Building complex assemblies requires more than having the right capabilities and expertise on the precision machine shop floor. It’s just as important to have the right software working behind the scenes to facilitate the process. 

We recently wrote about how our advanced digital quoting software allows us to quickly turn around detailed and accurate quotes for complex assemblies. Now, let’s shift the focus to how we streamline the manufacturing of complex assemblies once we have a job. The secret is our ERP system, ProShop.

Controlling and Managing the BOM 

The key to executing complex assemblies is controlling and managing the bill of materials (BOM). You may recall that our quoting software breaks up the assembly into three categories: manufactured components, purchased components, and subassemblies. Our ERP system does the same thing.

The BOM pictured shows that items 1-7 are individual parts. Then, there are corner wheel, lockout plate, pin block, and pivot plate subassemblies. The system will take each subassembly and break it up into its own more granular BOM.

Determining Purchasing Requirements 

The ERP system will help us determine our purchasing requirements using the information from the BOM. For each purchased component, it will tell us a) the quantity we have in stock, b) the quantity we have on order, and c) the quantity already allocated to different work orders to come up with the precise quantity we need to purchase.

Creating Work Orders

The system will then create work orders for each manufactured component and subassembly in the assembly. The work order pictured depicts an aluminum 6061-T6 plate that needs to be hard anodized. No hardware is required because we aren’t yet at that point in the assembly.

When we have completed all 42 of these parts, we provide a final inspection, ship them to inventory, and move on to the next work order.

Maintaining Material Certifications 

As any aerospace manufacturer is well aware, maintaining material certifications is critical. It’s hard to imagine how difficult that would be for a complex assembly without our ERP system. 

However, fortunately, with the click of a few buttons, we can generate a list of the material certifications for every piece in the assembly—whether purchased or machined components. Pictured is an excerpt of a list that is probably hundreds of pages long.

Staying Organized to Keep Lead Times Short

While entering the information for a complex assembly into our ERP system can take a few hours, the upfront investment of time is well worth the effort. 

Manufacturing a complex assembly requires an extremely high level of organization. When precision machine shops are disorganized, the process doesn’t run smoothly, and lead times tend to be long as a result. Our ERP system helps us stay organized from beginning to end so that we can complete and deliver complex assemblies quickly.

If you’re looking for a precision machine shop that won’t no-quote your complex assembly, bring it to Focused on Machining. We’ve got the right systems in place to confidently take on your project. Request a quote today!