BOM Management for China Electronics Sourcing
1 resources tagged with "Bom"
A clean bill of materials (BOM) is the difference between a fast quote and weeks of back-and-forth with a Chinese contract manufacturer. The required columns are reference designator, manufacturer part number (MPN), value/spec, footprint, and lifecycle status — generic specs alone invite substitution. An approved vendor list (AVL) strategy with named alternates protects you when a Chinese distributor can't source the exact MPN.
Managing a BOM for China sourcing means specifying MPN, not just '10k 0402 resistor', and verifying every line against a distributor like LCSC or Digi-Key for stock and lifecycle. The common pitfall is letting the factory choose 'equivalent' parts silently, which breaks certified designs.
Wiki (1)
FAQ
MPN or generic spec — what should I put on the BOM?
Use the exact MPN for ICs, connectors, crystals, and anything that affects compliance; generic specs are acceptable for jellybean passives, but list an approved alternate so the factory does not substitute blindly.
How do I stop a Chinese factory from swapping parts?
Maintain an AVL with explicitly approved alternates, mark critical parts 'no substitution', and require written change requests. Then verify the actual parts on the first article.
Why does lifecycle status belong on the BOM?
An EOL or NRND part can pass the first build and then go unavailable mid-production. Flagging lifecycle early lets you design in a replacement before it becomes an emergency.
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