Best practices naming/organizing components from different vendors

[JBEDsol]

I'm kind of in a new boat.  I have a series of issues whereby I'll need to have a bunch of components from various vendors that are all slightly different.  So I'll have a pump from X company.  I make that pump and now I have to add a different pump from another vendor.  While I can have 2 pump models if necessary the question becomes how do I keep these named, organized, and set up for a BOM such that I'm not banging my head against a wall later?  My company doesn't really have any structure or procedures.  I'm making them as I go.  Would it be better to have a pumps folder in a library with each file Pump_(X company, Y-Series).iam  or titled and labeled by the vendor's data.  So If I have a vendor w/ a pump that titles their pumps 8X6X12 and another has theirs PM8900-B.  I'd think I'd want a way to easily figure out which pump I want rather than try to figure out what the PM8900-B stands for but maybe not.   What's the info I'd want in the part number vs description in the BOM.  Ie. is it better to have qty 2, part num X45-D, size 40 HP, and description Pump, Jones, M-Series or have Part number Pump (Size 40 HP, Jones), description M-Series etc.  

I know there's nuances to every scenario, just looking for ideas and preferences from those who've already blazed that trail.

[Cadmanto]

I guess this really depends on how much freedom you have to make decisions.

I have worked for companies that have the model name as the vendor part number and the vendor name/part number is in the description.  I have worked for others that have their own part numbering system (smart numbers) where in that part number is a sequence designated in your case to pumps.  So, given this scenario you would create a sub folder in your vendor parts folder with that part number prefix as the folder name.

Hope this makes sense.  Good luck.  

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[Anonymous]

The person before me set up Content Center. I came and had a lot of issues resolving these past used CC parts. I have tried seyt up Content Center, but maybe didn't understood all it's features, but had a lot of question marks with it too. therefore...

I have a (selfmade) library folder. "networkshare\ACME_part_library\". In that folder are all my parts, which I use often. They all have the syntax <4_LETTERCODE>_<UNIQUE_6_DIGITNUMBER>.ipt (ex: TEST_123456.ipt)

All the parts have Custom iProperties where I set what I need in my partlists.

ACME_SIZE, ACME_TYPE, ACME_DESCRIPTION, ACME_TRADEMARK, and so on... I have 1 Assembly in the library folder where all these parts are inserted to easely manage all custom properties.

With code I got from nice people here on the forum, I was able to insert those parts in my assembly by entering the 6 digit code. What the code does is copy the part into my projectfolder, and adding a counter to it. so library part TEST_123456.ipt becomes TEST_123456_001.ipt in my project. Next time I need the part in the same project it becomes TEST_123456_002.ipt. What if they need to be in 1 partlist line? I drag the 1st part from the Inventor browser, so it is 2 times the same file.

I find this very handy, as this workflow:

- has no link outside my projectfolder afterwards.

- am able to have different custom properties for the same part (TAG numbering)

- I can add parts to the library, simply by saving a part in the folder with the right syntax.

- 4_LETTERCODE can be used to group parts (ex all pumps PUMP_123456.ipt)

- I don't use inventors Partnumber in my partlists

- I have a grouped excel list telling me what UNIQUE_6_DIGITNUMBER is what part

[swalton]

Our workflow:

1. We use unique part numbers and part number=filename.
   1. So 12345.ipt is detailed on 12345.idw and has part number 12345.
2. We pull those numbers from various automatic naming sequences defined in Vault Pro.
   1. In the past we maintained a part number spreadsheet or a database
   2. ERP systems might be useful for this task
3. I import the purchased component into Inventor and use "Save As" to save it to disk with a Vault filename.
   1. If the import is an assembly, each sub-component gets renamed 12345-01, -02, etc with Design Assistant or Vault Rename, as convenient.
   2. The BOM type is set to Purchased for all components in Document Properties
4. I add the supplier name to the Vendor iprop and the supplier part number to the Stock Number iprop.
5. I add a useful description to the Description Iprop.
6. I make sure my part-tracking system has the Description, Vendor and Stock Number info. That way I can search the part-tracker for existing components as required.
7. I store these components in a "Purchased Part" directory, so I can find them for other designs.  I don't bother with a Library folder.