ePLM Quick Guide for Part Number Naming Convention
The Item Master Module of ePLM serves as a library for collecting all types of items: “Lego” components, “Parts,” “Semi-assemblies,” and “Final Assemblies.” For the purpose of this discussion, the term “Part No” will be used to refer to any type of item.
There are various methods to determine a part number, and three approaches will be introduced.
The first approach is “automatic generation of part numbers based on sequence.”
The advantages of this method are that users do not need to exert any effort to create a part number. Users simply need to follow the order of serial numbers to name a specific part or item. This results in a unique part number. The disadvantage is that discerning information from the part number can be challenging.
If users choose to adopt this approach, ePLM provides supplementary fields for differentiation purposes. For instance, part names, model names, and item types can be used. Moreover, users can employ prefixes; for example, “MH00023” signifies that the part number “00023” is associated with the label “Home Made,” while “OP00024” indicates that part number “00024” is related to the “Outsourcing Process.” This process refers to sending parts to a third party for secondary operations, which are performed externally. Subsequently, the parts are returned to the user’s factory for further processing. A part number lacking a prefix denotes a part acquired through purchase from suppliers.
Naturally, users also have the option to append suffixes to part numbers, enabling additional information to be conveyed.
The second approach is analogous to accounting codes used in bookkeeping. Users devise a coding system based on part characteristics and subsequently group parts with similar attributes together.
As an illustration, the format of a part number is XXXXX-YYYYY.
The XXXXX corresponds to the group number.
The YYYYY corresponds to the serial number.
For instance, 10000 designates metal, 20000 designates plastics, and 30000 designates rubbers.
Moreover, 10100 signifies “Home Made,” 10200 signifies “Outsourcing Process,” and 10300 signifies “Purchasing from Suppliers.”
Further subcategories include 10101 for “Stamping” and 10102 for “Die Casting.”
For example, the part number 10102–00001 signifies a “home-made die casting part numbered 00001.”
The advantages of this approach include the incorporation of substantial information within the part number. However, a significant drawback is that it demands a profound understanding of the domain in order to design an effective coding system. For a new startup company, implementing such a system from day one can be challenging.
Due to the computer’s robust search and lookup capabilities, there is a growing trend to employ computer-generated numbers as part numbers, as long as they are unique. When users seek to understand the nature of a part, they can simply perform a lookup on the computer. Additional fields can be added at any point to describe the part’s attributes. These attributes can be used for grouping, sorting, calculations, summarizations, comparisons, and more.
The third approach is to directly use the supplier’s part number or the customer’s part number. The advantage of this method is convenience in communication and its direct usability for procurement and sales. Many intermediaries adopt this approach. In other words, there is no consistent system for part numbering. However, when dealing with self-manufactured products or parts, it becomes impossible to display substitute parts in the bill of materials. In such cases, an additional internal part number within the company needs to be assigned as a remedy.
