Matrix Assemblies

To use Matrix Assemblies, an administrator must enable the Matrix Items feature.

With the Assembly Items and Matrix Items features, you can create assembly item records that contain matrix options. These options help improve assembly item planning and production tracking. Matrix options make it possible to use Bills of Materials (BOM) and Manufacturing Routings to build items with numerous product styles and variations.

During production, you can create matrix assemblies using work orders and assembly builds.

For example, Wolfe Manufacturing produces mountain bikes and sells them only on their web site, not through retailers.

A customer logs on to the Wolfe web store to order a bicycle.
While completing the sales order, the customer selects the size of the bike, its color, brakes, wheels, and other components.

The matrix assembly record links the custom bike created and sold in the web store to the item in NetSuite.
NetSuite automatically converts the completed sale order into a work order.

Each bike configuration must be associated with a BOM and routing. These describe how to build the bike, components needed, manufacturing costs, and subsequent selling price.
The bicycle matrix assembly record is linked with the item in NetSuite.

This informs planners and production operators which components are required for the BOM and which manufacturing routing will be used to assemble it.
After the bike is assembled, the sales order can be fulfilled.
The bike is shipped to the customer.

Diagram of the matrix assembly workflow.

Matrix assembly records enable you to manage a BOM at the parent matrix assembly level and then implement BOM changes to specific configurations. BOM options can also be maintained on an individual item record basis.

You can track demand for matrix assemblies and then make them available in the web store. You can also build them using work orders or assembly builds.
For web store matrix assembly items, web store administrators can display only a parent matrix assembly item. Then make configuration options available in a list.

After matrix assembly sub-items are created, you may need to update the following matrix items:

The BOM and its attributes such as the Cost Of Goods Sold (COGS) account or Unit of Measure.
The parent assembly item and update some or all sub-items at one time.

For more information, see Manufacturing Routing.

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