Patent ID: 7047237

Claim:
A part management system used for parts management of parts of an apparatus comprising: a database system including at least one database, wherein said at least one database stores data on said parts, said data including an electronic parts list describing part numbers for identifying said parts; and a data check computer system which checks whether said data stored in said at least one database complies with a predetermined rule, including checking at least one of the consistency and conformity of the part numbers described within the electronic parts list, and produces a warning in response to said checking; wherein: said parts are provided with ranks for hierarchical management, said database system includes an accessory management computer system for managing accessories of said apparatus, said accessory management computer system contains a variation-specific parts list which includes part numbers of variation-specific parts constituting a variation-specific accessory which is equipped for a variation of said apparatus to distinguish said variation from another variation of said apparatus, and said data check computer system looks up data on said variation-specific parts in said electronic parts list using said part numbers of said variation-specific parts as a query and determines whether said variation-specific parts are provided with the highest rank in said electronic part list, and produces said warning in response thereto.