Process manufacturing vs. discrete manufacturing

In discrete manufacturing, you can assemble components that have different units of measure in a Bill of Materials (BOM) to create one item. You can then multiply that item by a whole number to get a unit, for example, 5 desks.

In process manufacturing, you create a formula in which you blend components to make an item. That formula can be packaged in multiple ways, for example in an 8-ounce can and in a 20-ounce can. You can multiply the amount of the item by fractions, for example 4.5 x the amount.

In process manufacturing, you typically determine the percentage of a material compared to the total size of the formula. This percentage is usually found by comparing the weight or volume of the material in relation to the weight or volume of all of the other materials in the formula. In some cases, an entire formula can be composed of a single material.