Bill-of-Material (BOM) Import

The BOM Upload feature allows you to import detailed product data into the PCF (Product Carbon Footprint) module using a Bill of Materials (BOM) file.

A BOM lists all materials that make up a product. Optionally the BOM can include process information. This provides a structured and flexible way to describe how your product is built and what it consists of.

1. Understanding the BOM Template

The BOM Template is an Excel file with two sheets:

Product Information Sheet: contains one row describing the product (name, ID, category, etc.).
Bill of Materials Sheet: contains the detailed list of materials, components and processes that make up that product.

File Structure

1 file = 1 product
You can upload several files simultaneously if you want to import multiple products.

📘 Columns in the Bill of Materials Sheet

Column	Description	Notes
Level	Defines the hierarchy of items in the BOM.	- Levels are read top to bottom. - A Level 1 item is the main product or a top-level component. - Items in Level 2 (or higher) are sub-items of the previous higher level. - There can be multiple levels. - This creates a tree-like structure for the product’s components.
Type	Defines what the row represents: Component, Material, or Process.	- Material: A tangible input (e.g., steel, plastic, oats). - Process: An operation (e.g., transport, energy use, packaging). - Component: A structural grouping element - used to organize materials and processes under one part. - Components are optional, and any input in quantity will be ignored for components.
Name (mandatory)	The name of the material, process, or component.	This is the only mandatory field.
Quantity	The numerical amount used.	- If left empty for materials, the AI estimates quantity and unit. - For processes, a quantity and unit must be provided. - Quantities for components are always ignored.
Unit	The unit of measurement for the quantity.	- Must be selected from predefined options: kg, g, kWh, m3, etc. - The AI can also infer units if missing.
Emission Factor / Custom Factor	A manually defined emission factor.	When provided, the AI uses this value instead of a database emission factor.

⚠️ Important Note: Process Quantities

For Processes, they can only be considered in the emission calculation if both a quantity and a unit are provided.

⚙️ 2. User Flow: Uploading and Generating PCFs

Step 1: Prepare the BOM Template

Open the official BOM Import Template.
Fill in the Product Information on the first sheet (only one row per file).
Fill in the Bill of Materials sheet:
- At minimum, enter names (Column B).
- Optionally add quantity, unit, level, and type.
- You may include custom emission factors if available.

Step 2: Upload the File(s)

Navigate to the PCF Module.
Click Import product with BOM.
Select one or multiple BOM files to upload.
- Each file represents one product.
  The system will automatically display:
- Product information
- Bill of Materials structure
- Any detected quantities, units, or emission factors

Step 3: Review and Edit

Before generating a PCF, you can review and edit all information directly in the interface:
- Adjust quantities or units.
- Add missing processes.
- Update emission factors.
- Modify product details.

Step 4: Generate the PCF

Click Generate PCF.
The AI will:
- Match emission factors for materials and processes.
- Estimate missing data (quantities, units, or processes if none are listed).
- Calculate total emissions for the product.

Step 5: Review the Results

After processing, you’ll see:
- The Product Information
- The PCF Inventory
- The Calculated Emissions

🤖 AI Estimation Logic

Scenario	AI Behavior
Missing quantity or unit	AI estimates based on similar materials and products.
No processes in BOM	AI automatically infers suitable production and transport processes.
At least one process defined	AI skips process inference (uses only provided ones).
Custom emission factor provided	AI uses this factor directly.
Component quantities entered	Ignored - components are for structuring only.
Process without quantity/unit	Error