> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.silkline.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.silkline.ai/parts.md).

# Parts

Organize the parts library, link requests and orders to part masters, manage revisions, and analyze procurement history per part

Silkline's Parts library helps companies organize their procurement data, ensure that Requests and Purchase Orders are correctly linked to part/item masters, and analyze the procurement history of a part.

<figure><img src="https://2684497859-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FwPsevXC0g5kNMF7GTyPN%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-09d5d44f7b5d486b6b0d85e690b89315799776de%2FScreenshot%202025-02-23%20at%2010.21.43%E2%80%AFAM.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Import parts from a spreadsheet

For standalone organizations, open **Parts**, click the wrench (**Admin tools**), and select **Bulk import parts**. You need both **Create Part** and **Edit Part** permissions. For customer users, bulk import is unavailable when the organization has an integration. Silkline support staff in Silkline admin mode can use all import types.

1. Select **Material** and download the CSV template if needed.
2. Upload a CSV or Excel spreadsheet and map its columns.
3. Review and correct the data, then continue to the import preview.
4. Run **Create** for new parts and **Update** for existing parts as needed.

Parts match on **Material Number** and **Revision**. Map **Name** when creating parts. Updates preserve fields you do not map. Mapping **Default Quality Clauses** replaces that list; a blank mapped value clears it.

## Part creation/editing

We typically recommend maintaining part/item masters in a customer's PLM and then integrating them with applicable systems such as Silkline, an ERP, and an MES.

Silkline supports part creation/editing directly within Silkline to support these use cases:

* Customers who don't have an external system (e.g., PLM) to manage their parts library
* Customers who want buyers to be able to create part/item masters during their workflow for creating requests or POs
  * If applicable, item masters can be synced back to external systems, like a PLM

Bills of materials can be created, imported, edited, cloned, and archived in Silkline regardless of this setting. When part creation is disabled in [organization settings](/profile-and-settings/organization-settings/parts.md), every BOM line must use a part that already exists in the Parts library; you can't create new parts from a BOM.

The **Bills of Materials** list shows the latest revision of each BOM. Search matches the BOM name or assembly part number, and filters narrow the list by status, archived, and created or updated date. With [data cleaning mode](/administration-tools/data-cleaning-mode.md) on, you can bulk edit the status or archived flag of selected BOMs.

## Latest revision

For external systems that indicate which revision is the latest for a part, this **latest** status is displayed as a badge next to the part revision badge: <img src="https://2684497859-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FwPsevXC0g5kNMF7GTyPN%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-fe76bdfaf2edf0b379ec5450c85b6d75c922c7ce%2FScreenshot%202025-02-23%20at%2010.43.00%E2%80%AFAM.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line">

This value also appears in part searches to help identify which part is the latest when adding items to a request or purchase order.

To filter the parts table by revision, use the **Revision** filter to pick one or more revisions, or **No revision** for parts without one. Use the **Latest Revision** filter to show only latest revisions (**Yes**) or only earlier ones (**No**). Parts with no latest status count as **No**.

## Inventory type

Every part has an inventory type describing whether it is received and whether it is held as inventory:

<table><thead><tr><th width="170">Inventory type</th><th>Meaning</th><th>Typical examples</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Inventory</strong></td><td>Received and held as inventory</td><td>Components, raw materials, assemblies</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Non-Inventory</strong></td><td>Received, but not held as inventory</td><td>Consumables, tooling, office and IT purchases</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Non-Receivable</strong></td><td>Not received at all</td><td>Services, software licenses, freight, tariffs</td></tr></tbody></table>

Where this matters:

* **Receiving.** When an order is released, the order's workflow creates receiving steps for its lines. Lines whose part is **Non-Receivable** are skipped, since there is nothing to receive. **Inventory** and **Non-Inventory** lines are both received normally.
* **Filtering the part search.** The part search can be narrowed to a single inventory type — see [Searching for parts](#searching-for-parts).
* **Pedigree.** If your organization turns on [Require Pedigree for Inventory Items](/profile-and-settings/organization-settings/pedigree.md), only **Inventory** lines need a pedigree; Non-Inventory and Non-Receivable lines are exempt. This setting is off by default.

Parts created in Silkline are **Inventory** unless you choose otherwise. Parts synced from an external system take whatever that system indicates — see the [integration's documentation](https://docs.silkline.ai/configuration/integrations/) for how each one maps to these types.

## Searching for parts

When adding items to a request or purchase order, the part search returns parts of every inventory type by default. Use the **All** dropdown at the top of the search results to narrow results to a single inventory type: **Inventory**, **Non-Inventory**, or **Non-Receivable**.

## Exporting parts

Use the **Export** button below the parts table to download a CSV of the parts library. The export reflects the table as configured on screen:

* Any active filters and search terms are applied, and every matching row is included — not just the rows on the current page.
* The CSV includes the columns currently visible in the table, with headers that match the column names shown on screen. Use the column picker to add columns to the export — for example, **Updated** and **Latest Revision** are available but not shown by default.

The **SPN/MPN** tab has its own **Export** button that works the same way, downloading the supplier and manufacturer part numbers as displayed.

## Part fields

<table><thead><tr><th width="185">Field</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Part Number</td><td>The part number associated with the part <strong>(required)</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Revision</td><td>The revision number/letter/code associated with the part (not required by Silkline, but may be required by other systems)</td></tr><tr><td>Description</td><td>The text description of the part; this value is searchable and also appears on RFQs/POs</td></tr><tr><td>Archived</td><td>Boolean field indicating whether the part is archived</td></tr><tr><td>Unit of Measure</td><td>The unit of measure text associated with the part (e.g., EA, KGS, FT); by default, this value is a free text field since external systems have various unit of measure schemas</td></tr><tr><td>Tracking Level</td><td>Multiple selection amongst these values: Lot, Serial</td></tr><tr><td>Inventory Type</td><td>Inventory, Non-Inventory, or Non-Receivable — see <a href="#inventory-type">Inventory type</a></td></tr><tr><td>Default Quality Clauses</td><td>The quality clauses that will be applied to a part by default</td></tr><tr><td>Files</td><td>Optional drawings, specs, and other files for this part; each file opens and downloads individually. Files are not typed as material certifications, and files on a BOM's components are not collected onto the parent part</td></tr></tbody></table>