ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the structure of the Bill of Material of a product which provides a great deal of insight into the possible complexity of logistics. It explains relationship between products, raw materials, entities and finished products. Product lifecycle management might have originated in the world of heavy engineering but it is proving its worth in retailing and the ephemeral world of fashion. A well-chosen Enterprise Resources Planning system can provide benefits for a business. A decisive factor when choosing such a system is the type of product that flows through the production. Products are objects or services that can be manufactured within the company or acquired from third parties, and that are intended to be resold with an added value. A product can be considered from a technical or economic viewpoint. The chapter concludes with the discussion of some considerations relating to the design of products and processes.
