diff --git a/InvenTree/part/migrations/0003_auto_20190525_2226.py b/InvenTree/part/migrations/0003_auto_20190525_2226.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3e805d460d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/InvenTree/part/migrations/0003_auto_20190525_2226.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Generated by Django 2.2 on 2019-05-25 12:26
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+import django.db.models.deletion
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('part', '0002_auto_20190520_2204'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='part',
+            name='has_variants',
+            field=models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text='Is this part a template part?'),
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='part',
+            name='variant_of',
+            field=models.ForeignKey(blank=True, help_text='Is this part a variant of another part?', limit_choices_to={'active': True, 'has_variants': True}, null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL, related_name='variants', to='part.Part'),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/InvenTree/part/models.py b/InvenTree/part/models.py
index 385bae7bf4..d03c6030e3 100644
--- a/InvenTree/part/models.py
+++ b/InvenTree/part/models.py
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ class Part(models.Model):
         description: Longer form description of the part
         keywords: Optional keywords for improving part search results
         IPN: Internal part number (optional)
+        has_variants: If True, this part is a 'template' part and cannot be instantiated as a StockItem
         URL: Link to an external page with more information about this part (e.g. internal Wiki)
         image: Image of this part
         default_location: Where the item is normally stored (may be null)
@@ -258,6 +259,17 @@ class Part(models.Model):
 
     variant = models.CharField(max_length=32, blank=True, help_text='Part variant or revision code')
 
+    has_variants = models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text='Is this part a template part?')
+
+    variant_of = models.ForeignKey('part.Part', related_name='variants',
+                                   null=True, blank=True,
+                                   limit_choices_to={
+                                       'has_variants': True,
+                                       'active': True,
+                                   },
+                                   on_delete=models.SET_NULL,
+                                   help_text='Is this part a variant of another part?')
+
     description = models.CharField(max_length=250, blank=False, help_text='Part description')
 
     keywords = models.CharField(max_length=250, blank=True, help_text='Part keywords to improve visibility in search results')
diff --git a/InvenTree/stock/migrations/0002_auto_20190525_2226.py b/InvenTree/stock/migrations/0002_auto_20190525_2226.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b8607c3ec7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/InvenTree/stock/migrations/0002_auto_20190525_2226.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Generated by Django 2.2 on 2019-05-25 12:26
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+import django.db.models.deletion
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('stock', '0001_initial'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='stockitem',
+            name='part',
+            field=models.ForeignKey(help_text='Base part', limit_choices_to={'active': True, 'has_variants': True}, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, related_name='stock_items', to='part.Part'),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/InvenTree/stock/models.py b/InvenTree/stock/models.py
index 3680079b30..fdf88d5473 100644
--- a/InvenTree/stock/models.py
+++ b/InvenTree/stock/models.py
@@ -135,11 +135,18 @@ class StockItem(models.Model):
                                            })
 
             if self.part is not None:
+                # A trackable part must have a serial number
                 if self.part.trackable and not self.serial:
                     raise ValidationError({
                         'serial': _('Serial number must be set for trackable items')
                     })
 
+                # A template part cannot be instantiated as a StockItem
+                if self.part.has_variants:
+                    raise ValidationError({
+                        'part': _('Stock item cannot be created for a template Part')
+                    })
+
         except Part.DoesNotExist:
             # This gets thrown if self.supplier_part is null
             # TODO - Find a test than can be perfomed...
@@ -186,7 +193,12 @@ class StockItem(models.Model):
             }
         )
 
-    part = models.ForeignKey('part.Part', on_delete=models.CASCADE, related_name='stock_items', help_text='Base part')
+    part = models.ForeignKey('part.Part', on_delete=models.CASCADE,
+                            related_name='stock_items', help_text='Base part',
+                            limit_choices_to={
+                                'has_variants': True,
+                                'active': True,
+                            })
 
     supplier_part = models.ForeignKey('company.SupplierPart', blank=True, null=True, on_delete=models.SET_NULL,
                                       help_text='Select a matching supplier part for this stock item')