Part Classification System

• Based on part manufacturing attributes.
• Based on part design attributes.
• Based on both manufacturing and design attributes.

The CODING system for part classification can be of two basic structures:

• Hierarchical structure.
• Chain-type structure.

We shall explain the above two systems with an example : Consider a two digit code, such as 05, 15, 25, 35, 45, etc.

Let the First digit symbolizes General Shape of the cross section of the part so that digit 0 means Round Part, 1 means Irregular shape, 2 means Flat Rectangular part, 3 means Triangular, 4 means Square or Rectangular and so on.

Hierarchical Code System

The interpretation of the second digit, i.e. 5 in this example, will depend on the value of the first digit.

Therefore, for the code 15, 5 may indicate Length/Diameter ratio whereas, for the second code 25.

The digit 5 may indicate overall length.

Chain-Type Code Structure

The digit 5 indicates same meaning irrespective of whether the first digit is 1 or 2.