly “InfoCards” can be readily located in the MasterControl system so users are aware of parts under construction and sub-assemblies to which particular components belong. New “where-used” reports are created for all single parts and assemblies to show each occurrence of a given item number’s utilization. Hyperlinks within the reports connect to correlating BOMs.

• Bulk Replace: A single part used in many separate locations can be replaced simultaneously by using MasterControl to select assemblies to be updated, components to be substituted or components that require new revisions.

• PDM Connector: BOMs can be created or edited manually or through PDM interfaces like MasterControl’s PDM connectors. MasterControl can take a BOM from a PDM solution and keep all the requisite hierarchal relationships intact.

• BOM Views: MasterControl offers three unique methods of viewing BOMs:
1. The Indented (Hierarchical) View features dynamic navigation and display of all the structures and sub-structures of a BOM. The indented view also gives access to all the documentation associated with each component, including metadata.
2. In the Summarized (Flat) View each part is displayed just once in the list, allowing the user to view the total quantity of each part required in the assembly and rolled up costs.
3. Comparison View makes it possible to view the differences between any two configurations of the same BOM, showing additions, deletions and modifications.  This is particularly useful during the design process where the BOM undergoes several redlines resulting in multiple iterations.

• BOM View Actions: MasterControl also provides the capability to view files associated with any item from the BOM (CAD drawings, manufacturing procedures, inspection plans, etc.) as well as “point-in-time” views of exact BOM configurations in effect with specific revisions tied to a date. MasterControl can also add documents and non-geometric parts (packaging materials, labels, etc.) to BOMs.

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About MasterControl Inc.
MasterControl is a global leader in providing document management and GxP process solutions to life sciences companies around the world. MasterControl automates and effectively manages document control, change control, audits, corrective/preventive actions (CAPA), regulatory training, nonconformance disposition, customer complaints, and other GxP processes. For more information, visit MasterControl’s website or call 800-825-9117.

Website: www.mastercontrol.com