Part Specifications
How the part catalog works, linking parts to work orders, and managing revisions.
What Is the Part Catalog?
The part catalog is a reusable library of part definitions maintained at the organization level. Each catalog entry represents a distinct part that your shop produces, whether it is a one-time custom job or a part you manufacture regularly. The catalog serves as a single source of truth for part-related information, reducing data entry errors and ensuring consistency across work orders.
Catalog Entry Fields
Each part catalog entry includes: Part Number (unique identifier), Description (human-readable name and details), Material (e.g., 6061-T6 Aluminum, 304 Stainless Steel, Delrin), Default Routing (a pre-defined sequence of operations), and Special Instructions (notes for operators, such as deburr requirements, surface finish specs, or tooling preferences). All fields except Part Number are optional but recommended.
Linking Parts to Work Orders
When creating a work order, start typing a part number in the Part Number field. The system will suggest matching catalog entries as you type. Selecting a catalog entry auto-fills the description, material, and default routing on the work order form. You can override any of these values for a specific order without changing the underlying catalog entry — the override applies only to that work order.
Revision Management
Parts evolve over time — dimensions change, materials are substituted, or routing sequences are updated. When you update a catalog entry, the system creates a new revision. Existing work orders that were created with the previous revision retain their original part data. Only new work orders pick up the latest revision. This ensures that in-progress production uses the specs that were current when the order was placed.
Managing the Catalog
The part catalog is managed in Settings → Part Catalog (accessible to Supervisors and Admins). From there you can add new parts, edit existing entries, view revision history, and search the catalog. For shops with large catalogs, the search function supports filtering by part number, description, or material.