- GenArt number
- The GenArt number — generic article number — names an article type independently of manufacturer, brand and vehicle: „brake disc“, „bumper“, „engine management control unit“. It comes from the data model of the independent aftermarket and is maintained centrally there.
The difference from a part number
| Identifier | Answers | Example statement |
|---|---|---|
| OE number | Which specific part? | 5Q0615301H |
| GenArt number | What kind of part? | Brake disc |
| VIN | From which vehicle? | One specific vehicle |
A record without an article type is blind to any filtering. A buyer typing „front brake disc“ into a search finds only listings classified as a brake disc — the part number alone will not do it, because it tells the search engine nothing about the kind of part.
What the classification is for
- Search and filters. Marketplaces and workshop systems build their categories on an article-type scheme.
- Attributes. Each article type carries the technical criteria that make sense at all — diameter and thickness on a brake disc, connector type on a control unit.
- Price comparison. Without a shared article type, offers cannot be set against each other.
- Analysis. Only the article type reveals which product groups a business actually sells.
Limits and pitfalls
- One number, several uses. Some parts belong to different article types depending on where they are fitted. The position therefore belongs in the record, not only in the description.
- Combination parts. A module combining several functions rarely fits exactly one article type. Then the main function decides — and the rest belongs in the description.
- Marketplace categories are not identical. Platforms build their own categories and map article types onto them. The mapping is usually clear, but not always.
- Do not guess. If the article type cannot be determined from the material at hand, the right answer is to leave the field open and check — not to enter the most likely category.
How the article type reaches your stock
The usual route runs via the part number: the article type is derived from the OE number through a cross-check and taken into the record together with the attributes. Where no number is available, visual determination by staff remains — fast for the most common product groups, rarely reliable for electronics.
Many systems additionally supply attributes for the number: dimensions, weight, material. These belong to the number rather than only to the individual part — they hold for every unit of the same number and save the measurement next time. More in Part identification: from removed component to sellable record.
Frequently asked
Who maintains GenArt numbers?
They come from the standardised data model of the independent aftermarket and are maintained centrally there, so that everyone means the same article type. See TecDoc: the data model behind the independent aftermarket.
Do I need the GenArt number if I have the OE number?
Yes. The OE number identifies the part, the article type makes it filterable. Without it a listing appears in no category selection.
What if a part fits no article type?
The main function decides the article type, the rest goes into the description. If the mapping is unclear, leave the field open rather than filling it by estimate.