2026-09-19T20:54:52Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/497842022-01-28T18:46:34Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131023
Christopher L. Magee and Sara L. Beckman.
Lester, Ryan John
Leaders for Manufacturing Program.
Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division
Sloan School of Management
2009-11-06T16:34:51Z
2009-11-06T16:34:51Z
2009
2009
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/49784
457223097
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2009.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 77).
Cisco's current process for developing and maintaining product-level bills of materials (BOMs) has resulted in inconsistencies in BOM structure leading to product launch delays, increased product support costs, and lower customer satisfaction. Furthermore the complexity of having a large number of different, in effect customized, product solutions for its customers makes it difficult for Cisco's supply chain operations group to drive standardized methods across the over 50 business units. For Cisco's supply chain to operate most efficiently, all Cisco Business Units (BUs) must accurately structure and manage their product-level BOMs. The purpose of this thesis research is to document the as-is BOM structuring and management process, assess the issues inherent with the process today, and develop a new process that will drive standardization across the company and address the inconsistencies in BOM structure that are seen in Cisco today. The thesis work will be divided into three major sections; measure, analyze and improve. First, we will examine four business units (BUs) within Cisco Systems, Inc., which represent the varying complexities of their overall business segments. These example BUs will be studied to look at the impact of the current non-standardized process for developing the product-level BOM structure. Secondly, we will analyze this current process and show its impact on the overall enterprise, focusing on the key stakeholders involved with BOM development.
(cont.) Finally, with these research findings, we will develop a new product-level BOM development methodology. This new methodology will be a criteria-based approach utilizing workflows to organize the process. The new process developed will become the foundation for continuous improvement in BOM development at Cisco Systems, Inc.
by Ryan John Lester.
S.M.
M.B.A.
86 p.
eng
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.I.T. theses are protected by
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
Sloan School of Management.
Engineering Systems Division.
Leaders for Manufacturing Program.
Product-level bill of material development process : managing complexity
Product-level BOM development process : managing complexity
Thesis
application/pdf
Publication
unknown
unknown
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<Abstract>Cisco's current process for developing and maintaining product-level bills of materials (BOMs) has resulted in inconsistencies in BOM structure leading to product launch delays, increased product support costs, and lower customer satisfaction. Furthermore the complexity of having a large number of different, in effect customized, product solutions for its customers makes it difficult for Cisco's supply chain operations group to drive standardized methods across the over 50 business units. For Cisco's supply chain to operate most efficiently, all Cisco Business Units (BUs) must accurately structure and manage their product-level BOMs. The purpose of this thesis research is to document the as-is BOM structuring and management process, assess the issues inherent with the process today, and develop a new process that will drive standardization across the company and address the inconsistencies in BOM structure that are seen in Cisco today. The thesis work will be divided into three major sections; measure, analyze and improve. First, we will examine four business units (BUs) within Cisco Systems, Inc., which represent the varying complexities of their overall business segments. These example BUs will be studied to look at the impact of the current non-standardized process for developing the product-level BOM structure. Secondly, we will analyze this current process and show its impact on the overall enterprise, focusing on the key stakeholders involved with BOM development.</Abstract>
<Abstract>(cont.) Finally, with these research findings, we will develop a new product-level BOM development methodology. This new methodology will be a criteria-based approach utilizing workflows to organize the process. The new process developed will become the foundation for continuous improvement in BOM development at Cisco Systems, Inc.</Abstract>
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