[Bob Steele]

Well,
Question one: How does FIRST account for use of other parts...
I don't know.... the BOM is not built to do it.
Perhaps a survey after the season?

As to including everything from the robot on the BOM
We do our own accounting in a much more organized way than the BOM provides.

We build 2 robots usually and also additional testing apparatus that uses BOM parts and others.

Our accounting methods are not the same....

We have NEVER included KOP parts on the BOM because in the directions it said you didn't have to... We felt it was a needless complication when the BOM was supposed to be for the inspectors to see if you met the $$$ limit...and to also review any non-KOP pieces for possible rules infringements... it has always been my opinion that I don't want to muddle the BOM with non-essential information so that it is easier for the inspectors to use...

Now there is, presumably, another use for the BOM... so this is different...

We, of course, have our OWN weight/cost/part count and measurement spread sheets that help us .... the BOM is not well suited to what we want to do ...

Point of order here, I was not complaining about doing the BOM it is really no big deal to most teams that already keep track of this information... I was just bringing up the issues of post season use... it is going to be difficult for FIRST to use this... see the above comments....I really like the check-off way of doing it... maybe next year...

thanks
R