Method and apparatus for generating and managing parts-configuration information

An information display device for displaying at least one chart pertaining to a product of an organization, said device comprising a first display unit adapted to display a first table depicting a plurality of parts of the product,

• wherein the organization comprises a plurality of departments;
• wherein the first table depicts a plurality of hierarchies;
• wherein each hierarchy describes hierarchical relationships among the parts of the plurality of parts;
• wherein each part appears in at least one hierarchy of the plurality of hierarchies;
• and
• wherein each department is associated with a corresponding hierarchy of the plurality of hierarchies;
• wherein each hierarchy comprises level numbers denoting hierarchical levels in each hierarchy;
• wherein each part has an associated level number that is specific to each hierarchy in which each part appears, as depicted in the first table;
• and
• wherein each part is a child of a parent part that is specific to each hierarchy in which each part appears, subject to each parent part being either the product or a part of the plurality of parts, as depicted in the first table;
• wherein the first table comprises a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
• wherein the plurality of columns comprise a Part Number column, a Parent Part column, a Level column, and an EPS Section column;
• wherein each part is denoted in at least one row in the Part Number column;
• and
• wherein for each row in which a part is denoted in the Part Number column, the denoted part number:
• has its parent part denoted in the Parent Part column,
• has its associated level number denoted in the Level column, and
• is used by each department of at least one department denoted in the EPS Section column such that the denoted level number is specific to each denoted department in the EPS Section column.