How to Use BoM Types in Odoo 19 Manufacturing: Complete Guide
A Bill of Materials (BoM) is a core feature in Odoo 19 that lists all parts, raw materials, and subassemblies required to produce a finished product. For manufacturing firms, monitoring the materials needed to construct or assemble a product is essential for efficient production and inventory management. Odoo 19 offers three distinct BoM types — Manufacture this product, Kit, and Subcontracting — each designed for different production scenarios. This complete step by step beginner guide walks through each BoM type, explains when to use which, and provides detailed instructions for setting them up in your Odoo 19 Manufacturing module.
What You'll Learn:
- What a Bill of Materials is and why it matters in manufacturing
- How to create a Manufacture this product BoM with components and operations
- How to configure Manufacturing readiness, versions, and lead times
- How to generate manufacturing orders from a BoM
- How Kit BoM type works for selling product bundles without assembly
- How Subcontracting BoM enables outsourcing production to third-party vendors
- How each BoM type integrates with sales orders, inventory, and procurement
What Is a Bill of Materials in Odoo 19?
A Bill of Materials (BoM) is a structured list that defines the components, raw materials, parts, and subassemblies needed to manufacture a final product along with their quantities. In Odoo 19, the Manufacturing module uses BoMs to streamline production planning, inventory tracking, and cost calculation. When you create a manufacturing order, Odoo references the associated BoM to determine which materials to reserve, which operations to perform, and how much finished product will result.
Odoo 19 supports three BoM types, each serving a different manufacturing scenario:
Manufacture This Product
For products made directly from components through a production process. The most common BoM type used when raw materials are transformed into a finished product.
Kit
For products sold or packaged as a set without being manufactured. Components are delivered together when the product is sold, without any assembly step.
Subcontracting
For outsourcing parts of production to external vendors. The subcontractor receives raw materials and returns processed or finished goods.
BoM Type 1: Manufacture This Product
The Manufacture this product BoM type is used when a product is made directly from its components or raw materials through a production process. This is the most commonly used BoM type for goods that require manufacturing operations such as cutting, assembling, machining, or processing. Follow the steps below to create and configure this BoM type.
Step 1: Navigate to Bill of Materials
Go to the Manufacturing module from the Odoo 19 dashboard. Look for the Bill of Materials sub-menu under the Product menu. Selecting this will display a list of all previously created bills of materials in your system.
Step 2: Create a New Bill of Materials
Click the New button to create a new Bill of Materials. A form view will open where you can enter all the details for your BoM.
Select the Product
In the Product field, select the finished product that this BoM will be used to manufacture. This is the product that will be produced when the manufacturing order is completed.
Set the Quantity
Enter the Quantity of the finished product that this BoM will produce. For example, setting Quantity to 1 means this BoM defines the materials needed to produce one unit of the product.
Select BoM Type
Set the BoM Type field to Manufacture this product. This tells Odoo that this BoM is for a production process where components are transformed into the finished product.
Add Components
In the Components tab, add each raw material or part required for production. Specify the product name and the quantity needed per unit of the finished product. You can add multiple components as needed for complex products.
Step 3: Configure Operations
Navigate to the Operations tab on the BoM form. Here you can define the manufacturing steps, work centers, and durations required to produce the product.
Add an Operation
Click Add a line to add a manufacturing operation. Enter the operation name, such as Assembly, Cutting, or Packaging.
Select Work Center
Choose the Work Center where this operation will be performed. Work centers represent machines, production lines, or workstations in your facility.
Set Duration
Enter the expected Duration for this operation in hours or minutes. This helps with production scheduling and capacity planning.
Step 4: Configure Miscellaneous Settings
The Miscellaneous tab contains important configuration options that control how the BoM behaves during production. Fill in the following fields as needed.
| Field | Description | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Readiness | Controls when production can start based on component availability | All components available / When first operation ready |
| Version | Tracks different revisions of the same BoM over time | Numeric (auto-incremented) |
| Flexible Consumption | Allows consuming more or fewer components than planned | Flexible / Strict |
| Project | Links the manufacturing order to a project | Select from existing projects |
| Manufacturing Lead Time | Time between order confirmation and production start | Days (user-defined) |
| Days to Prepare MO | Days needed to prepare before the manufacturing order is confirmed | Days (auto-computed via Compute button) |
Compute Button
The Compute button in the Miscellaneous tab automatically calculates the total days needed to purchase or manufacture all components from the BoM. This is especially useful for complex products with long procurement lead times for raw materials.
Step 5: Create a Manufacturing Order
Once the BoM is fully configured, you can use it to create a manufacturing order. Go to the Operations menu and select the Manufacturing Orders sub-menu. Click New to create a new manufacturing order.
Select the Product
In the manufacturing order form, select the product that has the Bill of Materials attached. Odoo will automatically populate the components and operations from the BoM.
Confirm the Order
Click the Confirm button to reserve the components from inventory and begin the production process. Once confirmed, the components are reserved and the manufacturing order moves to the In Progress state.
Complete Production
After production is finished, click Mark as Done. The finished product quantity will be added to your inventory, and the components will be consumed from stock.
BoM Type 2: Kit
The Kit BoM type is used when components or parts are sold or packaged as a set without being manufactured or assembled. Unlike the Manufacture this product type, a Kit BoM does not require a manufacturing order. Instead, when a sales order is confirmed for a Kit product, Odoo automatically adds all the kit components to the delivery order.
This BoM type is ideal for businesses that sell pre-packaged bundles, gift sets, or product combinations. It streamlines accounting, sales processes, and inventory management by eliminating the need for an assembly step while ensuring all required components are delivered together.
Step by Step: Creating and Using a Kit BoM
Create a New BoM with Kit Type
Go to Manufacturing > Products > Bill of Materials and click New. Select the product that represents your bundle. Set the BoM Type to Kit. Then add the component products that are included in the kit.
Create a Sales Order for the Kit
Go to the Sales module and create a new quotation. Add the Kit product to the order lines. The kit's components will not appear in the sales order lines — only the kit product itself is visible to the customer.
Confirm and Deliver
Confirm the sales order. Go to the Delivery smart tab to view the delivery order. You will see that all kit components have been automatically added to the delivery order. The salesperson can then confirm the delivery and complete the sale.
Kit BoM vs Manufacture BoM
The key difference is that a Kit BoM does not create a manufacturing order — components are simply delivered together when the product is sold. A Manufacture this product BoM requires a production order to transform components into the finished product. Choose Kit when you need to sell bundles without any assembly or production step.
BoM Type 3: Subcontracting
The Subcontracting BoM type enables businesses to outsource specific parts of their production process to outside vendors or service providers. Instead of manufacturing everything in-house, you can use subcontractors to perform specific tasks such as machining, assembly, finishing, or processing, and then receive the processed or finished goods back into your inventory.
Step 1: Enable Subcontracting in Settings
Before you can use the Subcontracting BoM type, you must enable it in the Manufacturing module settings. Go to Manufacturing > Configuration > Settings and locate the Subcontracting checkbox. Enable it to unlock the Subcontracting BoM type. Only after this setting is enabled will the Subcontracting option appear in the BoM Type field.
Step 2: Create a Subcontracting BoM
Create a New BoM
Go to Bill of Materials and click New. Select the product to be subcontracted. Set the BoM Type to Subcontracting.
Designate a Subcontractor Partner
In the Subcontractor field, select the partner or vendor who will perform the manufacturing. This partner must already exist in your Contacts. The subcontractor receipes the necessary raw materials and returns the processed product.
Add Components
Add the raw materials or components that need to be sent to the subcontractor. These materials will be automatically tracked and transferred when purchase orders are created for the subcontracted product.
Step 3: Purchase the Subcontracted Product
When a customer places an order for a subcontracted product, Odoo automatically generates a purchase order for the subcontractor. The purchase order includes the raw materials that need to be sent to the subcontractor.
Create Sales Order for Subcontracted Product
Create and confirm a sales order for the subcontracted product. Odoo will detect that it is a subcontracted item and create a draft purchase order to the subcontractor automatically.
Review Replenishment
From the sales order, click the Replenishment smart tab. Here you will see the products or components that need to be replenished. The raw materials to be sent to the subcontractor are listed here.
Confirm the Purchase Order
Go to the Purchase module and open the draft purchase order created for the subcontractor. Confirm the purchase order to send the raw materials to the subcontractor. When the subcontractor returns the finished product, you can receive it into your inventory.
Comparing the Three BoM Types
| Feature | Manufacture This Product | Kit | Subcontracting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Production Order | Required | Not required | Purchase order to subcontractor |
| Assembly Step | Yes — in-house | No assembly needed | Yes — by subcontractor |
| Component Handling | Reserved and consumed on MO | Added to delivery order | Sent to subcontractor via PO |
| Best For | In-house production | Pre-packaged bundles | Outsourced manufacturing |
| Work Centers | Supported | Not applicable | Managed by subcontractor |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Kit BoM and a Manufacture BoM in Odoo 19?
A Kit BoM delivers components together when the product is sold without any assembly or production order. A Manufacture BoM requires a manufacturing order where components are transformed into the finished product through a defined production process with operations and work centers.
How do I enable Subcontracting in Odoo 19 Manufacturing?
Go to Manufacturing > Configuration > Settings and enable the Subcontracting checkbox. This unlocks the Subcontracting option in the BoM Type field, allowing you to create BoMs that route production through external vendors.
Can I have multiple versions of the same Bill of Materials in Odoo 19?
Yes. Odoo 19 supports BoM versioning through the Version field in the Miscellaneous tab. Versions auto-increment as you create revisions, allowing you to track changes over time and maintain different BoM configurations for the same product.
What does Manufacturing Readiness mean in an Odoo 19 BoM?
Manufacturing Readiness controls when production can start. Choose All Components Available to start only when every required material is in stock. Choose When First Operation Ready to begin production as soon as materials for the first operation are available, allowing parallel preparation for later operations.
How does the Compute button work for Days to Prepare Manufacturing Order?
The Compute button automatically calculates the total lead time needed to purchase or manufacture all components from the BoM. It considers procurement lead times of each component and returns the maximum number of days required, ensuring your manufacturing order is scheduled with realistic preparation time.
Need Help with Odoo 19 Manufacturing?
Our Odoo experts can help you configure Bill of Materials, set up manufacturing workflows, and optimize your production processes for maximum efficiency.
About the author
Founder & Odoo Practice Lead, Braincuber Technologies
Founder of Braincuber. Has scoped and shipped 500+ Odoo implementations for US mid-market and global brands. Takes every founder call personally — no SDR layer between buyers and the people building the system.