Bill of Materials Documentation
The Component Registry is the foundation of every bill of materials. Each component receives a unique identifier, a hierarchical classification, and a set of dependency mappings. The registry does not merely catalog parts -- it defines relationships, tracking which components require which others, creating a dependency graph that mirrors the physical assembly.
Every assembly tells a story of dependencies. A single component may depend on dozens of sub-components, each with their own supply chains, lead times, and failure modes. The dependency map transforms this complexity into navigable structure, revealing critical paths and single points of failure before they become production crises.
A bill of materials is a living document. Components are revised, suppliers change, specifications tighten. Version control for BOMs tracks every mutation: what changed, when, why, and who approved it. The version history becomes an archaeology of engineering decisions, each revision a layer in the geological record of a product's evolution.