Associating Parts and Suppliers
While EIDX has agreed upon some terminology and acronym definitions, you will not find these terms used consistently by your trading partners. When you discuss concepts with a trading partner or solution provider, make sure all terms and acronyms used are defined.

What are AMLs and ASLs Used For?
An AML or ASL (AVL) is sent to advise the recipient of the qualified sources and suppliers of a product or component.

• The AML may be sent to advise recipient of qualified manufacturers. The recipient may be responsible for identifying suppliers if an ASL is not sent.
• ASL may be sent to advise recipient of qualified manufacturers as well as suppliers who are to be utilized.
• Parties playing the supplier role could include the buyer, the manufacturer, a distributor, an exchange or a marketplace.
• In a reverse auction, may want to specify manufacturer but receive bids from companies other than manufacturer or distributor; if bidder is not on master ASL, then a qualifying process may need to be invoked. Example: How do you ensure that parts that have been in possession of the bidder still pass quality requirements?

What Are BOMs Used For?

• Identify components required to build product
• Also identify alternate parts
• RFQ process for product/assembly
• Materials Requirements Planning (MRP)
• Strategic forecasting (forecast is at product level, forecast recipient needs to determine requirements for component)
• Product costing
• Quality functions
• Tracking average yields (ties into MRP)
• What else?

The diagrams below depict the following:

• Which ASC X12 and EDIFACT transactions might be used
• Which RosettaNet PIPs might be used
• Some initial ideas for how BOM, AML, and AVL might be used in reverse auction processes