Overview
The External Client Integration is a feature within AMFG that allows the connection between two separate users of our software.
This feature can be used for sending orders from one AMFG console, which would be considered as the Connected Client (Sender), to another partner console, considered as the Supplier (Receiver), with the purpose of outsourcing production of orders for various unsupported technologies, materials, etc.
External Production Center (Supplier)
External Production Centers are used to outsource production to other AMFG users. In this scenario, the Client will be using another AMFG user as their Supplier and route orders directly to them for production.
Precondition
The Supplier should set a new customer contact record on their Contacts page for the Client:
The orders that will be processed via an external center will have a delivery and billing address based on that customer record (also, there is an option to make visible the original delivery and billing address of the end customer who is associated with an order, which is described in the Supplier ship to section below)
At least one Quotation Form must be applied to "Client Integration" in both AMFG consoles. It could be the Internal Quotation form as well.
The Quotation Form for Client Integration should have the following defined Mandatory fields:
Technology (Mandatory)
Machine (Mandatory)
Material (Mandatory)
Services (Mandatory)
Both Quotation forms should be the same: same technology, materials, etc.
Both the Client's and the Supplier's AMFG consoles should have the same Local currency in Settings -> Localisation page:
Connecting Client
The Supplier should create an entry for the Client in their console by navigating to Settings -> Production Centres -> Connected Clients tab. There, they should Generate an Integration Key by selecting the customer contact entry they created for the Client in their Contacts list earlier:
The delivery and billing address for the upcoming orders that will be passed to the Supplier will display the delivery and billing address based on the selected contact data.
The generated key should be sent to the Connected Client (in any convenient way).
After the Connected Client receives the key, the External Production Center can be created in the Settings -> Client Integration -> Production Center tab -> Add Production Center.
To create the Production Center, fill in the following information:
Production center name -> Name the Production Center
Integration key -> Paste the integration key that was received from the Supplier
Supplier ship to:
Ship to the original customer: The order that will be created in the Supplier’s application will have the delivery address from the original customer.
Ship to me: The order that will be created in the Supplier’s application will have delivery address information that belongs to the Connected Client.
Supplier sees:
Original customer billing info: The order that will be created in the Supplier’s application will have the billing address from the original customer.
My billing info: The order that will be created in the Supplier’s application will have billing address information that belongs to the Connected Client.
Order creation (Ticket Overview)
Orders can be sent to production by using the Partners tab in Production Parameters on the Ticket Overview page.
The created Project will be displayed on the Projects Overview page for each AMFG application (both for the Production Center (Supplier) and the Connected Client).
Note:
The parts of the order will also be displayed in the Production module (Create a Build page) of the Supplier.
Order creation (Work Orders Overview)
Updating the price for the order will also update the price in the Connected Client application.
Note: Updating the part status in the Project is possible only on the Supplier's side.
As soon as the part status is updated on the Supplier's side, the updated part status will be displayed for both the Client and the Supplier's applications.
Automated Supplier Integration
One of the new features is to apply the workflow automated rules for Client Integration.
The flow is the same as we already have for Workflow Automation rules.
The Connected Client can send the orders to the External Production Center (Supplier) automatically based on specific conditions that can be set.
For example, the order will be automatically sent to the production center based on the specifically selected technology and material.
How to create linked Services and Materials:
Both connected AMFG consoles need to choose Services and Materials in production parameters that are “linked” to our database in order to outsource production. A production job with certain services and materials can only be outsourced to a connected supplier if both AMFG consoles have chosen the same linked Services and Materials.
How to create a linked Service:
In Production Parameters -> Services tab -> Create Service -> Choose a Service from the dropdown menu. The connected supplier needs to add the same Service from the dropdown menu in order to receive jobs that include that Service.
How to create a linked Material:
In Production Parameters -> Materials tab -> Add Material -> Choose a material from the AMFG database dropdown menu.
Choose a Machine Group from the dropdown menu to link your new material with.
What to do if my material doesn’t exist in the provided list?
Click on “Cannot find my material?” -> Write a custom name for your material -> Select a Material Grade from the dropdown menu to link it to our database -> Choose a Machine Group from the dropdown menu to link your new material with.
The connected client needs to add a material linked to the same Grade from our database to send a job with that material.
Note: The custom material will take on the name and properties of the material that it was linked to from the Material Grade. After adding it, please open the material and change the name and material properties according to the actual material you want to offer.
This needs to be done on both AMFG consoles.