A method includes receiving first parameters and second parameters for a comparison of a first multilevel bill of material and a second multilevel bill of material. Internal items based on the first parameters are compared to determine differences between the internal items in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material. If an internal item matches in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material, associations for the matched internal item are compared based on the second parameters to determine differences between the associations in the first multilevel bill of material and the second multilevel bill of material. A report is generated showing a result of the comparing of the internal items and the comparing of the associations, wherein the report shows unmatched internal items and unmatched associations for matched first items. The report can then be displayed.