Purchasing Signal Chain
The four gates that must be cleared before materials are ordered.
Related Documents: Scheduling Chain BOM Procedures Material Transmittal Log Inventory Jobs (INV)
The Four Gates
Your BOM work and Engineering Complete checkbox are not just release formalities — they are one of four gates in a purchasing signal chain:
| Gate | Responsibility | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Job shop drawing submittal is Approved | PM manages | Client has approved the drawings |
| 2. Part and quantities are confirmed with Fabrication Engineering | FE (you) | BOM is correct and complete |
| 3. Material submittal is Approved in the Material Transmittal Log | PM manages | Client has approved the specific material/finish |
| 4. Fabrication Engineering is Complete | FE (you check the box) | All engineering work is done |
Only when all four conditions are true does the PM mark “Ready to Purchase” and “Purchase Direct” on the PM Materials Dashboard, which signals Purchasing to order materials.
INV-class materials (SG, SS, SL, IM): For these material classes, “Ready to Purchase” and “Purchase Direct” are set on the project’s Inventory Job (
ProjectNumber.INV), not on the manufacturing job. A BPM blocks Purchase Direct on manufacturing jobs for these classes. The four gates still apply — the purchase just routes through the INV job.
Why This Matters
If you are late checking Engineering Complete or if a BOM line is missing:
- Materials don’t get ordered
- Production stalls waiting for materials
- Ship dates may be missed
- The truck schedule for the entire project may be affected
Inventory Job Materials
Certain material classes do not purchase direct to manufacturing jobs. Instead, they are purchased through the project’s Inventory Job (ProjectNumber.INV):
- SG (Sheet Goods)
- SS (Solid Surface)
- SL (Solid Lumber)
- IM (Inventory Metal)
FE engineers enter takeoff quantities on manufacturing jobs for demand visibility, but do not check Ready to Purchase or Purchase Direct. The Lead Engineer or PM manages purchasing from the INV job, where they can see consolidated demand across all jobs via the Takeoff Audit Report.
Min/Max stocked items have their own replenishment process in Epicor and do not use the INV job. Specialty parts (e.g., 1234.SG.00005 veneer sequences) are purchased directly on the manufacturing job as usual.