Part interchangeability
Part interchangeability refers to whether an alternate part number can be substituted for all of the alternate part numbers in the part group. By default, Maintenix considers all the part numbers in a part group to be valid alternates to each other, therefore interchangeable with any of the alternate parts in the part group. This is called two-way interchangeability.
However, there are situations when you want to specify one-way interchangeability, where part A can be used to replace part B, but part B cannot be used to replace part A, as shown in the following diagram. One-way interchangeability can be specified for part numbers that have one of the following inventory classes: assembly, tracked, and serial-controlled.
Figure: Part Interchangeability
Maintenix assigns an interchangeability order value of 1 for each part number you create in the system, which makes all parts in the same part group interchangeable with each other (two-way interchangeability). You can edit the details of the part numbers to give them different interchangeability order values.
Whenever a part is installed on an assembly, as part of a maintenance task or when technical records personnel update inventory records after the installation has been performed, Maintenix compares the part number of the removed component with the part number of the installed component. Maintenix lets mechanics install part numbers that have the same interchangeability order, or a higher one, than the part that is currently installed, but does not allow the installation of a part with a lower interchangeability order. Within a part group, part numbers that have the same interchangeability order are two-way interchangeable.
Your administrator can configure Maintenix to only display warnings about interchangeability problems but still allow users to proceed, or display an error and prevent the user from continuing. Also, the administrator can configure Maintenix to allow only a subset of users, for example those with the maintenance supervisor role, to proceed with the installation of a non-interchangeable part, while preventing all other maintenance users from doing so. See the Maintenix Administration Guide.
The following is an example of a part group that include different interchangeability values:
| Part Group | Part Number | Interchangeability Order |
|---|---|---|
| 33-20-00-04-5 (Unit Lighting) | Part A | 1 |
| Part B | 1 | |
| Part C | 2 |
In this situation, Part A and Part B are two-way interchangeable, because they have the same interchangeability order. However, Part A and Part C are one way interchangeable, as are Part B and Part C, because in each case, the parts have different interchangeability order values.
For the one-way interchangeable parts numbers, the following is true:
- Maintenix allows Part A and Part B to be replaced with Part C, because the latter part number has a higher interchangeability order.
- Maintenix does not allow Part C to be replaced with either Part A or Part B, because both of these part numbers have a lower interchangeability order.
- All other permutations are allowed: replacing Part A with part B, replacing Part B with Part A, and any replacement involving two parts of the same part number.
You can see the interchangeability order value of parts, and edit them, on the Part Group Details page, Assigned Parts tab, and on the Part Details page, Alternate Parts tab.