This article will show how to get the most out of your Component library. Following these recommended steps will allow you to more easily organize, track, and report on your materials and trims while also building a centralized database for all your Component information 🖥️
Step 1: Confirm Your Taxonomy and Custom Fields 👍
We'll be starting in the Admin Panel, as it's the foundation for setting up and organizing all of the key data fields you want to be able to store and track on both your product and component records. In this session we will be narrowing in on components.
Taxonomy Information
Open up Taxonomy Information. Here, your development cycle information such as Divisions, Seasons, Years that you may have already set up will also flow into your component records. These will be options attributes you can assign. Many customers manage and develop components that live across all different seasons and years so opt out of assigning these.
Component Types
Next, Component Types is going to be a key attribute in being able to accurately organize, filter and report on your components. Think of these as categories for your components. Keep them high level but broken down enough so you can easily narrow down what you are looking for. For example: Materials - Knits and Wovens. If you are just getting started, you will notice you have a good structure to start from. You can add new options using the plus icon as well as edit using the pencil.
Custom Fields
Go into the Control Panel where your Custom Fields live. As mentioned in our BB101 resources - custom fields are going to enable you to enter and track specific attributes on your Components.
Similar to product custom fields, we pre-configure all of our sites with 8 of the most commonly used component fields such as Status, Supplier, COO, MOQs and Leadtime. These are here to get you started but we recommend building on these and customizing to meet the needs of your business’ goals in relation to components.
Are you wanting to create one source of truth for all your component information?
Do you want to be able to track testing or sustainability initiatives?
As a first step, I would recommend adding Custom Field dividers to help you better organize your attributes. For example, “Testing and Sustainability” - add a divider in the top right-hand corner, select the section, “Components” and then assign the title.
Once created you can now add custom fields within your divider sections. To add a new custom field, select the plus icon in the bottom right-hand corner, select the section “Components,” assign the field to the divider “General”, then name of your field “Weight” and make the type of field a "Text" Area.
When it comes to tracking, we recommend using Dropdowns, Date Fields or Checkboxes. These will give you the most flexibility when it comes to filtering and reporting on certain attributes. Additionally you can choose to expose certain component custom fields on your BOM using the “Appears on BOM '' checkbox so Designers and Product Developers can have visibility to whether a material is compliant and tested. You may also choose to expose your Tech Pack to display to vendors using the “Public field” option.
Step 2: Set Up Component Records & Component Variants 🚧
Now that your custom fields have been set up, it's time to start setting up our component records. There are multiple places you can create components from however the Component Library is a great place to start, especially if you need to add multiple.
Component Library
This will be your main touch point for quickly querying for component information. You can search for components using name or code, sort using one of our sorting options, or leverage the filter tool to narrow down your library in a quick and efficient manner.
To create a new component you will select the plus icon in the bottom right hand corner. This will open your New Component Module where you can begin to fill in the details for your new component as follows:
Name
When it comes to naming your component it is important to assign a name in which will indicate to you and your colleagues exactly what that component is. Some users use standard descriptions including the content such as “100% Organic Cotton” where as some might use the vendor article name. It really depends on how you and your team reference your materials and trims.
Code
Typically users assign their vendor article number however if you have your own coding system you can assign that code here and add a custom field for Vendor Article Number. If no code is assigned, the system will automatically assign one for you.
Cost
A cost can be assigned as well as your unit of measure. Please note, that variant costing will be managed within the variant section of your component which we will review shortly.
Taxonomy
Taxonomy information is optional. If this component is being developed for a specific division, season, year feel free to assign it here. Component Type will be the only required taxonomy field.
Custom Fields
We will assign each attribute that applies to this component and select Save to save your record.
Once your record is created you can add your images via the components image section on the left hand side of your screen. You have an option to add via our upload tool or via the Adobe Plug in.
You may also choose to add additional files associated with your components such as testing documentation, certificates, or artwork for components like labels and trims.
Component Variants
The most important piece of our component set up. Component variants allow you manage multiple variations of the same component on one singular record ultimately allowing for a much more efficient BOM building process. These variations are things like color, size, weight, etc.
When first coming into your component variant page your page will be empty, so to begin adding variants you will select the plus icon in the bottom right hand corner, opening up your “Create & Edit Variants” Module.
Note: You may manage up to 3 variants on one component and color will always be your first default variant.
Click on “Add Swatch” and select from existing colors you created or add new swatches using the “Create Swatch” option in the top right hand corner. A custom swatch might be something like “DTM” or a custom print or you can choose to use the pantone color books instead.
Once colors are added, you then have the option to add additional custom variants, such as size, weight, finish, dye method etc. Once variants are added to create your variant matrix you will select "close" to save.
You will now see your variant matrix populate. It will list every color by every variant option. You can now start to customize your variant options with pricing, codes, statuses and even images. This information will be key to enable your BOM Costing and Tech Pack output.
Using the filter tool, you make select the combination you would like to update and define each variants property.
Lab Dips
In addition to costing, this is a great area to manage your Lab Dip or Color Approval information as these details flow into your BOM, Tech Pack and Component Utilization Reports.
Using the Code section in your variant properties, you may select a color in the filter and apply either as status such as “Approved” or get more specific such as "Lab Dip, Option C, Approved" or specific codes assigned to those approvals.
Example:
Remember, having all of the information in one singular location is the key to keeping all users and departments on the same page as well as helpful in avoiding missteps in the development process.
In addition to your approval information, you may choose to manage more detailed lab dip or development information for the fabric or trim in your feedback and revision section. Here you may add notes, changes, approval and images for reference or to even share with your vendors just as you would a Product Tech Pack.
Step 3: Add Components to your BOM 📄
Once our components are set up its time to put them into action and add them to our product record. Navigating into our Product Records “Bill of Materials" Section. Components built in the Component Library can be directly accessed through the plus icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
To begin adding:
Search for the component by name or code and it will appear to be selected. You may add all components at one time by searching each component you wish to add.
Once components are added, your BOM can be organized using the divider and 6 dot move tool on the left hand side of the component record.
Make your variant selections. This allows you to define which variation of the component should be used for each product color variant. Open your variant drawer by clicking the variant cell and you will make your selection using the filter tool.
If you have defined the QTY/Yield information, costing will appear per colorway at the bottom of the BOM. Additionally, any custom fields marked to "Appear in my BOM" will appear as a column with the information that is selected on the component record.
Step 4: Create a Component Item View 🔭
Starting with the Component Item View, you will navigate to the Item View module in your global dashboard, and then to shift into building reports for your components select the component tab at the top.
Item Views will allow you to pull all of your component summary information into a spreadsheet format.
To build a view you will select the “+ View” icon which will bring you into the set up page where you will define the attributes for your report.
As an example, you can create an “All Fabrics” report to gather all the fabrics currently set up in the library.
To do this, select the first attribute of “Component Type” and select “Fabric” this will enable the report to grab every component defined as a “Fabric- Knit or Woven.”
If you want a running list of all components you might choose to create an all component report by selecting all component type here.
If you want a more focused report you might choose to add additional attributes such as Supplier or certain sustainability or testing initiatives.
Once you're done hit Generate view and see the report created. This will first display component name and code. However, you can further build my report using the display options. This will open a drawer with all custom fields to create the report based on the fields you want to view.
This is a fantastic place to manage, update and track your component information. The best part about the item view is that by defining attributes here, the report will always remain up to date. There's no need to rerun every time you update or add a new component. Components will flow in and out of the report based on the criteria of the report. These cells are also dynamically connected to your component records, so just update from this view and have the change reflected in the Component Summary, as well as anywhere else the component is being used (BOMS and Component Utilization Reports.)
It's also a great place to see gaps in your information, evaluate suppliers, summarize testing status and sustainability initiatives. You may sort, filter and export all this information within the report.
Step 5: Run a Component Utilization Report 🏃
Open up the Component Utilization module in your global dashboard, this will be where you can gather and report on which components are being used and where they are being used for any given product season, category, division, etc.
Just like our Item Views, these reports are built using a dynamic configuration method. Taking the attributes you define for the report and pulling in every product or component that matches those defined attributes. These reports also continue to update based on the defined attributes so if you create a report at the beginning of your season for example, as you build your BOMs, information will continuously flow in and update.
To create a new report you will select the + icon in the top right hand corner of the screen and begin defining the criteria for the report.
For example: Say you'd like to run this for all components being used in Fall/Winter 2023 Products
Add the name “Fall/Winter 2023 Component Utilization.” Add component criteria, selecting ALL. Shift down to Product Attributes to define product season and year.
This report will be generated and organized by Component. Underneath you will find product and product colorway it is being used on, as well as the component variant selection for that product color way.
If Qty/Yield and Costing has been defined, your Qty/Cost will be calculated as well.
You may also choose to add in additional custom field information for reference using your “Display” menu. This will open up your custom fields for not only your components, but products and BOM as well. To turn on these fields, simply make your selections and hit apply.
Once the report is set up for your view needs, this can be used for a lot of different purposes. If your team is responsible for ordering materials, this report can be exported to gather total consumption and used to place orders with vendors. It can be used as a resource to understand where BOM work has not yet been completed or where there are potential errors or changes needed. And It can also be used for identifying areas of opportunity to combine certain components to meet minimum, avoid surcharges and bring down costing.
Depending on your business goals, this is a very powerful tool throughout the development process.