ABSTRACT
This chapter should be dedicated to those people who have an uneasy feeling their super colossal "hummer" of a "management information system" is running on less than full power. For far too long numbering systems generally, and part number systems specifically have been designed and implemented with very little long-range planning. The impact of a poor part number system has been only vaguely understood. The examples of numbering systems used in this section are not meant to discourage or confuse the reader. It should be remembered that several part number systems explained here were developed in the 1800s, long before any modern management concepts were designed. Not only are these examples used here in an attempt to prevent future horror stories like these for new companies, but also to prepare information which may serve to help change present part numbering systems in other companies, if they are similar to those described here.
