Phantom BOM

Phantom BOM is a structural BOM node that exists for engineering or planning convenience but is never physically built or stocked as an assembly. When MRP encounters a phantom parent, it transparently consumes the phantom’s children directly — the phantom is “exploded through” rather than ordered.

What it covers

• Group-as-structure — a logical cluster (e.g., a fastener pack) that engineering wants to keep together but that is never an inventory item.
• MRP behavior — passes demand straight through to the children, leaving no on-hand quantity at the phantom level.
• EBOM/MBOM transformation rules — phantoms are common where engineering’s grouping doesn’t match how production builds.
• Distinct from a regular subassembly that is genuinely built and stocked.
• Distinct from a pseudo / placeholder used for in-progress designs.

Relationships (see sidebar)

• Part of the MBOM/EBOM BOM family.
• Supports Manufacturing Execution and BOM Management.
• Implemented by PLM and ERP systems including Siemens Teamcenter, PTC Windchill, SAP PLM, and Oracle Agile.