Search Results po_approved_supplier_list




The PO_APPROVED_SUPPLIER_LIST table in Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) versions 12.1.1 and 12.2.2 is a critical repository for managing supplier approval data within the Purchasing (PO) module. This table stores information about suppliers that have been approved for specific items or categories, enabling organizations to enforce procurement policies and maintain compliance with sourcing strategies. Below is a detailed analysis of its structure, purpose, and integration within Oracle EBS.

Table Overview

The PO_APPROVED_SUPPLIER_LIST table acts as a junction between suppliers, items, and approval statuses. It is part of Oracle's Supplier Lifecycle Management functionality, ensuring that only pre-approved suppliers are used for purchasing specific goods or services. Key columns in this table include:
  • APPROVED_SUPPLIER_LIST_ID: Primary key, uniquely identifying each approved supplier record.
  • VENDOR_ID: References the supplier from PO_VENDORS.
  • VENDOR_SITE_ID: Specifies the supplier site (from PO_VENDOR_SITES_ALL).
  • ITEM_ID: Links to the approved item in MTL_SYSTEM_ITEMS_B (if item-specific approval).
  • CATEGORY_ID: References the approved category from MTL_CATEGORIES_B (if category-level approval).
  • APPROVAL_STATUS: Indicates status (e.g., 'APPROVED', 'PENDING', 'REJECTED').
  • START_DATE_ACTIVE and END_DATE_ACTIVE: Define the validity period of the approval.
  • LAST_UPDATE_DATE and LAST_UPDATED_BY: Audit columns for tracking changes.

Functional Significance

This table supports several procurement workflows:
  1. Sourcing Compliance: Ensures purchases are made only from suppliers meeting organizational standards (e.g., quality, contractual terms).
  2. Approval Hierarchies: Integrates with Oracle's Approval Management Engine (AME) to route requests based on thresholds.
  3. Category Management: Allows bulk approval of suppliers for entire item categories, reducing administrative overhead.
  4. Audit Trails: Tracks approval history, critical for regulatory compliance (e.g., SOX, ISO).

Integration Points

The table interacts with multiple Oracle EBS modules:
  • Purchasing: Validates suppliers during requisition and purchase order creation.
  • Inventory: Cross-references item master data for item-specific approvals.
  • Supplier Portal: Enables suppliers to view their approval statuses.
  • Workflow: Triggers notifications for approval expirations or renewals.

Customization Considerations

Organizations often extend this table's functionality via:
  • API Extensions: Custom validations using PO_APPROVED_SUPPLIER_PUB APIs.
  • Triggers: To enforce business rules (e.g., blocking orders if approvals expire).
  • Reporting: Custom dashboards to monitor supplier performance against approval metrics.

Data Maintenance

Routine tasks include:
  • Periodic reviews of END_DATE_ACTIVE to prevent lapses.
  • Mass updates via PO_APPROVED_SUPPLIER_LIST_PKG for mergers/acquisitions.
  • Archiving expired records to optimize performance.

Conclusion

The PO_APPROVED_SUPPLIER_LIST table is a cornerstone of Oracle EBS procurement controls, bridging supplier data, item master, and approval workflows. Its design ensures flexibility for both item-level and category-level approvals while maintaining robust audit capabilities. Proper configuration and maintenance of this table are essential for enforcing procurement policies and mitigating supply chain risks.