# Component Management with Jan Rychter

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2021-05-17
- Length: 1h 32m
- Episode: 542
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/542-component-management-with-jan-rychter/

## Summary

Jan Rychter, creator of PartsBox, explains how his software helps engineers and small businesses manage component inventory, reduce waste, and navigate supply chain shortages. He details the use of 'meta parts' to handle component substitutions without redesigning schematics, and discusses features like lot control, multi-stage builds, and traceability required for medical device startups. Rychter emphasizes that PartsBox is a self-funded, sustainable business designed for engineers rather than large enterprise MRP systems, offering free plans for hobbyists and paid tiers for commercial users.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=0) Introduction: Jan Rychter and PartsBox Overview
- [1:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=79) The Problem: Duplicate Purchases and Lost Inventory
- [4:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=276) Target Audience: Hobbyists vs. Small Business
- [7:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=420) PartsBox vs. Enterprise ERP/MRP Systems
- [11:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=684) BOM Pricing and Cost Roll-up Challenges
- [14:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=879) Meta Parts and Handling Component Substitutions
- [21:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=1297) Workflow: KiCad Integration and Purchasing
- [25:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=1545) Build Management, Lot Control, and Traceability
- [32:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=1920) Inventory Setup, Labeling, and Barcode Scanning
- [48:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-17-component-management-with-jan-rychter#t=2889) Business Model: Self-Funded, Sustainable, and Niche

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- PartsBox (product)
- KiCad (tool)
- DigiKey (company)
- Mouser (company)
- Octopart (company)
- Keithley (company)
- Samsung (company)
- TI (company)
- GS1 (other)
- OpenPNP (tool)
- Inspector (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [478: The Map Is Not the Territory](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-05-30-478-the-map-is-not-the-territory) (Embedded.fm)
- [Julie Schulte | Parts & Hardware Tools for R&D Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-04-28-julie-schulte-parts-hardware-tools-for-r-d-engineers) (Being an Engineer)
- [360: Cats Love It!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-01-29-360-cats-love-it) (Embedded.fm)
- [That SCOOPshow - Season 6, Productronica 2021 - Håvard Korsvoll, CTO at Circular Components](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-11-11-that-scoopshow-season-6-productronica-2021-havard-korsvoll-cto-at-circular-compo) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [That SCOOPshow - Season 6, Productronica 2021 - Zeev Efrat, CEO of Cybord.ai](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-11-03-that-scoopshow-season-6-productronica-2021-zeev-efrat-ceo-of-cybord-ai) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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