Understanding differences between Single Line Cards, Line Card Groups, and Manufacturer Groups
To fully utilize the line card and line card group functionality, it is crucial to understand the relationship of line cards and manufacturer groups. While these items are related, they solve different problems.
Single Line Card: it is the relationship between a Supplier and the list of Manufacturers they work with. It applies to the entire application, regardless of the Company Profile (Site) or location.
Supplier | Manufacturer Group |
DigiKey | Yageo |
DigiKey | Kemet |
DigiKey | AVX |
Line Card Groups: it adds the capability to create multiple and different Line Cards. While the Single Line Card can set only one unique Supplier-Manufacturer relation, creating a Line Card Group will allow you to create different Supplier-Manufacturer relationships.
Line Card Group | Supplier | Manufacturer |
Sweden | DigiKey | Yageo |
Sweden | DigiKey | Kemet |
China | DigiKey | AVX |
China | DigiKey | Kemet |
Manufacturer Groups: it is a CalcuQuote's concept to simplify the multiple and many variations that could appear of a single Manufacturer. It helps the system to identify that variations of a single manufacturer, for example, TI, Texas, Texas Ins., etc., they all refer to Texas Instruments.
Below are some additional resources that detail out the Manufacturer Group and Line Card relationship.
Understanding Line Cards vs. Line Card Groups
Before configuring anything, determine which setup best fits your business process.
Use a Single Line Card When:
Manufacturer-to-supplier mappings are always the same.
All locations use the same supplier-manufacturer relationships.
You operate from a single site or have a simple supplier structure.
Use a Line Card Group When:
Supplier relationships vary by region, customer, or site.
Different locations require different supplier assignments.
You need to maintain separate supplier networks (North America, Europe, Asia, etc.).
Example
Scenario | Recommended Setup |
One site using the same suppliers for every RFQ | Single Line Card |
Multiple regions with different approved suppliers | Line Card Group |
Best Practice: Establish your supplier-routing rules before configuration to avoid rework later.
Configuring Line Cards and Line Card Groups
After understanding which approach best suits your business, you will need to configure either your Single Line Card or your Line Card Groups.
Additional Resources
Creating Bid Sheets Using Line Cards
Generate Bid Sheets
Navigate to the RFQ or line-item workflow.
Select the lines to include in bidding.
Choose Send Bid Sheet (or equivalent action).
For Classic Configurations
Select the Classic Line Card option.
For Line Card Group Configurations
Select the appropriate Line Card Group.
The system will automatically create bid sheets based on configured supplier mappings.
Additional Resources
Reviewing Unassigned Lines
After bid sheets are created, review any lines that were not automatically assigned.
Navigate to the review screen:
Open the Lines Not in Any Bid section to identify:
New manufacturers that need to have a manufacturer group created
Manufacturer spelling variations that need to be added to an existing group
Missing mappings
Custom parts that should remain manual
Think of this screen as your cleanup queue for automation exceptions.
Troubleshooting Unassigned Manufacturers
If using Line Card Groups:
If using a Single Line Card: