MRO item identity is a composite concept covering all fields used to identify an MRO item in an ERP/CMMS system. The fields include material short and long descriptions, key specifications, manufacturer and manufacturer part number (MPN).
I coined the term MRO material master identity because I could not find a term in use for what was needed to describe the combined information stored in MRO material/item records that support saying what that record represents in the real-world. If you Google the term, and you will see my writing on the topic.
End users observe elements of an item’s identity when they view its descriptions, its stored classification values (where key specs may be stored), or its Manufacturer and MPN fields.
Master Data Governance users will look to the item classification record to see all identity fields stored in an Identity Class record for the object.