Serial Numbers and Part Numbers

I had an opportunity to create some serial numbers for a telecommunications firm that made some power amps for a client. Here are some guidelines I use for creating serial numbers. The same guide should also be applied for part numbers.

• Never use the letter "O" because it is easy to confuse with the number 0 (zero).
• Never use the small letter "l" (L) or the capital letter "I" ( i ) because it may be confused with the number 1.
• All alpha characters should always be uppercase.
• A "Z" is questionable because it can be confused with a hand written "2".
• The letter "S" can be confused with a hand written number "5".

By following these guidlines you will save yourself problems that can occur later on in the life cycle of the product.

Back To Tips, Guidelines, Articles