RE: Repair Parts List Organization

["Nuckols, Kenneth M" <Kenneth -dot- Nuckols -at- mybrighthouse -dot- com>]

Tom asked....

> 
> Good morning,
> 
> Here's a question for non-software writers.
> 
> If you were designing a list of parts for a complicated machine, how
would
> you organize the list?
>
> [snip]
>
> Now, all the parts are in a database and I have the task of designing
the
> parts list (for printed copies) and I wonder how we can make the
> information more accessible. Although it is broken down by assembly,
the
> lists seem almost random and I can't imagine trying to locate a
particular
> part in the list to find out what I need to buy to fix my machine.
> 
> I'm assuming we'll organize the list by assembly/system, but should we
> sort by our part number or manufacturer or part name (description) or
the
> manufacturer's part number. Due to different numbering schemes, the
last
> option does not seem at all reasonable.
> 
> Our products aren't hugely complex (like the space shuttle), but the
parts
> lists have several hundred items in total.
> 

If I'm understanding correctly you're looking for organization methods.
The first two options that come to mind are organizing by each nested
sub-system from largest to smallest within the machine or organizing by
what sub-systems are (historically) most prone to needing
repair/replacement.

Take a car for example.  You could organize the Electronics by starting
with "Engine Controls" as a major sub-system with "Fuel Injector
Controls" "Exhaust sensors" "Timing Controls" etc. as nested
sub-systems.

Or you could start with a list of systems that include the most commonly
replaced parts:  changeable filters, tires and brakes, exterior lamps,
and the like.


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