If you do not use the assignment of a BOM explosion number, the order start date of the planned order is always used as the explosion date for the BOM. The system explodes the BOM that is valid on this date.

For multi-level BOM structures, larger time intervals may exist between the explosion dates of the individual assemblies. If BOMs (or alternative BOMs) have been changed in the meantime (for example, exchanging individual components due to new technical drawings, changed production techniques, due to parts to be discontinued etc.) a situation may exist whereby an assembly that is used repeatedly is produced with different BOM structures.

If you want to ensure that for a certain production unit, the BOM structure is always exploded with the same date, you can allocate a BOM explosion number to the planned order (or for make-to-order production it can be directly allocated to the sales order).

By means of the BOM explosion number, you can define a common explosion date (fixed key date) for all BOM levels. BOM explosion is then carried out with this fixed key date for all levels.