Just a warning., You have to be very careful with stuff like this.
If you let stuff get added "on the fly", you will 100% get junk added. Duplicates (ie near duplicates), typos and so on
So if you allow users to add a new part, because they can't locate the correct part description, then instead of a 50mm widget, you will end up with
50 mm widget
50 mm. widget
50 mm widget (note - I have an extra space in here which has been removed automatically when displayed)
50mm widget
50 mm wigdet and so on.
so this will happen if you have a part description, and then use an autonumber as an internal reference, amd allow users to add new parts.
however if you want a specific part number, and a description, then the people setting up new part codes should be closely controlled. Very few people should have the ability to create parts in the part table. There should generally be little need for a general data clerk to need to create new parts.
Just a personal view.