A parts book is a catalog of available parts for equipment, used to order the correct part. It can be in book or electronic form, with online versions being easy to update. The book provides an order number and information on installation. Some manufacturers only issue them to authorized dealers.
A parts book is a catalog of available parts and components for equipment issued by a manufacturer or a company that supplies parts from a variety of manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers. This reference book is required to order the correct part. Updates are usually released regularly to keep up with new information about parts and accessories. The parts book will have a title page to indicate when it was published so readers can determine if it is the most recent edition.
Historically, manufacturers sent out a literal book, a bound collection of part numbers and types with an index to help personnel look up what they needed. Manufacturers sometimes also sent these references on microfiche. Most today use electronic parts books issued on storage media such as CDs or accessed remotely through an online database. An advantage of online parts books is that they are easy to update, and anyone who consults the parts book can work confident that they have the most recent information.
There are several ways people can use a parts book. One option is to take the serial number or vehicle identification number of an equipment and plug it in to get a complete parts list. The user can narrow down the list to find the part they want, such as a left headlight assembly or a specific belt. You can also use the index to get a list of all parts of a certain type and check compatibility from there. The technician could look for fan belts, for example, and then check which ones can be used in equipment of a specific manufacturer and year.
The parts book provides the order number so the technician can order the right part. Some may connect to an inventory system to allow the technician to determine if the part is in stock. If not, he can find the nearest warehouse and order it from there to ensure it arrives in a timely manner. The parts book can also provide information on installing the part, as many parts do not come with directions and sometimes the assembly can be confusing.
Some manufacturers treat their parts books as proprietary and will only issue them to authorized dealers of their equipment and matching parts. Others make them available for free and allow consumers to bypass a retailer and order directly from them. In the event that the book is not available to the public, consultation is usually free and the consumer is under no obligation to purchase the part.
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