Has anyone used Access instead of or with excel

I would like to know how to use access to work with or inplace ofexcel to control an assemblies design tables. I would liketo havea nice menu in access to pick from several differentcomponentoptions in the assembly configuration. Such as a tankdiameter andheight, a pump size. a skid length.  I know thereare add insout there, such as drive works. However, we are justgetting up andgoing with SolidWorks  and we need to show somereal return oninvestment before we request big expenses.SolidworksConfigurations design Tables