29 ms·

When I was a kid, I thought IKEA product codes (eg: 002.638.50) were coordinates in 3D space of where the item was stored in a giant IKEA warehouse (like in the

When I was a kid, I thought IKEA product codes (eg: 002.638.50) were coordinates in 3D space of where the item was stored in a giant IKEA warehouse (like in the film Cube, but less deadly). I'd like to know the reasoning behind it though. Parts of a same product usually have very different numbers.

t0mas88 4y ago
I think that very different numbering is to make sure customers don't pick up the wrong box. They seem to put very different numbers next to each other in the warehouse.
- ape4 4y ago
  That seems smart - but then they need other numbers for coordinates I guess.
  - agloe_dreams 4y ago
    Assuming that all warehouses are the same size and shape and carry the same things, which is why they instead use Local bin numbers. Works a lot like an IP and MAC I suppose.
  - brudgers 4y ago
    Items in the warehouse go through many coordinates during manufacture, shipment, merchandiser, etc. before going out to the parking lot with a customer. The part number is for accounting. It allows allocation of expenses such as raw materials in a meaningful way.
  - teejmya 4y ago
    Which they do: Aisle and Bin numbers on each item describing where it is in the warehouse. I think the product number codes are equivalent to SKUs.
- yamtaddle 4y ago
  Kinda like that (maybe false?) story about the Stalin solving a problem during WWII involving same-diameter mortar shells and rockets getting mixed up in logistical orders (so, your unit needs mortar shells, but you receive rockets, and vice versa) by dictating that one be re-labeled with an incorrect (but unique!) diameter. Make it different enough that even a partial or partially-understood name is unlikely to be mistaken for something else.
  - somat 4y ago
    The world war two sherman tank originally had a 75 mm gun, later this was upgraded to a 76 mm high velocity gun. The interesting thing is that the 76 mm gun was actually 75mm, the army used the 76mm designation because the ammo was incompatible and they wanted to avoid exactly the sort of problems you would have if you had to deliver ammo for two different 75 mm guns. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76_mm_gun_M1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76_mm_gun_M1
    - totoglazer 4y ago
      The wiki page seems to imply it was actually 76mm?
      - somat 4y ago
        You may be right, I was mainly going off memory, and did a quick check to confirm it using reference point 10 '''The "76-mm" designation was chosen to help keep the supply of ammunition from being confused between the two guns'''
    - xani_ 4y ago
      I'm guessing infanty went "1mm, close enough" and did it anyway?
tanepiper 4y ago
Next time you're in the store... look up
- solarkraft 4y ago
  Wow, those fans are pretty big ...
  - easrng 4y ago
    Maybe big ass fans, even.
Jun8 4y ago
https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-3008 https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-3008
meknowmeatballs 4y ago
Essentially it’s an 8 integer “ARTicle number” aka sku. Periods are a UI/UX feature added 50 years ago for Human Readability. Factor in that the same exact article may have a different ART number due to a countries legal requirements/certifications/labels trying to keep any structure in that 8 digit range becomes impossible considering they are all in a global namespace. The article didn’t dive into the true complexity and the core problem they are solving for when it comes to the relationships between Articles and Product Groupings (Combinations) required that makes a complete product ( Desk,Bed,Pax Wardrobe,Kitchen,Couch etc ) and the attributes/meta data required to keep track of compatible legs/hinges/slats/wheels/doors/covers that are required for each combo of each color of each variation along with the true assembled size and relationships back to compatible articles and complementary products. 2D/3D Coordinates were in use and a representation may be found looking up ;).
- tanepiper 4y ago
  Can confirm the dots are just UI. And this is a pretty accurate description of some of the challenges.

t0mas88 4y ago

I think that very different numbering is to make sure customers don't pick up the wrong box. They seem to put very different numbers next to each other in the warehouse.

ape4 4y ago
That seems smart - but then they need other numbers for coordinates I guess.
- agloe_dreams 4y ago
  Assuming that all warehouses are the same size and shape and carry the same things, which is why they instead use Local bin numbers. Works a lot like an IP and MAC I suppose.
- brudgers 4y ago
  Items in the warehouse go through many coordinates during manufacture, shipment, merchandiser, etc. before going out to the parking lot with a customer. The part number is for accounting. It allows allocation of expenses such as raw materials in a meaningful way.
- teejmya 4y ago
  Which they do: Aisle and Bin numbers on each item describing where it is in the warehouse. I think the product number codes are equivalent to SKUs.
yamtaddle 4y ago
Kinda like that (maybe false?) story about the Stalin solving a problem during WWII involving same-diameter mortar shells and rockets getting mixed up in logistical orders (so, your unit needs mortar shells, but you receive rockets, and vice versa) by dictating that one be re-labeled with an incorrect (but unique!) diameter. Make it different enough that even a partial or partially-understood name is unlikely to be mistaken for something else.
- somat 4y ago
  The world war two sherman tank originally had a 75 mm gun, later this was upgraded to a 76 mm high velocity gun. The interesting thing is that the 76 mm gun was actually 75mm, the army used the 76mm designation because the ammo was incompatible and they wanted to avoid exactly the sort of problems you would have if you had to deliver ammo for two different 75 mm guns. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76_mm_gun_M1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76_mm_gun_M1
  - totoglazer 4y ago
    The wiki page seems to imply it was actually 76mm?
    - somat 4y ago
      You may be right, I was mainly going off memory, and did a quick check to confirm it using reference point 10 '''The "76-mm" designation was chosen to help keep the supply of ammunition from being confused between the two guns'''
  - xani_ 4y ago
    I'm guessing infanty went "1mm, close enough" and did it anyway?

tanepiper 4y ago

Next time you're in the store... look up

solarkraft 4y ago
Wow, those fans are pretty big ...
- easrng 4y ago
  Maybe big ass fans, even.

Jun8 4y ago

https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-3008 https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-3008

meknowmeatballs 4y ago

Essentially it’s an 8 integer “ARTicle number” aka sku. Periods are a UI/UX feature added 50 years ago for Human Readability. Factor in that the same exact article may have a different ART number due to a countries legal requirements/certifications/labels trying to keep any structure in that 8 digit range becomes impossible considering they are all in a global namespace. The article didn’t dive into the true complexity and the core problem they are solving for when it comes to the relationships between Articles and Product Groupings (Combinations) required that makes a complete product ( Desk,Bed,Pax Wardrobe,Kitchen,Couch etc ) and the attributes/meta data required to keep track of compatible legs/hinges/slats/wheels/doors/covers that are required for each combo of each color of each variation along with the true assembled size and relationships back to compatible articles and complementary products. 2D/3D Coordinates were in use and a representation may be found looking up ;).

tanepiper 4y ago
Can confirm the dots are just UI. And this is a pretty accurate description of some of the challenges.