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Multilevel BoMs

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A multilevel bill of materials (BoM) nests one BoM inside another, so an Odoo Manufacturing BoM for a finished product can include sub-assemblies that are manufactured products in their own right. It suits businesses building complex products where components are reused across several finished items.

What multilevel BoMs do

Instead of listing hundreds of small parts on one BoM, a sublevel BoM groups them into a sub-assembly, which then appears as a single component on a higher-level BoM. This improves traceability and lets the same sub-assembly be reused on multiple finished products. Replenishment planning is important here: a manufacturing order needs every component available before it can be completed, and its Component Status shows this.

How to create a multilevel BoM

  1. Build BoMs from the bottom up: start with the lowest-level component BoMs first.
  2. For example, a printed circuit board (PCB) used in a keyboard can have its own BoM listing its transistors, resistors and other small parts.
  1. Once sublevel products are configured, create the top-level product in Manufacturing app > Products > Products.
  2. On the product form, click the Bill of Materials smart button, then New, and add the sublevel products plus any other components.

Managing production planning

Complex BoMs are for products with manufactured components; if a BoM is only used to bundle sellable products, use a kit instead. To trigger manufacturing orders for sublevel products automatically once the main product’s order is confirmed, choose one of two approaches:

  • Reordering rules (recommended): set both minimum and maximum stock to 0 for sublevel products. This is more flexible, since stock is not tied to one specific sales order and can be reassigned if that order is cancelled.
  • Replenish on Order (MTO) and Manufacture routes: set on the sublevel product’s Inventory tab. This links the sublevel product directly to the confirmed top-level order, which suits businesses that need strict order-level tracking.

With either method, sublevel products must be fully manufactured before the top-level manufacturing order can begin.

Other setup to consider

  • Enter opening stock quantities for components, sub-assemblies and the finished product via each product’s On Hand smart button.
  • Set vendor lead times for purchased components and manufacturing lead times for products built from a BoM, so Odoo can schedule production and procurement accurately.
  • Decide on one, two or three-step manufacturing, whether work centres are needed, and whether a master production schedule should be used for planned demand.

Frequently asked questions

When should I use a multilevel BoM instead of a kit?

Use a multilevel BoM when a component itself needs to be manufactured. If a BoM is only used to bundle sellable products, use a kit instead.

Which reordering approach is recommended for sublevel products?

Reordering rules with both minimum and maximum stock set to 0 (a 0/0 rule), since this is more flexible than the Replenish on Order (MTO) route.

Do sublevel products need to be finished before the top-level product starts?

Yes, with either replenishment method the sublevel products must be fully manufactured before the top-level manufacturing order can begin.

Need help?

Need help configuring multilevel BoMs in Odoo Manufacturing? Contact support@thoughtlogik.com or see our Odoo implementation services.

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