A fuzzy alphanumeric search apparatus searches for a search character string (e.g., MPN) in a source character string (CPN) database. The match is fuzzy since it only matches some of the MPN characters (referred to as tokens) against some of the CPN characters. Nearly all part numbers have a base number (base token) that is typically found at the beginning of the MPN. A base token and other tokens are generated, used to identify CPNs having the greatest total of MPN character position matches, and are outputted as a potential (fuzzy) CPN match list to the user. The user then determines if in fact a true CPN match is found in the fuzzy CPN list. The Fuzzy MPN match technique is significantly faster than manual wildcard searches.