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Putting Together Parts Lists

by George Martin

Start ý Phase 1ýIn the Beginning ý Phase 2ýCreating a Database ý Manipulating the Files ý Phase 3ýAn Entry-Level MRP Program ý Added Benefits ý Sources and PDF

Letýs imagine for a moment that youýve just finished watching the championship round of BattleBots and decided to get off the couch and build a robot for the next round of competition. In the back of your mind you know you should be building one for Trinity's annual Fire Fighting Home Robot Contest (and I stress "should be"), but the fame, glory, and TV hype has gotten the best of you. You have some great design and control ideas stored up in the recesses of your mind, and theyýre just begging to come out. Youýre sure that after your design is seen on TV, the orders will start rolling in. And of course, thereýs the added bonus that youýll be famous. Well, let me give you another piece of the puzzle to help you manage the astronomical growth ahead.

At some point in your career as a designer (either work or play), you are going to have to buy parts. The simplest way to get that done is to have a list of the parts you require. So this month, let me take you from a simple spreadsheet bill of material (BOM) solution to a fairly complicated manufacturing requirements planning (MRP) solution.

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