Applying a VLOOKUP using an Alphanumeric Value search condition

Hi Jeff and welcome to the forum

depending on the data you are searching for, if "V11CH111PNPM" is a cell entry in that range, it should work ok. However, by using terms like "table array" and "column index", you give me nothing to work on to see what might be happening.

perhaps it would be easier to help you if you uploaded a sample workbook, showing what data you are working with, a few examples of what your expected outcome would be, and how you would arrive at that (remove any confidential info if necessary).
To attach a file to your post,
click advanced (next to quick post),
scroll down until you see "manage file",
click that and select "add files" (top right corner).
click "select files" find your file, click "open" click "upload" click 'done" bottom right. click "submit reply"

Once the upload is completed the file name will appear below the input boxes in this window.
You can then close the window to return to the new post screen.

What do you mean 'force' the caculation?

VLOOKUP will work for numeric, alpha or alphanumeric data without problem as long as the data types match for the lookup value and the values in the lookup range.