5 Practical Ways to Reduce BOM Costs : Ideas for engineering and business leaders to profitable products

5 Practical Ways to Reduce BOM Costs : Ideas for engineering and business leaders to profitable products

Reducing the BOM (Bill of Materials) cost of electronic hardware products involves two key components: procurement optimization and design optimization. While procurement optimization focuses on finding the best suppliers and negotiating prices, design optimization involves making strategic choices during the product development phase. In this post, we’ll be delving into the world of design optimization and exploring the various strategies you can use to cut BOM costs without sacrificing quality or performance.

 

( 1 ) BOM cost audit

 

A BOM cost audit is a critical step in reducing the cost of electronic hardware products. It involves analyzing the bill of materials (BOM) for the product and identifying opportunities for cost savings. By conducting a BOM cost audit, you can gain insights into which components contribute the most to the overall cost, and determine whether there are cheaper alternatives available.

 

Moreover the 80/20 rule is more or less applicable to BOM cost audit. It means a low percentage of the components contribute to 80% of the cost, you can target these components for optimization. Often, ICs, connectors, protection components, crystals, and PCBs make up the bulk of the BOM cost.

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Through the BOM cost audit, you can explore different component options and analyze the potential impact on the product’s performance and quality. This can lead to significant cost savings while ensuring that the product meets the required standards and specifications.

 

In conclusion, conducting a BOM cost audit is a valuable exercise for any company looking to reduce costs and optimize their product’s performance. It is an essential step in the product development process, and can help to identify areas where changes can be made without compromising quality or performance.

 

( 2 ) Exploring different architectures

 

Exploring different architectures is an essential step in optimizing the Bill of Materials (BOM) cost for a product. Different architectures can offer various advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, functionality, and performance. By exploring different architectures, designers can identify the most cost-effective solutions that meet the product’s requirements.

 

For example, some architectures may require fewer components or less complex manufacturing processes, leading to lower BOM costs. Other architectures may offer more flexibility in component selection, allowing designers to choose lower-cost alternatives without sacrificing performance or quality.

 

Exploring different architectures can also lead to innovative solutions that can differentiate the product from its competitors, ultimately increasing its value proposition. While exploring different architectures can be time-consuming, the potential benefits in terms of cost savings and product differentiation make it an important step in optimizing the BOM cost.

 

( 3 ) Features audit

 

Features audits are a crucial step in optimizing the Bill of Materials (BOM) cost for a product. One of the most effective ways to optimize BOM cost is to remove features that do not contribute to the end customer’s value add. By conducting a feature audit, designers can identify the product features that are not essential or do not provide significant value to the end customer.

 

Removing such features can lead to cost savings, as each feature adds cost to the BOM. Additionally, removing non-essential features can simplify the manufacturing process and reduce the risk of defects, ultimately improving product reliability and customer satisfaction.

 

However, it is crucial to conduct a thorough analysis to ensure that the removed features do not adversely affect the product’s performance or quality. Designers must carefully consider the impact of each feature on the product’s functionality, customer needs, and market positioning before making any changes.

 

In conclusion, a feature audit is a critical step in optimizing the BOM cost while ensuring that the product meets the customer’s needs and expectations. By removing non-essential features, designers can simplify the manufacturing process, reduce costs, and improve the product’s overall value proposition.

 

( 4 ) Build common inventory across different products

 

As companies strive to optimize their product costs, building a common inventory across different products can be a game-changer. By using common components across different products, designers can benefit from economies of scale and reduce the number of unique parts, leading to significant cost savings.

 

One of the key benefits of a common inventory is the increased purchasing power it provides. By consolidating purchases, companies can negotiate better prices with suppliers and reduce logistics costs. This, in turn, can lead to lower BOM costs and higher profit margins.

 

Furthermore, building a common inventory can simplify the manufacturing process, reduce lead times, and improve overall product quality. By standardizing components, companies can streamline production and reduce the risk of errors, ultimately leading to greater customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

 

In conclusion, building a common inventory is a cost-effective way to optimize the BOM (Bill of Materials) cost while realizing the benefits of economies of scale. By consolidating purchases, simplifying the manufacturing process, and reducing the risk of obsolescence, companies can improve their profitability and competitiveness.

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( 5 ) Design for manufacturability (DFM)

 

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) is a critical aspect of BOM cost optimization. By designing products that are easy to manufacture, companies can reduce production costs, improve product quality, and realize the benefits of economies of scale.

 

One of the primary benefits of DFM is the reduction of manufacturing time and labor costs. By designing products that require fewer steps to assemble, companies can minimize the amount of time and labor required, resulting in faster production times and lower production costs. Additionally, DFM can help companies reduce waste and optimize their production processes, further reducing costs.

 

Another benefit of DFM is the improvement of product quality. By designing products that are easy to assemble, companies can reduce the risk of errors and defects, resulting in higher product quality and greater customer satisfaction. DFM can also help companies reduce the risk of product failures and recalls, protecting their brand reputation and reducing the cost of product redesign.

 

In conclusion, DFM is a critical aspect of BOM (Bill of Materials) cost optimization that offers numerous benefits, including reduced production costs, improved product quality, and the realization of economies of scale. By designing products with manufacturing in mind, companies can improve their profitability and competitiveness, while also delivering high-quality products that meet customer needs and expectations.

About the Author

Siddharth

Siddharth is the Founder of the company and is Director of Product Engineering. Siddharth has more than 15 years of experience in Embedded Product Engineering and his expertise covers complete product design cycle right from feasibility analysis, system architecture, design to volume production.

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