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Suppliers

The supplier directory is your central list of vendors, distributors, and manufacturers who provide the parts and materials your team uses. Each supplier record stores contact information, notes, and linked parts so you can quickly identify where to reorder when stock runs low.

Enterprise feature

Supplier management is available exclusively on the Enterprise plan. Compare plans to learn more.

Why track suppliers

Without a supplier directory, your team wastes time searching emails and spreadsheets for vendor contacts every time they need to reorder. A centralized directory gives you:

  • Fast reordering — find the right vendor and contact information in seconds.
  • Consistent sourcing — link each part to its preferred supplier so anyone on the team knows where to order.
  • Procurement visibility — see which supplier provides which parts at a glance.
  • Vendor notes — store account numbers, terms, and special instructions alongside contact details.

Adding a supplier

  1. Go to the Inventory dashboard.
  2. Click the Suppliers button in the toolbar.
  3. In the Suppliers modal, click Add Supplier.

Suppliers are modal-based

The supplier directory opens as a modal dialog from the Inventory dashboard, rather than a sidebar tab. All supplier management — viewing, adding, editing, deleting — happens inside this modal.

  1. Fill in the supplier details.
  2. Click Save.
Field Description Required
Supplier name The company or vendor name (e.g., "ABC Parts Supply") Yes
Contact name The primary contact person at the supplier No
Phone Phone number for ordering or inquiries No
Email Email address for the supplier contact No
Address Mailing or warehouse address for the supplier No
Notes Internal notes — account numbers, payment terms, delivery schedules No

Include account numbers in the notes

Store your vendor account number and any agreed-upon payment terms (Net 30, COD, etc.) in the notes field so anyone placing an order has the information they need.

Viewing the supplier directory

  1. Go to the Inventory dashboard and click the Suppliers button.
  2. The modal displays all vendors with their name, contact, phone, and email.
  3. Click any supplier row to view its full details and linked parts.

Use the search bar to find a supplier by name, contact person, or email.

Editing a supplier

  1. Open the supplier detail page.
  2. Click Edit.
  3. Update any fields — name, contact information, or notes.
  4. Click Save.

Deleting a supplier

  1. Open the supplier detail page.
  2. Click Delete.
  3. Confirm the action.

Deleting removes the supplier link

When you delete a supplier, any parts linked to that supplier lose their supplier association. The parts themselves are not affected — only the vendor link is removed.

Linking suppliers to parts

You can connect a supplier to one or more parts in the parts catalog. This tells your team which vendor to contact when reordering a specific part.

From the supplier page

  1. Open the supplier detail page.
  2. Scroll to the Linked Parts section.
  3. The list shows every part currently associated with this supplier.

From the parts catalog

  1. Open a part in the parts catalog.
  2. Click Edit.
  3. Select the supplier from the Supplier dropdown.
  4. Click Save.

Each part can be linked to one supplier. If you change the supplier on a part, the old link is replaced.

Supplier workflow with low stock alerts

When a low stock alert fires for a part, you can quickly find the right vendor:

  1. View the low stock alert.
  2. Open the part details.
  3. The Supplier field shows the linked vendor.
  4. Click the supplier name to view their contact details.
  5. Place your reorder using the phone or email on file.
Low stock alert → Open part → Find linked supplier → Contact vendor → Reorder

Best practices

Practice Benefit
Keep contact details current Avoids wasted time calling outdated numbers
Link every part to a supplier Ensures anyone on the team can reorder
Store account numbers in notes Streamlines the purchasing process
Review suppliers annually Remove inactive vendors and update terms

Frequently asked questions

Can I link one part to multiple suppliers?

Each part is linked to one preferred supplier. If you order a part from several vendors, link it to the primary supplier and note the alternatives in the part's description or the supplier's notes.

Can I import suppliers in bulk?

Bulk import for suppliers is not available at this time. Suppliers are added individually through the directory.

Do suppliers have access to FSM Navigator?

No. Supplier records are internal reference data only. Suppliers do not have login credentials or portal access.

Can I track purchase orders?

The supplier directory is for contact reference and part linking. Purchase order tracking is managed outside FSM Navigator through your standard procurement process.