Washer product attributes

Washer records fail on dimensions more than on names. A 1/2 in flat washer comes in several patterns, and the USS and SAE versions have different inside and outside diameters even though both are sold as 1/2 in. Supplier files often give only the screw size, leaving the catalog unable to tell a buyer whether the washer will clear a slotted hole or sit flush on a bolt head.

Thickness is a second issue. Dimensional standards give washer thickness as a minimum and maximum band, not a single value, and suppliers quote whichever number they prefer. Hardness is also easy to lose, although it separates a general-purpose washer from a through-hardened or structural washer intended for high-strength bolts.

Coatings deserve their own attention. Yellow and clear zinc finishes can be produced with trivalent or hexavalent chromate chemistry, and some customers restrict the latter. Spring, Belleville and wave washers add load and deflection values that flat washers do not have. A record that separates these properties lets a buyer pick a washer by the bolt, the hole and the load.

The washers attribute template

18 candidate fields in 4 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 10 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	FWH-050-SAE-ZY
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Core	614141234608
Package Quantity / UOM package_quantity_uom	Number · pcs	Core	100 per box (sold per box)

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
For Screw Size (Nominal) for_screw_size_nominal	Controlled list	Core	1/2 in
Inside Diameter inside_diameter	Number · in	Core	0.531 in
Outside Diameter outside_diameter	Number · in	Core	1.062 in
Thickness thickness	Text · in	Core	0.074-0.121 in
Hardness Class hardness_class	Text · HRC	Buyer decision	38-45 HRC
Spring Load at Flat spring_load_at_flat	Number · lbf	Buyer decision	1,320 lbf (Belleville washers only; N/A for flat washers)

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Washer Type washer_type	Controlled list	Core	Flat washer, through-hardened
Material / Grade material_grade	Controlled list	Core	Medium-carbon steel, through-hardened
Finish / Coating finish_coating	Controlled list	Core	Zinc Plated, ASTM B633 SC1 Type III
Series / Pattern series_pattern	Controlled list	Buyer decision	SAE (Type A Narrow)
Edge Condition edge_condition	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Plain (not chamfered)

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Dimensional Standard dimensional_standard	Controlled list	Buyer decision	ASME B18.22.1 Type A, Narrow
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	United States
RoHS / REACH Status rohs_reach_status	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	RoHS compliant (trivalent passivate)
Certification Available certification_available	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Certificate of conformance on request

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Series / Pattern (USS vs SAE)
• Thickness Min/Max Band
• Hardness Class
• Chromate Chemistry (trivalent vs hexavalent)
• Spring Load at Flat (Belleville and wave washers)

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing washers ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Is this the wide USS pattern or the narrower SAE washer for a 1/2 in bolt?
• What is the actual outside diameter, and will it cover a slotted hole?
• Is the zinc finish trivalent, for a customer who restricts hexavalent chromium?
• Is this washer through-hardened for use under a Grade 8 bolt?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ