We build electronic parts.  Every time we revise a circuit board, we need a new milled part called a stencil.
 
The tool is needed, but not consumed during manufacturing.  They last forever.
 
Can we get the requirement to buy a stencil into DBA the following way:  
    Enter Item for the Stencil.
    Add to the master Bill of Materials with 0 quantity.
    Change the first work order's BOM  with the  
    quantity (1/lot size)?
 
Is there a better way?   ???

Jay
 
We are in the same industry.  We are a contract manufacturer and our customers pay for the stencils.  We had to come up with a way to track when we need the stencil and make sure we charge our customer only once (or at all).  This is what we came up with.
 
Create a type R part for the stencil.
Add the stencil to the BOM at 0 qty.
The stencil is added to the Sales Order.  
Once the part is on a sales order it is showing demand and drives the stencil guy to order it.  
Once it is received it is assigned a location and we have 1 on hand.
When we ship the first order off that stencil it is added to the pack list and invoiced.  
The qty on hand goes to 0 but we now have a receipt history and a location to show that we actually have it.  
The stencil appears on the traveler along with it's location.
We don't repeat stencil numbers (order more than once).
 
Hope this helps.

We assign all our tooling part numbers and code them as type "N"  This allows them to print on each work order with bin locations, etc without worrying about stocking in inventory.  You can invoice for type N parts also.

Thank you very much