I would like to start a discussion on what type of equipment or asset number scheme works the best. With the newer CMMS/EAM programs it seems that there is not as great a need for an intelligent number. Please share your ideas, samples of your logic, and how well it works for you.

Dont know if it is a standars of some sort but I have seen in many locations schemes with:
location code-equipment type code-sequential number. Examples:

100AHU001 for 1st Air Handling unit at building 100

050B100 for Boiler 100 at Utilities Area 050

Have a look at the attachment, which is something I produced a few years ago. You are correct in that intelligent number systems are not as important. Most CMMS systems employ a hierarchical location system that makes it easy to locate or place the assets you are seeking.

It is however still good practise to use a suitable system and if you are using a numbering system it may as well be one the users can understand.

freedoc_Data_Formatting_and_Naming_Convention.doc (48 KB, 240 downloads) Asset Numbering

For the system to work a balance (standarize vs flexibility) must be agreed in the control of the equipment codes.

1. Standarize: Make a list of equipment codes and avoid having several codes for the same thing.
Example: Code for "Pump": P? PMP? PU?
a) just select one and keep it. Use the selected code for all pumps.
b) avoid using codes like "CRP" for condensation return pump.

2) Be flexible. In one plant the Engineering Department came up with a procedure for equipment numbering. One appendix had the equipment codes to use, including code "X" to be assigned to any equipment not matching any other code at the appendix. The problem was that half of the listed codes were not applicable to the pharmaceutical plant equipment then half the plant equipment would share the code X?

Be flexible to accept new codes; but once a new code is in (MD for Metal Detector), return to the standarize rule: all new metal detectors at the plant receive code MD, code MD is not used for any other equipment.

Also check at your CMMS if there are any restrictions for the equipment number field:
* maximum number of characters
* No blank spaces within the equipment number
* Valid characters:
*** Letters A to Z,
*** Digits 0 to 9,
*** Special characters/separators: - /