What are Sub-components?
A sub-component is a child part or sub-assembly required to produce a parent part. Sub-components can include their own child parts, allowing vendors to create full assembly structures.
Example:
Parent Part
├── Sub-component A
│ ├── Child Part A1
│ └── Child Part A2
└── Sub-component B
The system supports unlimited nesting levels.
Why Use Sub-components?
Sub-components help vendors:
Track assembly structures
Improve pricing accuracy
Automatically include child parts during quoting
Maintain consistent production documentation
Adding Sub-components When Editing or Creating a Part
Step 1: Open the Part Setup Screen
There are two ways to add Sub-components. First, navigate to the Parts Tab.
You can then click + Add Part, which will take you through the process of adding a brand new part OR
Click on the pencil and paper icon
to edit an existing part.
Note: It is important to mark your Item Origin before adding a sub-component. Supporting cost and production fields vary based on the Item Origin selected for the part. If you are editing an existing part, you cannot change the item origin in this process. See Step 2 on different scenarios of each chosen item origin.
Step 2: What each Item Origin Field means
Item Origin defines how the part is sourced or produced. Your selection determines which supporting data fields are available.
Available options include:
Make
Buy
Make/Buy
Customer Supplied
If Item Origin = Make
Use this option when your company manufactures the part internally.
You can enter:
Tooling & Supplies
Material
Operations
Processing Time
Files (blueprints, work instructions, reference documents)
💡 These fields help calculate internal production cost and lead time.
Adding Sub-Components (Make Only)
Adding Sub-Components (Make Only)
When selecting Make, you can build part structure by adding sub-components.
To add sub-components to your existing part:
Open the part using the pencil icon
Locate the Sub-Components section
Enter your information in the required fields
Save changes to include them in costing and production calculations
If Item Origin = Buy (Hardware)
Use this option when the part is purchased hardware (fasteners, standard components, etc.).
You can enter fields such as:
Part Number
Revision Level
Description
Selecting a customer
Note: Make sure to select the circle next to the Hardware option before clicking Add.
If Item Origin = Buy (Material)
Use this option when purchasing material that is not listed in the Parts Portal global material library.
You can enter fields such as (similar to the hardware section):
Part Number
Revision Level
Description
Selecting a customer
Note: Make sure to select the circle next to the Material option before clicking Add.
If Item Origin = Make/Buy
This option allows flexibility when the part may be manufactured internally or purchased externally.
You may enter a combination of:
Internal production data
External supplier data
This allows cost and sourcing comparisons during quoting.
Adding Sub-Components (Make/Buy)
Adding Sub-Components (Make/Buy)
If your team may manufacture the part internally, you can also remember to define sub-components.
Adding sub-components helps:
Estimate internal production cost
Compare internal manufacturing vs external purchasing
Maintain accurate part structure documentation
Step 3: Add a Sub-component
Scroll down to the sub-component section and click Add Sub-Component.
If Item Origin = Customer Supplied
Select this option when the customer provides the part or material.
Typically, limited cost or production data is required, but you may still upload:
Reference files
Notes or specifications
Step 3: Add Sub-components
To Add a Sub-component:
Open the parent part using the pencil icon
Locate the Sub-components section
Click Add Sub-component
Enter the required information
Click Create Sub-component
Repeat as needed
Required Sub-component Fields
Enter the following:
Part Number – The child component identifier
Revision Level – Version of the sub-component
Quantity Required – Amount needed to produce one parent part
Step 4: Understanding Nested Sub-components
Sub-components can contain additional child parts. This allows vendors to represent complex, multi-level assemblies.
How Nested Sub-components Work
To create nested sub-components:
Create the first sub-component under the parent part
2. Save the sub-component
3. Return to the part table screen
4. Click the pencil icon 
next to the child part
5. A new pop-up will occur where you can add additional sub-components to that child part
The system supports unlimited nesting levels.
Using Sub-components During Quote Creation
Using Sub-components During Quote Creation
Sub-components behave differently depending on whether the part already exists or is newly created.
Existing Parts
Sub-components automatically populate using saved data
Vendors can update quantities and cost information
Missing supplier or pricing data triggers validation alerts
Pricing recalculates automatically when updates are made
New Parts
Vendors can create sub-components directly while building a quote.
If required pricing or supplier information is missing:
An alert icon will appear
Pricing will remain incomplete until required data is entered
How Sub-components Affect Pricing
How Sub-components Affect Pricing
Sub-component costs automatically roll into parent part pricing.
When sub-component data changes:
Parent part pricing updates automatically
Quote totals recalculate in real time
This ensures accurate costing across assemblies.
Best Practices
✔ Use sub-components for assemblies and multi-part builds
✔ Verify supplier and pricing data to avoid validation alerts
✔ Maintain accurate revision levels for version tracking
✔ Review nested sub-components during quoting to ensure cost accuracy