10 Part Numbering Best Practices

Part numbering is essential for keeping track of the various components in a product. An effective part numbering system can help streamline the manufacturing process and make it easier to identify and order parts.

There are a few different ways to number parts, and the best approach for your company will depend on the type of products you make and the size of your operation. In this article, we’ll discuss 10 best practices for part numbering. By following these guidelines, you can create a system that will work well for your business.

1. Use a standard part numbering system

A standard part numbering system ensures that all of your parts are uniquely identified and that there is no confusion about what a particular part number represents. This is especially important when you have multiple suppliers or when you outsource manufacturing.

There are many different ways to number parts, but the most important thing is to be consistent. That way, everyone in your organization will know how to interpret the numbers and there will be no confusion.

Here are a few tips for creating a standard part numbering system:

– Use a consistent format for all of your part numbers.
– Include information such as the part type, material, finish, etc. in the part number.
– Avoid using special characters such as &, %, $, etc. in part numbers.
– Make sure the part numbers are easy to read and understand.

2. Keep it simple and logical

When a part number is simple, it’s easy to remember. This is important because when someone needs to order a replacement part, they need to be able to quickly and easily find the right one. A complex part number, on the other hand, can be difficult to remember and even more difficult to find in a parts catalog.

It’s also important to make sure your part numbering system is logical. That way, it will be easy to understand and use. For example, if you’re using a date-based system, make sure the date is formatted in a way that makes sense (e.g., YYYYMMDD).

Finally, avoid using special characters in your part numbers. While they may look nice, they can cause problems when people are trying to input the numbers into ordering systems.

3. Avoid using abbreviations

Abbreviations can be ambiguous, and when you’re dealing with critical components, ambiguity is not your friend. For example, the abbreviation “NPT” could mean either “National Pipe Tapered” or “National Pipe Thread.” If someone were to order the wrong part because of an ambiguous abbreviation, it could cause a serious problem down the line.

It’s always better to spell out words in full to avoid any confusion. In the case of “NPT,” you would want to use “National Pipe Tapered” or “National Pipe Thread” instead. This may make your part numbers longer, but it will also make them much more clear.

4. Don’t use special characters

Special characters can cause problems when exporting data to other software programs, like Excel. When special characters are used, the data might not be formatted correctly, which can lead to errors.

Additionally, some companies use special characters in their part numbers to indicate a revision level. However, this is not recommended because it can be confusing for users. It’s much simpler and easier to understand if revision levels are indicated by a simple numbering system, like 1, 2, 3, etc.

5. Make the part number unique

If two different parts have the same part number, it can lead to confusion and errors. For example, if you order part A with part number 1 and receive part B with part number 1, you might not realize that you received the wrong part until it’s too late.

This is why it’s important to make sure that each part has a unique part number. That way, there’s no risk of confusion or error.

There are a few different ways to make sure your part numbers are unique. One way is to include the date in the part number. For example, if you’re ordering a part on January 1, 2020, you could use the part number 01012020-1.

Another way to make sure your part numbers are unique is to include the initials of the person who created the part number. For example, if your name is John Smith, you could use the part number JS-1.

Finally, you can also use a combination of both the date and the initials. For example, you could use the part number 01012020JS-1.

Whichever method you choose, just make sure that each part number is unique.

6. Consider your future needs

As your product line expands, you will need to be able to accommodate new products without having to renumber all of your existing parts. This means that your part numbering system needs to have the flexibility to accommodate future growth.

One way to do this is to use a modular approach to part numbering. This means using a consistent numbering scheme for all of your parts, with each part number made up of a series of numbers and/or letters that identify different characteristics of the part.

For example, you might use a three-part numbering system for all of your parts, with the first part identifying the product line, the second part identifying the specific product, and the third part identifying the revision level. This would allow you to easily add new products to your numbering system without having to renumber all of your existing parts.

Another thing to consider when numbering parts is the need to be able to identify different versions of the same part. For example, you might have a part that comes in two different colors. In this case, you would need to be able to identify the part by both its color and its function.

One way to do this is to use a two-part numbering system, with the first part identifying the function of the part and the second part identifying the color. For example, you might use the code “R-1” to identify a red version of a part, and “B-1” to identify a blue version of the same part.

By considering your future needs when numbering parts, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort down the road.

7. Be consistent with capitalization

When you’re creating a new part number, you might be tempted to use all uppercase letters or all lowercase letters, but resist that temptation. Once you’ve established a convention for capitalization, stick with it.

The reason consistency is so important is because humans are very good at pattern recognition. When we see a string of characters that doesn’t conform to the patterns we’re used to seeing, our brains have to work a little harder to process it. This may not seem like a big deal, but when you’re trying to quickly scan a list of part numbers to find the one you need, every little bit helps.

So what’s the best way to capitalize part numbers? There’s no single answer to that question, but a good rule of thumb is to use mixed case (i.e., capitalize the first letter of each word) unless there’s a good reason not to.

8. Use leading zeros to maintain length

If you have a part number that is five digits long, and you want to add a new part that is only four digits long, the new part will sort after the existing part. This can be confusing for both you and your customers.

To avoid this issue, always use leading zeros in your part numbers. That way, all of your part numbers will be the same length, and they will sort correctly.

9. Create an easy-to-use reference guide

When a part number is created, it’s assigned a specific meaning. That meaning is then used to communicate information about the part to those who need to know. The problem is, over time, the people who originally created the part numbering system may no longer be with the company, or they may have forgotten what the numbers mean.

This is where a reference guide comes in handy. By having a central location where the meaning of each part number is documented, anyone can quickly and easily lookup the information they need. This guide should be kept up-to-date as part numbers are added, removed, or changed, so that everyone is always on the same page.

10. Test out your new part numbers

When you’re creating a new part number, it’s important to make sure that the part number is not only unique, but also readable and easy to remember. The last thing you want is for your customers to have to guess at what your part numbers mean.

To test out your new part numbers, try using them in a sentence or two. For example, if you’re selling a widget, you might say “The part number for our widget is Widget-123.” If you can easily read and understand the part number, then chances are good that your customers will be able to as well.