Abstract: A method, system and program product for communicating part data between an enterprise and a particular supplier of a plurality of suppliers to the enterprise are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention provides a part number library database at the enterprise including part number detail data regarding a plurality of parts to be procured from the plurality of suppliers. The part number library database is used to generate a part number detail document file including all part number detail documents for the particular supplier, and a part number detail document add/change file including any new part number detail documents and any changed part number detail documents compared to a last generation of the part number detail document file for the particular supplier. The two files are then communicated to the particular supplier. Hence, the invention reduces duplicative work at the enterprise and ensures that the enterprise and the supplier are up-to-date on part information.

Abstract: A central information processing system and method create and maintain a bill of materials (BOM) for design and manufacture of a product linking by receiving a BOM, assembled to a predefined point of completion adequate for processing by a reviewing party, automatically communicating feedback to the reviewing party indicating the BOM is ready for processing and iteratively: processing the BOM by the reviewing party and automatically communicating feedback to the originating party for editing, then automatically notifying the reviewing party that the BOM is ready for processing. While processing the BOM, the method determines a level of collaboration review for each component part of the BOM based upon the chronological stage of the design and whether the component part has a pre-existing manufacturing part number. Further processing is dependant upon the level of collaboration.