Creating a Component

Before You Start

Make sure the materials and labour rates you want to include in this component already exist in your organisation. If they do not, add them first (see the Materials and Labour sections of this manual).

Creating the Component

1. In the main navigation, click Components.
2. Click Create Component in the top-right corner.
3. Enter a clear Name. Use a name that identifies the sub-assembly unambiguously, for example "Earring Hook Set" or "Soy Candle Wick Assembly".
4. Add an optional Description to note what the component is used for or any important details.
5. Click Save to create the component record. You can now add items to it.

Adding Materials

1. Inside the component, go to the Materials tab.
2. Click Add Material.
3. Search for the material by name and select it.
4. Enter the quantity used per unit of this component (e.g., 0.02 m of sterling silver wire).
5. CrafterBy calculates the material cost from the quantity and the price on the material record.
6. Repeat for each material in this component.

Adding Labour

1. Go to the Labour tab inside the component.
2. Click Add Labour Entry.
3. Select the labour type (e.g., "Bench Work") and enter the time in minutes.
4. CrafterBy applies the hourly rate to calculate the labour cost.

Adding Machine Time (Optional)

1. Go to the Machines tab inside the component.
2. Click Add Machine Time.
3. Select the machine and enter the run time in minutes.

Worked Example: Earring Hook Set

You make silver earrings and every pair uses two small shepherd-hook findings that you form yourself from sterling wire. Here is how you would set up the component:

• Name: Earring Hook Set
• Description: Two hand-formed sterling silver shepherd hooks, one pair

Materials:

• Sterling silver wire (0.8 mm), 2 cm — €0.18

Labour:

• Bench work, 2 min at €18/hour — €0.60

Component total: €0.78 per pair

Now add this component to any earring product and the €0.78 is included automatically in the cost breakdown.

Tips

• Give components specific names that include the variant detail: "Soy Candle Wick Assembly 5 cm" is clearer than "Wick Assembly".
• If you make the same product in multiple sizes, consider a separate component per size rather than one generic component.
• You can edit a component at any time. All products using it will reflect the updated cost on the next recalculation.