A Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) is a chart that shows how the parts, sub-parts, and components of a product fit together. It is a picture of the product’s structure showing how its different parts work together.
Most of the time, the PBS is set up like a tree, with the main product at the top and its parts growing out below. The PBS is like a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), which lists the tasks that need to be done to finish a job, but the PBS is made for the object being made.
The PBS is used to help describe and organize the different parts of a product when it is being made. It is a good way to plan the development process and talk about it with partners and team members.
Follow these steps to make a PBS:
1. Figure out what the main product is. This is the main thing that PBS will be built on.
2. Break the product down into its main parts. These are the big parts that make up the product.
3. Break each part into smaller parts or sub-parts. These are the smaller parts that make up each big part.
4. Keep breaking down each subcomponent into its parts until the whole result is fully described.
Each item in the PBS should be given a number so that it is easy to find and the structure stays in order.
During the whole process of making a product, PBS can be used to make sure that each part is made, checked, and put together properly. It can also be used to keep track of work, give tasks, and tell partners about the development process.
Overall, PBS is a useful tool for developing products because it helps to identify and organize the different parts of a product and gives a plan for how to develop it.
Key Points
– Deliverables Hierarchy: A Product Breakdown Structure (PBS) is a method of organizing and visualizing everything that a project will develop or deliver.
– Similar to a Family Tree: Consider it a family tree for project deliverables. It divides the project into smaller components and subcomponents.
– Beginning at the Top: At the top level, it lists the project’s principal deliverables, such as the main goals or results.
– Detailed Components: After that, each big deliverable is split down into smaller, more detailed components.
– Clear Understanding: It assists everyone participating in the project in understanding what has to be accomplished at each stage.
– Hierarchical Structure: It depicts the relationship between various components and how they contribute to the overall project.
