On Wed, Sep 07, 2005 at 04:07:25PM -0400, Jack Carroll wrote:
>
> We will also need a format rule so that product part numbers (aka
> catalog numbers) can be generated fairly freely, without colliding with the
> internal stock numbers for piece parts. They'll exist in the same MRP data
> base and inventory, so they must be distinguishable. I've been thinking
> about that, but don't yet have a firm suggestion. The idea I'm playing with
> is this:
>
> A product part number must begin with at least two letters or an integer of
> at least four digits. Beyond the required initial characters, the root
> number for a family of products may have any format or internal structure.
>
> A stock number for an off-the-shelf part must have a category code of either
> a single letter or an integer of no more than three digits. The category
> code must be terminated by either a character from a different subset at the
> beginning of the family field, or a dash.
>
> A part number for a product-specific custom part can begin with the root
> number of the product family, then continue with the category and family
> fields. (My last company used that format, and it worked well. I'll put it
> in the next revision of A-100A1.)
I got in a little more thinking this morning, while doing the
dishes. By tolerating a little more complexity in the format rules, we can
gain considerable flexibility in both the product part numbers and the
off-the-shelf stock numbers. Complexity in numbering systems is something
to be wary of, so we have to be judicious about it.
Product part numbers will not begin with R or C. When a stock number for an
off-the-shelf part begins with R or C, a variable-length alphabetic family
field is permitted to follow immediately after the category code without a
punctuation mark.
This rule exception is a big deal, and well worth the small amount
of complexity it adds. It allows us to import huge families of resistor and
capacitor part numbers intact.
A product may be assigned a part number that falls into an off-the-shelf
stock number format, if the appropriate root number is entered in the number
log for off-the-shelf parts. If the root number has already been assigned,
certain dash numbers for products may be assigned on the family Data Sheet
document in Engineering so as to prevent conflict.
With the permission of Marketing, a family of off-the-shelf parts may be
assigned a root number that falls into a product part number format, and
entered in the product root number log.
These rule exceptions may occasionally be desired to generate numbers
that are convenient for customers, but happen to involve piece-part category
codes. Hopefully, it should be rare. The same can apply to unusual
off-the-shelf stock numbers.
Part numbers that start with the letters O or I are reserved exclusively for
products. O or I anywhere in a number of any format must be next to at
least one other letter, and must not be next to a digit.
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