Software management of electronic components inventory in a manufacturing facility
Prior to the electronic component shortages of recent years, momentum was increasing around lean strategies like just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing. The objective was to procure only when they were immediately needed for production. This minimization approach to inventory management has largely been abandoned due to continuing supply chain issues and new cost concerns.
Having components available when they are needed is critical for successfully competing in the electronics industry. Contract manufacturers rely on software tools to keep track of the status of in-house components, parts availability from various distributors, and requirements for multiple clients. For the most efficient and cost-effective design, PCB designers must also lean on software to add automation and support to CAD library management. Achieving this goal necessitates knowing the electronic components inventory management software options available and how to select the best one for your design needs.
Electronic Components Inventory Management Software Options
For efficient electronic product design and manufacturing, effective management of components is essential. However, selecting the best electronic component inventory management software for you depends upon knowing the best options available, which are compiled below.
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Top Electronic Components Inventory Management Software |
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| Developer/ Provider | Industry Experience | Key Inventory Management Software Features | EDA Tool Integration | Typical Users |
| Ultra Librarian | 9 yrs |
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OrCAD X Altium KiCAD PADS eCADSTAR Pulsonix Quadcept |
Engineers of all experience levels, PCB Design Teams, Project Managers |
| Parts-in-Place | 12 yrs |
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NA | Small OEMs |
| PartsBox | 10 yrs |
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NA | Engineers, PCB Manufacturers |
| Part-DB | 9 yrs |
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KiCAD | Small PCB Manufacturers, Hobbyists, Universities |
| Binner | NA |
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NA | Manufacturers, Hobbyists |
Ultra Librarian
Ultra Librarian is the electronics industry’s largest resource for manufacturer-verified CAD models. The company also provides electronic components inventory management software tools to help PCB designers create and manage a custom library of component design data. These include a Virtual Librarian Service (VLS) for custom symbol, footprint, and 3D model creation and UltraBOM, a Bill-of-Materials (BOM) tool that facilitates seamless component selection and procurement with one of the industry’s most trusted electronic distributors right from within your EDA software.- Industry Experience: 9 years
- Key Software Features:
- Custom CAD model creation
- Priority access to the world’s largest online CAD library
- Manufacturer-vetted and industry-standard CAD models
- Integrated BOM creation with Digikey
- Direct procurement from EDA tool
- EDA Tool Integration: OrCAD X, Altium, KiCAD, PADS, eCADSTAR, Pulsonix, Quadcept
- Typical Users: Engineers of all experience levels, PCB Design Teams, Project Managers
Parts-in-Place
Parts-in-Place is a general inventory management tool that helps simplify the compilation and comparison of electronic components for your project. Ease of use, along with Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud integration, are among the tool’s greatest features. However, the tool does not include any advanced management functionality.
- Industry Experience: 12 years
- Key Software Features:
- Cloud-based
- AWS secure
- Simple to use
- EDA Tool Integration: NA
- Typical Users: Small Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
PartsBox
PartsBox is a comprehensive electronics manufacturing management tool for facilitating efficient electronics production. The software is capable of importing BOMs from several leading EDA programs, performing error checking, and monitoring inventory and project builds.
- Industry Experience: 10 years
- Key Software Features:
- Import from leading ECAD tools
- BOM error checking
- Project build monitoring
- EDA Tool Integration: NA
- Typical Users: Engineers, PCB Manufacturers
Part-DB
Part-DB is an open-source inventory management software program that allows users to customize their experience and link to other Apps. In KiCAD, users can assemble and manage a custom component database. The program uses a SQL database backend, which has a well-defined structure used by many other programs and can be used on PCs, tablets, and mobile phones.- Industry Experience: 9 years
- Key Software Features:
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- Open source
- SQL database backend
- API for integration with other Apps
- EDA Tool Integration: KiCAD
- Typical Users: Small PCB Manufacturers, Hobbyists, Universities
Binner
Binner is an inventory management tool that is simple to use while providing flexibility for project workflow facilitation. Users can leverage the familiarity of a Raspberry-PI device, PC, or use cloud-based hosting. The tool leverages industry-leading distributor databases for component information.
- Industry Experience: NA
- Key Software Features:
- Self-host or cloud hosting
- Integration with leading distributors
- EDA Tool Integration: NA
- Typical Users: Manufacturers, Hobbyists
Choosing Your Inventory Management Software
As evidenced by the list above, inventory management is primarily viewed as a manufacturing facility task. However, the continuing evolution of PCB design and development, as exhibited by advancements like white-box manufacturing, is blurring the lines between designer and manufacturer concerns. Consequently, incorporating electronic components inventory management is becoming recognized as an asset that should be employed by PCB designers, as well.
Just as competitive PCB design requires following best practices for your component library, inventory management necessitates knowing and employing good guidelines, as listed below.
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Instituting the guidelines above will help elevate your PCB design and development workflow, resulting in more efficient and accurate designs and builds.
If you’re looking for CAD models for common components or important information on selecting the best electronic component inventory management software, Ultra Librarian can help by compiling all your sourcing and CAD information in one place.
Working with Ultra Librarian sets up your team for success to ensure streamlined and error-free design, production, and sourcing. Register today for free.