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Supplier Type Configuration

Supplier Type Configuration defines the functional role a supplier plays within your supply chain. It determines how the supplier interacts with orders, production, costing, licences, and agent–factory relationships across the platform.

Correctly configuring supplier types is critical, as this setting directly controls:

  • Which configuration sections are visible on the supplier profile
  • How orders and workflows behave
  • Whether production and costing data can be captured
  • How agent–factory relationships are established and maintained

Supplier types are configured and managed in Site Settings > Company > Suppliers.

Quick Check - Before You Start
  • Open Site Settings > Company > Supplier with the correct company context selected
  • Know whether the supplier should be Agent, Factory, or Agent and Factory before you edit
  • If you are changing agent links, plan to remove the existing agent relationship before reclassifying type, as described in the steps below

What Supplier Types Control?

Supplier type selection controls the availability of specific configuration functions on the supplier profile.

Both Factory and Agent and Factory supplier profiles utilise the following configuration options:

Configuration Area Description
Agent Indicates whether the supplier also operates in an agent capacity or is linked to an external agent.
Production Monthly Capacity Defines the supplier’s manufacturing capacity for planning and workload management.
Default Terms Specifies the standard commercial or payment terms applied to orders by default.
Costing Enables costing-related configurations required for production and financial planning.

Important Distinction Between Supplier Types

Not all supplier profiles expose the same configuration options.

Supplier Profile Key Limitation
Agent (only) Does not include Production or Costing configurations, as agents do not directly manufacture goods.
Factory Includes full Production and Costing configurations.
Agent and Factory Includes all configurations and supports agent–factory relationship management.
Supplier Type When to Use Key Behaviour
Agent When the supplier only handles sourcing, negotiation, or commercial coordination and does not manufacture products. Production and Costing settings are hidden. Cannot be assigned manufacturing responsibilities.
Factory When the supplier directly manufactures goods. Production, Costing, Licences, and Default Terms are available.
Agent and Factory When the supplier can act as both an agent and a factory, depending on the business relationship. All configurations are available. Agent-to-factory relationships can be created and managed.

Supplier Types Explained

Supplier type When to use it Key behaviour
Agent The supplier only handles sourcing or commercial liaison, not production. Production and Costing settings are hidden.
Factory The supplier directly manufactures goods. Production, Costing, Licences, and Default Terms are available.
Agent and Factory The supplier can act as both an agent and a factory for different relationships. All settings are available. Agent links to factories can be created.

Why Supplier Type Configuration Matters?

Updating supplier types is fundamental to the platform's functionality because:

  1. Supply Chain Accuracy: Ensures orders, communications, and responsibilities are routed to the correct parties.
  2. Workflow Integrity: Supplier type determines which automated workflows, validations, and business rules apply.
  3. Agent-Factory Relationships: Supports complex supply chain structures where suppliers may operate in multiple roles.
  4. Data Consistency: Prevents configuration conflicts that can cause order processing errors or reporting issues.
  5. Compliance and Reporting: Accurate supplier classification supports audit trails, compliance tracking, and reliable reporting.

Without the ability to correctly configure supplier types, organisations risk operational disruptions, incorrect costing, and workflow failures.

When Should Supplier Type Be Updated?

Updating a supplier type is typically required when:

  • A supplier was initially created as Agent and Factory but was incorrectly added as an Agent under the same entity.
  • Supplier relationships are being restructured to reflect actual business operations.
  • A supplier’s role in the supply chain has changed.
  • Initial setup errors need to be corrected.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps to update a supplier type and manage agent relationships:

Step 1: Access Supplier Settings

Step Action
1 Navigate to Site Settings > Company > Supplier.
2 Ensure you have the correct company context selected, if applicable.

Step 2: Locate and Edit the Supplier

Step Action
1 Use the search field to locate the supplier.
2 Click the pencil icon next to the supplier to open the edit form.

Step 3: Remove the Existing Agent Relationship

This step ensures the supplier can be safely reclassified.

Step Action
1 In the supplier edit form, locate the Agent section.
2 Remove the supplier from being listed as an Agent.
3 Ensure the Type field remains set to Agent and Factory.
4 Review the configuration to confirm it matches your requirements.
5 Click Save to apply the changes.
Confirmation

A success message confirms that the agent relationship has been removed.

Step 4: Update Supplier Type and Add New Agent

Once the existing relationship is cleared, the supplier type can be updated.

Step Action
1 Re-open the supplier record by clicking the pencil icon.
2 Change the Type from "Agent and Factory" to Factory.
3 In the Agent section, select and add the new agent that should be associated with this supplier.
4 Review all details to ensure correctness.
5 Click Save to finalise the update.
Final Confirmation

A success alert message will appear confirming that the supplier type has been successfully updated and the new agent relationship has been established.

Best Practices

  • Review Dependencies: Check active orders, styles, and projects before making changes to avoid workflow disruptions.
  • Plan Changes Carefully: Supplier type changes can affect automated workflows, validations, and business logic.
  • Verify Relationships: Ensure agent–factory relationships accurately reflect real operational arrangements.
  • Document Changes: Maintain internal records for audit and compliance purposes.
  • Test After Updates: After updating supplier types, verify that related workflows and processes continue to function correctly.

Troubleshooting

Why won’t the system let me change the supplier type?

The platform can block type changes when the supplier is in use, tied to another agent relationship, or locked after an agent is linked to a factory.

Steps to resolve:

  1. Check whether the supplier is referenced on any Style items and resolve or reassign if required
  2. Confirm the supplier is not configured as an Agent for another supplier in a conflicting way
  3. If an Agent is linked to this Factory, remove that agent link first—type often stays locked until the relationship is cleared
  4. Complete any pending transactions tied to the supplier, then retry; contact support if the block remains
My supplier type changes are not saving—what should I check?

Unsaved changes are usually due to permissions, missing required fields, or validation errors that prevent submit.

Steps to resolve:

  1. Confirm your user has rights to edit Site Settings > Company > Supplier records
  2. Fill all required fields and read any inline validation messages on the form
  3. Click Save again after fixing errors; refresh the page and repeat the edit if the UI seems stuck
The agent relationship did not update after I edited the supplier—what went wrong?

Agent updates require the two-phase flow: clear the old agent, save, then set type and add the new agent—skipping a step or incompatible types can leave the old association in place.

Steps to resolve:

  1. Repeat Step 3 (remove existing agent) and Step 4 (set type, add new agent) in order, saving after the removal step
  2. Verify the new agent exists in Suppliers and is not blocked by another conflicting link
  3. Confirm Type (Agent, Factory, or Agent and Factory) matches the relationship you need; adjust type before adding the agent if the form requires it
Why does documentation say not to edit supplier type after the supplier has been used in Orders or Costing?

Changing type after live data exists can break workflows, costing rules, and historical consistency tied to the original classification.

Steps to resolve:

  1. Treat type changes as structural: only adjust when correcting clear setup mistakes, and coordinate with your internal process owners
  2. Review active orders, costing, and supplier management usage before requesting a change from support if the UI still allows edits
  3. Prefer adding or correcting agent links under the current type when possible instead of reclassifying a heavily used supplier