> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.firstresonance.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manage parts

> Add a part to the Parts Library, edit it through its lifecycle, manage revisions, and archive parts that are out of production.

## Create a part

1. Navigate to **Parts Library** from the main nav.
2. Click **Create Part**.
3. Fill in the fields in the **Create Part** dialog:
   * **Part Number** (required): your org's identifier for the part.
   * **Revision Scheme** (required): the scheme that governs how this part's revision values increment, such as `A`, `B`, `C` or `1`, `2`, `3`. See [Set a part's revision scheme](/build-hardware/parts/revision-schemes).
   * **Tracking**: `LOT`, `SERIAL`, or **None**. See [Serial and lot tracking](/build-hardware/parts/serial-lot-tracking) before you pick.
   * **Purchase Type** (required): how the part behaves when purchased. Options are `Creates inventory`, `Does Not Create Inventory, Physically Received`, or `Does Not Create Inventory, Digitally Received`.
4. Click **Create Part**. The new part has the status **Released**, and ION opens the new part's page.
5. On the part page, fill in the remaining fields you need, such as **Description**, **Cost**, **Lead Time**, **Sourcing Strategy**, **Reorder Point Minimum / Maximum**, **Unit of Measurement**, and an **Image** for visual identification. Each field saves on its own as you edit it.

<Note>
  The revision value comes from the revision scheme you assign, starting at the scheme's first value. To create a second part that shares a part number, create it under a different revision.
</Note>

## Edit a part

Open the part from the Parts Library. Fields in the **Part Information** card edit in place and each one saves on its own as you change it. Some fields have downstream consequences:

* **Tracking**: changing this after inventory exists is constrained. ION blocks switches that would invalidate existing inventory.
* **Sourcing Strategy**: changing `Buy` to `Make` changes how procurement and MRP treat the part. Coordinate with the planning team.
* **Cost**: propagates to BOM cost rollups and inventory valuation.
* **Lead Time**: feeds Autoplan and reorder logic.

The **Revision** field is read-only on the part page. To change a revision, create a new revision or [change the revision scheme](/build-hardware/parts/revision-schemes).

If two people edit the same part at the same time, ION rejects the second save. Reload the part and reapply your change.

## Create a revision

To create a new revision:

1. Open the existing part.
2. Click **Create New Revision**.
3. ION creates the new part record at the next revision in the scheme, links it to the previous revision, copies forward editable fields, and opens the new revision's page. Edit anything that the design change requires.

## Archive a part

When a part is out of production:

1. Open the part.
2. Click **Archive**.

The part's status changes to **Archived**, and the button becomes **Release** so you can reverse it. The part stays searchable and historical references stay intact, but by default it's filtered out of active-part pickers, such as BOM line creation and PO line creation.

<Warning>
  Don't delete parts. ION archives parts instead of deleting them because runs, issues, BOMs, POs, and inventory all reference the part. Deleting a part would orphan years of history.
</Warning>

## Bulk operations

For large-scale changes, such as importing a thousand parts from an ERP, use [ION Importers](/administration/ion-importers). It gives you a dry-run mode to preview the effect before you apply it.

For programmatic part management, see [Common queries: create a part](/api-reference/common-queries/create-part).

<Tip>
  * **Lock down the numbering scheme up front.** Inconsistent part numbers such as `brkt-001`, `BRKT-001`, and `BRKT001` are the most common Parts Library hygiene issue. Pick a convention and enforce it through importer validation.
  * **Use revisions, not edits, for significant changes.** If the part's geometry, fit, or function changed, create a new revision rather than editing the existing one. Editing the existing revision rewrites history.
  * **Set the thumbnail.** It pays off every time someone scans a list of fifty parts and tries to find the right one.
</Tip>

## Related

* [Set a part's revision scheme](/build-hardware/parts/revision-schemes)
* [Serial and lot tracking](/build-hardware/parts/serial-lot-tracking)
* [Bills of Materials](/build-hardware/bills-of-materials)
* [ION Importers](/administration/ion-importers)