Takeoffs

Related: Part Naming

Engineering Toolkit

How do I run Auto-BOM to generate a first-pass takeoff?

Modeling Toolkit → Auto-BOM tab. All parts must be toolkit-named, all six material classes cached (via Reverse Lookup), and all materials must have fully qualified Epicor dimension fields. Click Run to generate the BOM approximation. Apply scrap percentages, review the preview table, then publish to L001 or export to Excel.

How do I use 1D nesting to refine linear material takeoffs?

Modeling Toolkit → 1D Nesting. Select a material bombed per length (fabric, WC parts), select the job, choose stick length (8 ft default — coordinate with purchasing for actual length). View optimization with waste per stick shown in red. Export cut list or text optimization for the purchaser.

How do I use 2D nesting to refine sheet good takeoffs?

Modeling Toolkit → 2D Nesting. Select the sheet material (width/length pre-populated from Epicor), select the job, run optimization. Compare actual nested sheet count against Auto-BOM’s area estimate. Publish refined quantities back to the BOM.

Auto-BOM

• Purpose: ¹ Provides first-pass BOM approximation based on model geometry. Not guaranteed to be correct - it’s a starting point for refinement.
• How It Works: ¹ Contacts Epicor to find dimension-specific fields, then does first-order rough takeoff based on lengths and widths recorded in each part during naming.
• Output Location: ¹ Published changes go to L001 page (pick list) user text. Can export to Excel file (formatted for paste-insert directly into Epicor BOM).

Conditions for Takeoffs

All of the following must be met to use Auto-BOM: ¹

• All model parts must have been named using the Generate Names Toolkit tab (not manually named)
• All material cache classes must be cached on the Reverse Lookup Toolkit tab (all six classes)
• All materials in use must have fully qualified Epicor dimension fields (not just descriptions - must have dimension-specific fields like “48 inches”, “3/4 inch thick”)
• All hardware block names must begin with Epicor or material code (if you use script to embed definitions, they will)
• All layer paths must conform to FE template standards (if you use toolkit to create material codes, they will)

Scrap Percentage

• Purpose: ¹ Apply scrap rates to account for material waste since Auto-BOM is only a first approximation.
• Usage: ¹ Can set different scrap percentages for different material types:
  • Linear footage materials (e.g., 15% scrap)
  • Area-based materials (e.g., 20% scrap)
• Result: Updates BOM numbers in the preview table. Review before publishing.

Export

• Export BOM to Excel for Epicor (formatted for paste-insert).

1D Nesting

• Purpose: ¹ Refine takeoff for materials bombed per length (e.g., fabric, WC parts). Shows optimization of parts within stick lengths.
• Workflow: ¹
  1. Select material that is bombed per length
  2. Select job
  3. Choose stick length (default 8 feet, can try 10, 12, etc.)
  4. Show optimization - displays parts placed within sticks with waste per stick shown in red
  5. View overall waste percentage
• Considerations: ¹ Stick length selection must be done in coordination with purchasing and shop — FE is not ultimately the person who selects stick length. This tool provides information to give to the purchaser (e.g., the wood buyer for wood, the metals coordinator for metal).
• Export Options: ¹
  • Cut list of specific lengths (quantity of each cut length with part numbers)
  • Text representation of optimization (stick-by-stick cutting sequence for best yield)
• Note: ¹ Optimized cut lists may not match how shop actually functions (shop often cuts all same length at once for labor efficiency). Use when material value justifies the trade-off.

2D Nesting

• Purpose: ¹ Refine takeoff for sheet goods. Shows optimization of parts within sheets.
• Workflow: ¹
  1. Select material (width and length pre-populated from Epicor)
  2. Select job
  3. Show optimization - displays graphic representation of waste per sheet and overall waste
• Refinement: ¹ Auto-BOM may estimate 4.75 sheets based on area, but 2D nesting shows actual waste and may reveal you need 7 sheets minimum. This refines the BOM quantities.
• Integration: ¹ After refinement, Auto-BOM will indicate which rows have been refined. Publish changes to update BOM with refined quantities.

Takeoff Quantities and the Inventory Job

For SG, SS, SL, and IM materials, takeoff quantities are entered on manufacturing jobs for demand visibility, but purchasing happens through the project’s Inventory Job (ProjectNumber.INV). Do not check Ready to Purchase or Purchase Direct on the manufacturing job for these classes — a BPM will block it.

After completing your takeoffs, the Lead Engineer or PM sums the manufacturing job demand, adds waste factor, and purchases from the INV job. See Inventory Jobs for the full workflow and the Takeoff Audit Report for monitoring supply vs. demand.

Next Steps

• Continue to PE Release Preparation when ready to release
• Or return to Part Naming if you need to adjust names

See Also

• Epicor Usage - BOM management in Epicor

Footnotes

1. Source: Training Video — “Adv. Toolkit Functions” ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵