We actually use Excel (which I admit is FAR from the ideal tool), reason is we make semiconductors not boards.............so it is very easy. For the reference designs which are somewhat complex PCB's I get them designed at an outside design / contract assembly house so they give the BOM back to me......... John Burke (408) 515 4992 -----Original Message----- From: Robert Kondner [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 4:07 PM To: 'TechNet E-Mail Forum'; 'John Burke' Subject: RE: [TN] MRP systems At AAPCB there are hundreds of jobs from different customers built every month. Almost everything comes in as Excel. I can not tell you how bad Excel BOMs are. The really good BOMs have maybe 90% right, the very best 95%. And that excludes any purchasing info. But even 2% errors and 250 parts is 5 part questions that go back and forth with the customer. It takes more time that the remaining issues and causes delays. Using Excel to manage BOMs is a hack but it is all most engineers have. Bob Kondner -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Burke Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 7:00 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] MRP systems That comment about "does not break the bank" would prompt the CFO to comment that Excel is working fine...........8-) John Burke (408) 515 4992 -----Original Message----- From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Barbara Burcham Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 3:04 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [TN] MRP systems Hi TechNetters, Who, out there, is using a Material Management System that they love, that is working great, and does not break the bank? I am looking for a way to manage and keep track of all the revisions interations that products go through, from prototyping, into production, and then on into all possible revisions. Something that will work for software and hardware products, components, stock room, purchasing, accounting...everyone that touches materials. I just know that this group has some inside knowledge about what works and what does not work. Oh yeah, did I mention that the tools must be current and have ongoing updates? Thanks, Barbara Barbara Burcham, C.I.D. *pcb* Trace Design 1022 Plantation Drive Richmond, TX 77406 [log in to unmask] 281-341-7539 713-249-7718 Cell --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 ----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0 To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL) To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815 -----------------------------------------------------