The Part Master is your Supplyframe part repository. This repository provides the ability to upload and manage your Internal Part Numbers (IPNs) as a library of parts to reference within the platform. The Part Master can be used to provide targeted insights into each part in your account's repository. This can include a summary of the part details, added alternates (MPNs), documents attached, and appearances of that part within your files.
Click on Part Master in the top navigation bar to access your repository.
On the Part Master list page, you can view all your added parts to your repository. The display includes their Internal Part Number (IPN), Part Category, number of Alternates associated with that IPN, who it was Created By, and its Created Date.
The filter by option in the Part Category column allows you to display parts of a specific category. Then as an admin, you can add parts to your repository in bulk using the Upload Parts or individually through the +Add New Part.
Adding Parts by Upload
Parts can easily be added to your repository. As an admin or with enabled permissions, you can upload parts from a file or add parts one-by-one. You can also use the upload functionality to add new part details to existing parts within your repository.
To import a file, click on Upload Parts. Within the Upload Document window, click on Browse to select your file to upload. It will automatically use the file name, but you can modify the title in the Name field. Select the worksheet if applicable and then map your file's corresponding column headers. Click on Submit to finish and upload your parts.
Part Master has the capability to attach Part Categories to their respective new or existing parts when uploading into Part Master if that part and column is mapped. Parts will still be added even if a Part Category does not exist in your category templates. However, their categories will not be attached to those parts.
Invalid MPNs
Please keep in mind that Supplyframe will not prevent the upload of invalid MPNs. Therefore, we recommend that master MPN references be cleaned to adhere to component manufacturer Part Number (PN) standards before uploading. If MPNs do not adhere to these standards, then Supplyframe will assume these invalid MPNs to be intentional, and depending on the configured matching logic, will return exact matches.
Adding Parts Individually
To add parts individually to your Part Master, click on +Add New Part to open the Add Internal Part Number modal. Enter the Internal Part Number (IPN) and then select a Part Category from the dropdown if applicable. Click Save to add the part to your repository.
When a category doesn't exist yet to be selected within the dropdown, then it will need to be created first within the category templates.
Viewing and Editing Parts
Click on an IPN within the Part Number column to view the details of a specific part in your repository. When available, the following information is displayed for each IPN:
- Part Details – Displayed at the top, the Part Category and any columns with uploaded information related to that category template will display in this section.
- Alternates tab – View all related alternate MPNs and your indicated preferred alternate.
- Documents tab– Upload any files related to the IPN and if to be shared with suppliers.
- Where used tabs – See where this IPN can be found within each of the following types of files: Contract Pricing, Purchase Order, Approved Manufacturers, and Approved Vendors.
Edit Part
Within an IPN, click on Edit Part when needing to update the Internal Part Number itself or its Part Category.
Click on Save to finish when done with the modifications.
Edit Part Details
Within a part, click on the Edit Details to make any available changes within the section. Details available and editable for a part will depend on the assigned category and its associated template.
When you have finished with the modifications, click on Save to finish.
History
You can also view any historical changes made to the part. This provides an enhanced audit trail, ensuring critical data changes are tracked for greater oversight. Clicking on History, you can see the person who made the change; a description of the change; and the date and time of changes. You will also see any document(s) uploads and deletions.
Alternates Management
The Alternates section in your Part Master repository allows you to manage the alternates that your company works with for an IPN. You can identify out of your listed MPN alternates what is your company's preferred alternate of choice while working BOMs.
As available, you may see an icon link to its Part Intelligence page right next to the MPN. Other details include its current Sourcing Status and Lifecycle, which can be edited by clicking on the pencil icon to the far right of the MPN.
Adding Alternates in BOMs
Alternates can be imported into your list while working your BOM through the "Group Edit" functionality. Select your parts, click on Group Edit and then on Add Part Master Alternates.
You have the capability when importing alternates to specify if only those marked as "Preferred Alternates" should be added. This ensures that the system only uses the alternates designated as "Preferred" in their Part Master page.
When alternates are added in the BOM, the manufacturer assigned for the line items will be considered a "Requested Manufacturer". The alternate's "manufacturer" will get carried through to the RFQ if you use the “Req. Manufacturer” option when creating your quote.
Adding Alternates in Part Master
Click on Add Alternate when needing to include more MPNs for this part. You can fill in in the Manufacturer Part Number (MPN), Manufacturer, Plant Exceptions, Sourcing Status, and Lifecycle. Only the MPN field is required.
Check the box if this new MPN should now be the IPN's Preferred Alternate. Then click on Save.
Editing Alternates in Part Master
When needing to modify fields for an existing alternate click on the pencil icon to the far right.
You can then make any appropriate modifications as needed in the Edit Alternate modal for the MPN and then click Save.
When editing an alternate, the Sourcing Status and Lifecycle fields have the following status options:
Sourcing Status:
- Approved
- Rejected
- Ongoing
Lifecycle:
- Active
- Allocation
- Contact Manufacturer
- Declining
- End of Life
- Growing
- Invalid Part Number
- Lifetime Buy
- Not Recommended
- Obsolete
- Preview
- Sampling Now
- Transferred
- Unknown
Within the Edit Alternate modal, check or uncheck the box to modify if this MPN should be the "Preferred Alternate". You can also use the radio buttons in the Alternates section to modify this setting as well.
Documents
Within the Documents section, you can import respective files associated with your IPN. When needing to add new files, click on Browse to select the document and automatically save it to your part.
- You can select multiple files (10 maximum) simultaneously within the file manager modal.
- Supported Formats: Various file formats are supported, including PDFs, images, spreadsheets, and CAD files.
- File Size Limit: The maximum file size for uploads is 10MB per file, with a total limit of 100MB per upload session.
You will seen in the Upload Documents window the documents successfully added. You can delete individual documents attached to parts directly within the modal as needed.
For your attached files, you'll be able to see the Document Name, Created By, Date Added, and the option to Share with Supplier.
The “Share with Supplier" functionality allows you to define what attachments from the Part Master in the part’s Documents section need to be available for the supplier to download in their "Supplier Portal". Documents will only be visible to suppliers assigned those parts.
To make a document visible to suppliers when assigned that line item, check the boxes of the respective files in the Share with Supplier column. This will make all selected documents available in an RFQ within the Quoting module and for suppliers in their portal.
To remove Documents as needed, select the file you want to delete and click on Remove.
Where a Part is Used in Supplyframe
To the right of the Documents section, you can see where this IPN can be found within each of the following types of files: Contract Pricing, Purchase Orders, Approved Manufacturers, and Approved Vendors.
This allows you to easily view where the part is currently listed in your different files. To edit or modify a part located in one of these, you will need to directly access the corresponding file as appropriate.