A method and system are provided for automatically identifying
non-labeled, manufactured parts. The system includes an electronic
storage device to store templates of a plurality of known good,
manufactured parts. Each of the templates includes a part profile and a
set of features. Each of the features includes a range of acceptable
values. Each of the templates has a part identification code associated
therewith. A first subsystem optically measures a profile and features of
a part to be purchased. The system further includes a processor operable
to compare the profile and the features of the part to be purchased with
the profile and corresponding features of each of the stored templates to
identify a template which most closely matches the profile and features
of the part to be purchased and to generate and transmit an
identification signal representing the part identification code for the
part associated with the most closely matched template.