The Normalization Engine

3M+ product codes. 98% precision. 100% deterministic. Zero AI guessing.
This is what makes everything else possible.

Why It Matters

A babel tower of codes. Same product, countless descriptions.

Supplier A (USA) PIPE 6IN SCH40 A106 GR.B SMLS
Supplier B (Italy) TUBO S/S 6" SCH40 A106 GR.B
Supplier C (Germany) NAHTLOS 168.3x7.11 A106B
Supplier D (France) TUBE SS 6 POUCES SCH40 A106

Any format, any language

Normalizer
Unique Product Code
Descriptive PIPE-SMLS-A106-GRB-6-SCH40-ASMEB36.10
For ERP (SHA-256) PIP-7F3A9E2B1C4D8

1 Language

Everyone speaks the same code. No more translation errors.

Automation

What took weeks now happens instantly. TBE/CBE on autopilot.

Traceability

Every step documented. Audit-ready. Reproducible.

AI Can't Be Used to Normalize

Piping specs require 100% accuracy. AI guesses. We don't.

AI / LLM
Probabilistic
"Maybe 95% correct"
  • Hallucinations on edge cases
  • Different output each run
  • "Why?" → "I don't know"
  • Can't pass audit
Rule-Based Engine
Deterministic
100% consistent
  • Traceable: see exactly which rule matched
  • Reproducible: same input = same output
  • "Why?" → exact rule reference
  • Audit-ready documentation

No black boxes. No probabilistic guessing. No unexplainable results.

Normalization = Automation

Normalization is the real magic. Everything else follows.

Input
SMLS PIPE 6" A106-B
Normalized
PIP-7F3A9E2B1C4D8
Tech Validation
For Engineering
Supplier Bid
Structured Quote
Auto TBE/CBE
Now Possible

Same unique code across the entire workflow enables automated technical and commercial bid evaluation.

3 Million Products. Normalized.

The largest piping classification database in the industry.

Pipes
Valves
Fittings BW
Fittings SW
Flanges
Gaskets
Bolts
Sizes 1/8" – 80"
Standards ASME · API · EN · ISO · MSS
Materials CS · SS · Duplex · Nickel Alloys
3M+
Product Codes
10
Languages
98%
Precision

We Understand Standards.

The normalizer catches technical errors before they become expensive problems.

WN Flange Without Schedule

Weld-neck flanges require bore schedule. Missing = wrong bore diameter = weld defect.

EN Dimensions on ASME Product

DN 150 x 6.3mm on ASME B36.10 pipe. Standards don't mix. Product doesn't exist.

Schedule S on Carbon Steel

SCH 5S, 10S, 40S are stainless steel schedules. Carbon steel uses SCH 5, 10, 40.

Wrong Material for Service

A105 fittings with A312 pipe? A105 is carbon steel forging, A312 is stainless. Mismatch.

Non-Standard Dimensions

6" SCH 30 doesn't exist in B36.10. Someone invented a schedule that no mill produces.

Incompatible Pressure Class

Class 150 flange mated to PN 40 valve. Different drilling patterns. Won't bolt up.

What Happens When Errors Slip Through?

Technical Clarifications

Weeks of back-and-forth with suppliers clarifying what you actually need.

Wrong Materials on Site

Product arrives, doesn't fit. Return, reorder, delay. Project schedule blown.

Cost Overruns

Rush orders, air freight, rework. A $50 flange error becomes a $50,000 problem.

Catch errors at the MTO stage. Not on the construction site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the normalization engine.

What does "normalization" mean in piping procurement?
Normalization is the process of converting any piping material description into a single, unique product code. The same 6" seamless A106 Gr.B pipe can appear in an MTO as "PIPE 6IN SCH40 A106 GR.B SMLS", "TUBO S/S 6" SCH40 A106 GR.B", or "NAHTLOS 168.3x7.11 A106B". Our engine recognizes all these variants and maps them to one unique code. This makes automated comparison, budgeting, and bid tabulation possible.
Why not use AI or machine learning for normalization?
Piping specs require 100% accuracy. A wrong schedule, a wrong material grade, or a wrong dimension standard can cause serious safety and cost issues on a construction site. AI/LLM models are probabilistic: they guess, and they can hallucinate. Our rule-based engine is deterministic. Same input always produces the same output, every rule is traceable, and results are audit-ready. In piping procurement, "95% correct" is not acceptable.
What kind of errors does the engine detect?
The engine validates every line item against ASME, API, EN, and ISO standards. It catches missing schedules on weld-neck flanges, mixed EN/ASME dimensions, stainless steel schedules applied to carbon steel products, incompatible material combinations (like A105 fittings with A312 pipe), non-standard dimensions that no mill produces, and mismatched pressure classes between components.
How many products does the engine cover?
Over 3 million unique product codes covering pipes, valves, butt-weld fittings, socket-weld fittings, flanges, gaskets, and bolts. Sizes range from 1/8" to 80", in carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex, and nickel alloys. The engine supports ASME, API, EN, ISO, and MSS standards, and can process descriptions in 10 languages.
What is the unique product code used for?
The unique product code is a deterministic hash (SHA-256) of the normalized technical description. It serves as the common language across the entire procurement workflow: MTO upload, RFQ generation, supplier quoting, bid tabulation (TBE/CBE), and PO issuance. It also enables budget pricing from commodity market data, cross-project spend analysis, and clean ERP integration.
Does this replace AVEVA ERM or Hexagon Smart Materials?
No. AVEVA ERM and Hexagon Smart Materials are materials management systems that store catalogs, track inventory, and manage site logistics. Our engine handles a different problem: normalizing MTO descriptions, generating budget prices, automating RFQs, and producing TBE/CBE documents. We run alongside your existing ERP and feed normalized data back into it. Different tools, different jobs.

See the Magic in Action

30 minutes. Your MTO normalized, errors flagged, unique codes generated. See exactly how it works.

Book a Demo