<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ManualTopic ID="/baanerp/tc/onlinemanual/000320" xml:lang="en">
   <Header>
      <Title>To buy items from alternative manufacturers</Title>
      <Keyword type="header" order="d1e1460371">
         <Level1>item</Level1>
         <Level2>manufacturer</Level2>
      </Keyword>
      <Keyword type="header" order="d1e1460376">
         <Level1>manufacturers</Level1>
      </Keyword>
   </Header>
   <GeneralSection>
      <Paragraph>Companies that build
		their products from various components often buy the components from other
		manufacturers and sell them as part of their own product and under their own
		name. The components can be obtained from various manufacturers on the
		condition that the components have similar or the same specifications and
		quality.</Paragraph>
      <Paragraph>Examples of such
		components are the engines and tires in the car industry, or integrated circuit
		boards and so on in the electronic equipment industry.</Paragraph>
      <Paragraph>You can buy the
		components directly from the manufacturers or from intermediate suppliers. If
		the ordered quantity is less than the minimum quantity that you can order from
		the manufacturer, you usually buy the components from an intermediate supplier.
		The intermediate suppliers can obtain the components from several
		manufacturers. In this case, you can accept the components from these suppliers
		on the condition that you have approved the manufacturers. Approving the
		manufacturers for items is the responsibility of the item's <Link href="/baanerp/tc/glossary/glossary#000344" role="glossary">technical coordinator</Link>.</Paragraph>
      <Paragraph>When you receive the
		ordered items, you must check that they were produced by an approved
		manufacturer.</Paragraph>
      <Paragraph>ERP Enterprise allows you to
		specify a number of manufacturers for an item, and to ensure that you only
		receive items from approved manufacturers.</Paragraph>
   </GeneralSection>
   <RelatedTopics>
      <SectionTitle>Related topics</SectionTitle>
      <RelTopic>
         <Link href="/baanerp/tc/onlinemanual/000321" role="manual">To set up alternative manufacturers</Link>
      </RelTopic>
   </RelatedTopics>
</ManualTopic>