Part classification
Also called parts classification, classification
Part classification organizes parts into a hierarchy of families with defined attributes (a fastener's thread, length and material, say), so engineers can search by what a part is and reuse it instead of creating a duplicate.
Without classification, the easiest way to find a part is to make a new one. Duplicates pile up, and each one carries its own cost in purchasing, inventory and quality.
Windchill has classification built in. The hard part is the taxonomy: deciding the families and attributes with engineering and purchasing, then cleaning up the existing parts. Smart part numbers often get retired along the way.
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Last reviewed November 2026 by Element Consulting
