Phantom Item

A phantom is an individual item that can exist anywhere in the bill of material. Phantom items are also known by other terms - for example, transient items, nonstock assemblies, and blow-through or self-consumed items.

An example of a phantom item occurs during the production of a spray pump nozzle. The spray pump nozzle consists of a button, tubing, and an insert. The first operation specifies placing the button and inserting items in an automated assembly machine. The machine combines them into a phantom part called a button unit. This unit goes directly to the next operation. After the next operation attaches the tubing, the spray pump nozzle is complete. The button unit, as with all phantom items, is never stocked.