BOM: Product Cost? What can SolidWorks Do?

[dmc456]

I'm working on a new product with ~250 pieces. Can the solidworks BOM or assembly tree be used to generate a working product cost. Basically, can I use my design tree (BOM) and add property information like supplier, price, etc... to do product cost analysis?

 

[PDMAdmin]

You could export the parts list to an Excel file, then use Excel to add up all the costs. It's a roundabout way to do it, I admit...

 

[dmc456]

How do you export the BOM. Is it done in assembly mode? I have went throug the help files and it talks all about the features, but doesn't tell where or how to export the BOM.

Can you add the pricing information ect to each part in solid work FILE: PROPERTIES: CUSTOM

Then I could just run a macro in excel to do the analysis or basic summary each time I made pricing or model / BOM changes?

Let me know if this is an easy and feasible way to do this.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

You can assign any type of information to a part or assy using the Custom Properties (both Custom & Configuration Specific).

To 'export" the BOM, first select (highlight) it, then do a Save As. The format can be CSV, TXT or XLS. (if it's an Excel BOM)




Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091

 

[rockguy]

The SW BOM can do equations and add up the costs for you. You don't have to export to Excel.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
President: Northern
Vermont SolidWorks User Group

http://www.robrodriguez.com

(updated 1/30/06)
SW 2006 SP 3.0

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

How do you export the BOM. Is it done in assembly mode?

It is done from the drawing where the BOM resides.

But as rockguy pointed out you can use equations right in the BOM. Depends what version of SW & which BOM (Excel or SW) you are using.


Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091

 

[dmc456]

Thanks for the help.

It seem like you should be able to generate this information in the top level assembly (not in drawing mode), but either way works.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Len Kikstra has a AssemblyBOM macro available at his site. It can be run at the assy model stage & you may be able to use or adapt it to suit your needs.

I have used it but have found that the drawing BOM method to be more user friendly & more powerful.

http://webpages.charter.net/mkikstra/SolidWorks.html

Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091

 

[ScottHeiden]

We're doing this with an add-in program called PropertyLinks written by our Solidworks reseller, Javelin:

http://www.javelin-tech.com/main/download/javware.htm

We initially had problems with the 'configuration specific' values not showing up in the feature manager - it happened because Windows was set to 'Hide Extensions For Known File Types'( see thread559-145544 ).

You'll have to enter the specific properties for each item and create a custom BOM showing the properties you need. Once that's done, you just pick the custom BOM and the assembly drawing to measure and you've got a working product cost. It can also update itself automatically if you make any changes to your assembly (like a different part supplier).

We export the BOM info for quoting and inventory control with Simply Accounting.

Scott Heiden