VIDEO: OpenBOM Data Model Explained

Oleg Shilovitsky
Oleg Shilovitsky
20 August, 2020 | 2 min for reading
VIDEO: OpenBOM Data Model Explained

Flexibility is the key to efficient product data management. Therefore at OpenBOM, we developed the most robust and flexible data model to support product information. Watch the video to learn more about OpenBOM data model

 In this video, I explain 2 fundamental elements of OpenBOM: 

– Items 

– Bill of Materials. 

An item can be anything – screw finished product or even labor. OpenBOM allows you to create a classification of items using a catalog mechanism. Attributes of them items are completely flexible – you can add any property and by doing so to create any semantics for an item – part number, description, cost, manufacturer name, supplier, etc. 

Bill of Materials allows you to create an actual product definition. Once you create a bill of materials you can insert an item from a catalog. An instance of the item can be extended by instance-level properties. Again, you can add any number of instance-level properties – eg. Quantity, Reference Designator, Calculated cost, etc. 

Check out more in our OpenBOM Training Library – Understand OpenBOM

Conclusion 

OpenBOM provides a very flexible and robust data model capable to create a full reference-instance product structure of the product. The main two elements of OpenBOM data model – a catalog and BOM allows to create a database of items and instantiate it in the different product structure. OpenBOM is a full SaaS application. You can register and try to create a product structure using OpenBOM just in few clicks.  Check what OpenBOM can do for you today, by starting a free 14-days trial using a one-click registration.

Best, Oleg @ openbom dot com.

Want to learn more about PLM? Check out my Beyond PLM blog and PLM Book website

Read OpenBOM customer reviews on G2 Crowd to learn what customers are saying about OpenBOM. 

Related Posts

Also on OpenBOM

4 6
29 October, 2026

Other starting points Your BOM already exists. It is in a spreadsheet, and your design is in CAD. Typing it...

28 October, 2026

In a spreadsheet, the same part shows up again and again. It is a row in this BOM, a row...

28 October, 2026

Reading about a BOM tool only tells you so much. The real question is whether it works with your parts,...

27 October, 2026

Where does your bill of materials live? For many teams, the honest answer is “everywhere.” Part of it is in...

27 October, 2026

Why your files show as “outside mapped folders” File versions and revisions serve different purposes Design files rarely stay in...

27 October, 2026

I’m excited to be at Oracle AI World 2026 in Las Vegas. At Oracle AI World 2026, OpenBOM and Trinamix...

23 October, 2026

“I don’t think we need onboarding. We just have a few technical questions.” We sometimes hear this from customers getting...

22 October, 2026

What is product data management at the record level? Keep item identity, BOM quantity, and revision distinct so purchasing uses...

21 October, 2026

“Can we support 10 units by November 8?” Picture that question coming up in a planning, production or even sales...

To the top