Part Naming Convention for SAP ERP Application

[Ken C]

All
I am new to "Elsmar cove" I stumbled on to this looking for ANSI drawing abbreviations and found the forum to be loaded with information. Ok we recently implemented a new ERP system SAP. That said I have been tasked with coming up with a new part naming convention for all of our manufactured details. I am headed down the path of Noun, Modifier. Example: Weldment, Aluminum or Gage, Finger I am looking for anyones input on past experience with naming conventions for manufactured details in the machine tool industry. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Miner]

Ahhh! "Stop All Production", "Say A Prayer", Stymie All Progress" SAP!

Good Luck!

Seriously, It does have some good points.

SAP uses sequential part numbers generated within SAP. While you can create a numbering system such as you describe, you will end up with dual part numbers in SAP. The disadvantages of this far outweigh the benefits of it. I recommend that you go with the SAP generated part numbers.

[AndyN]

Hey Ken!
Welcome to the Cove! How's the snow in Aubrun Hills? We had about 4-5 inches over in Waterford by Monday am!

To try to answer your question, the most famous way to do what you describe is used by the military: truck, 1/4 ton, general purpose etc......

This works great for very complex and large varieties of items as you can imagine the military have to categorize. But most organizations aren't that complicated so a scaled down version, as you described can work well.

The best part numbering system I ever encountered was at Xerox back in the 70's which I'm assuming is still in place. There was no 'built in' logic, all you knew was it was a 'T' number for tools, a 'C' number for a component etc. So a 900T400100 had no real identifier in the description to a specific type of tool etc. It was pretty much up to the user if they remembered what that number actually was, a wrench, a can of cleaner etc.

BAsed on that experience, I'd also recommend just sticking with the SAP part numbering

[Ken C]

Thanks for tthe quick responses fellas. We have the part numbering down we are using the standard SAP numbering. My issue is naming, specifically manufactured machine tool components. I am trying to develop a naming convention so that the search criteria in SAP is common. IE, Weldment, Base. Weldment, Column. I am trying to do Name, Modifier. I am looking for some best practices.

[Jim Wynne]

In Reply to Parent Post by Ken C

Thanks for tthe quick responses fellas. We have the part numbering down we are using the standard SAP numbering. My issue is naming, specifically manufactured machine tool components. I am trying to develop a naming convention so that the search criteria in SAP is common. IE, Weldment, Base. Weldment, Column. I am trying to do Name, Modifier. I am looking for some best practices.

I've never attended a naming convention.

I think you're on the right track, but the trick is in the discipline, and getting people to observe the conventions. There's nothing more irritating than to try to look up a screw to get its part number and finding that they're all listed as "Screw, ..." except the one you need to find, and it's listed as "Fastener..."