Configuration Management Glossary

A bill of materials where child parts are linked by their part number to the parent part revision.
_{Source: mdux.net}

Synonym of Unit
_{Source: The Essential Guide to Part Re-Identification}

Parts that are capable of fully replacing each other in any application*. (Fully: achieving the same results without any special measures, except for normal adjustment**, e.g., calibration, adjusting the tension on a belt, or the alignment of a component)

_{* Source: Ken Black, Institute for Process Excellence (IpX) – CM2-501 rev 005
** Source: US DoD - MIL-STD-280A Military Standard Definitions of Item Levels, Item Exchangeability, Models and Related Terms (1969)}

Refers to the interaction between parts and between parts and their environment, including their user. Things like user interaction, interoperability, syntax, semantics, and protocols for communication.
_{Source: The Essential Guide to Part Re-Identification}

The ability of different parts to work together seamlessly and effectively, allowing data and information to be exchanged between them without the need for special effort or manual intervention.
_{Source: The Essential Guide to Part Re-Identification}

A non-specific term used to denote anything that can be specified by requirements and can be used to decompose any type of hierarchy, e.g. a part or a function.
_{Source: mdux.net}