BOMlike

BOMlike is a data model and software approach for representing the relationships among components that constitute a product, extending traditional bill of materials (BOM) concepts to address modern configuration needs and dynamic supply chains. Rather than treating a product as a fixed, single-tree BOM, BOMlike often employs a graph-based representation that can capture multiple BOMs, variants, substitutions, and complex subassemblies.

Core features of BOMlike include: a node-centric data model where nodes represent parts, assemblies, or resources, with attributes such as part number, quantity, unit, cost, lead time, supplier, and revision; and edges that define relationship types such as includes, uses, substitutes, depends_on, and is_variant_of. The model supports multiple BOMs per product, variant management, lifecycle states, and rules for validation and compatibility. It also emphasizes traceability across revisions and configurations and enables serialization and exchange in common formats (e.g., JSON, XML) for integration with enterprise systems.

Applications and use cases range from configurable products and mass customization to aerospace, automotive, electronics, and other complex manufacturing domains. BOMlike facilitates advanced planning, procurement, and change management by accommodating alternatives, substitutions, and dynamic assembly structures. It is often used in conjunction with product data management (PDM), product lifecycle management (PLM), ERP, and manufacturing execution systems (MES), enabling more flexible configuration management and impact analysis.

Compared with traditional BOMs, BOMlike focuses on graph-like relationships, variant-aware configurations, and lifecycle-aware data, but it can introduce added complexity and integration challenges. It remains an informal term used in some vendor documentation and academic discussions rather than a single standardized standard.