Re: How do you name the possibilities?

In a previous incarnation I spent 24 years as a quality engineer for an aero engine manufacturer. Inventory and names was a big deal.
Their method was to have a general name for each component (shaft, gear, casing) and an alpha/numeric identifier. Letters at the begining indicate which engine and then 6 numbers.
I was always astonished at design meetings hearing designers shout 6 digit numbers at each other.
If it's what your working with all day every day it becomes second nature.
If the inventory is/will be large, trying to get short descriptive names will difficult and possibly more difficult to remember.
The number becomes a name and it quickly becomes associated with the object. Like hearing a persons name and thinking of the person.
McDonald's have pictures of all their meals. You can point to it (look it up).
The cafe I goto has the menu on the wall against numbers. You walk in and shout "number 15" without even looking at the wall!
I'd be interested in hearing how you get on. If inventory is big though, cut straight to numbers! It will be quicker and easier in the long run.
wfsp

Comment on Re: How do you name the possibilities?

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Re^2: How do you name the possibilities? by dimar (Curate) on Jul 07, 2004 at 19:48 UTC
The numbers strategy seems like the only realistic approach, underneath the surface, this really is just a question on how to generate a Base N numbering system in a new 'language' where that language is heavily influenced by the particulars of any given problem domain. I worked for an organization that used a similar strategy for issuing e-mail addresses to new employees. People would refer to each other by their e-mail 'codes' rather than names. It got very strange after a while how easily they were interchangeable.	[reply]

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Re^2: How do you name the possibilities?
by dimar (Curate) on Jul 07, 2004 at 19:48 UTC

The numbers strategy seems like the only realistic approach, underneath the surface, this really is just a question on how to generate a Base N numbering system in a new 'language' where that language is heavily influenced by the particulars of any given problem domain. I worked for an organization that used a similar strategy for issuing e-mail addresses to new employees. People would refer to each other by their e-mail 'codes' rather than names. It got very strange after a while how easily they were interchangeable.

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