Chapter 3 – Identification Numbers

Publisher Summary A serial number (SN) is a number assigned to each individual product in order to distinguish that product from all others. They are usually assigned in sequence per product or product family. Manufacturing normally assigns the serial numbers to each product. As companies grow, they may decide to build products in the same family in more than one plant. At this point, the blocks of serials used by each plant must be controlled in order to avoid duplication. Configuration Management (CM) must assure that all necessary parties agree to and are aware of the assignment of the blocks. An alternate method is to have each plant prefix the serial with a letter assigned by CM. This letter should be reflected on a released document—the nameplate drawing or a separate document referenced on the nameplate drawing. Production Control typically assigns serial numbers at some point near the end of the production line. Manufacturing for warranty purposes must capture the shipment date of each serial number. Manufacturing must also track noninterchangeable changes to the serial number(s) they actually affect (actual effectivity) or to date, mod, etc.