The Item Number and Product number are different and not in sync

Hi,

We would like products in our Dynamics system to be in sync and have the same Product Number and Item Number.

For example in Dynamics one of our products below:

Item number: I046805

Product number: I046905

For some products the Item Number and Product Number differ, our vendor has said to keep the item number sequence on but the resolution to this is to remove the item number sequence.

Can anyone advise if there is another way and potentially why the vendor has told us to keep 'Item Number Sequence' on?

Our current workaround is to change the product number to match the item number.

Thanks