Many ERP and PLM systems use multiple columns to indicate the "level" in the products or materials. This can be used to directly import data from your internal systems in a consistent way to make it easier to do updates over time and add new data.

First, you will need to take a look at your existing data and determine which columns belong to which levels in the hierarchy. For example, take this product BOM below:

This is the list of parts included in a chair. However, the material is actually a sub-component the hierarchy of this BOM. So the column for Part Name, Description, Qty, Unit Weight and Unit of Measure belongs in the product's level 1 rows. The Material and the Material % by Weight belong in the product's level 2 rows because they make up the existing parts.

Look at your own BOM. Which fields should be a Level 1 in the product or material? Which should be a Level 2?

Next, you can tell 3E Exchange how to accept that hierarchy. When you import your BOM, you will be asked if the BOM has hierarchy represented. Then you can tell 3E Exchange that the BOM has hierarchy without level columns, like below.

Then you can tell 3E Exchange which columns belong to which levels in the hierarchy. For this particular BOM, we know that the part-related fields (Part Name, Description, Qty, Unit Weight and Unit of Measure) are Level 1 data fields and the material-related fields are Level 2 data (Material and the Material % by Weight). For this example, we will use the fields below. 3E Exchange also summarizes how those new fields will flow in at the top of the settings like below.

Once that data is added to 3E Exchange, you can then view your appropriate hierarchy in the BOM.

This is an example of a BOM that includes multiple CAS numbers for a single material component.

Getting Help

If you have questions about using 3E Exchange or the material covered in this help article, reach out in chat in the bottom right-hand corner or email support@3eco.com.