What comes next
What is not solved yet
Obsolete part numbers that make suppliers ignore a request, and the other open items
The work planned next, in order.
Obsolete part numbers
A Caterpillar-shaped part number is not proof the part still exists. When a large request carries many obsolete numbers, a supplier may ignore the whole request, genuine lines included. The plan:
Screen by shape first. Some numbers are current by nature: a remanufactured part (10R-, 20R- …) is never searched. The shapes that tend to be obsolete will be worked out from our parts-book data, which records the machines and years each part belongs to.
Search only the doubtful lines. A web search (SerpAPI) for the part number shows whether other sellers still list it. Someone else selling it is a strong sign it is still available, and this avoids automating against the manufacturer's own site.
Hold the doubtful lines back from the supplier request until they are confirmed, so the supplier sees a clean list.
Smaller items
UK bank holidays in the working-hours clock.
A note to the salesperson when a holding message goes out.
Supplier emails drafted from the sheet (the sheet already builds the email text from the supplier's name).
A pin option on the where-to-ship card (the card's wording is an approved WhatsApp template, so changing it needs Meta's approval).