Infor M3 Supply Chain Collaboration and Supplier Portal Setup
Supply chain collaboration in Infor M3 extends procurement and planning visibility beyond enterprise boundaries through supplier portals, VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory), and EDI integration. M3 collaboration capabilities are built around PPS001 (Purchase Agreement), PPS200 (Purchase Order), and integration with Infor Supply Chain Collaboration (SCC). Effective supplier collaboration reduces lead times by 20-30% and cuts emergency orders by up to 50% through shared demand visibility and automated replenishment.
Supplier Portal and Demand Visibility
M3 supplier collaboration starts with providing vendors visibility into demand forecasts, purchase orders, and inventory levels through Infor SCC or custom portal implementations. The MPOPLP (Planned Purchase Order) and MITBAL tables provide the data foundation. Suppliers access forecast consumption, confirmed orders, and delivery schedules, enabling them to plan production and allocate capacity proactively instead of reacting to individual POs.
- Configure supplier portal access in MNS150 with role-based visibility controlling which forecast, order, and inventory data each vendor sees
- Set up demand visibility sharing in PPS390 publishing rolling 12-week forecasts to strategic suppliers with weekly refresh cycles
- Enable supplier order confirmation workflows through PPS200 where vendors accept, modify, or split purchase order delivery dates
- Define supplier performance scorecards in PPS900 tracking on-time delivery, quality acceptance rates, and lead time reliability
- Configure blanket purchase agreements in PPS001 with scheduled releases, volume commitments, and price break escalation rules
Vendor Managed Inventory Configuration
VMI in M3 shifts replenishment responsibility to the supplier based on agreed inventory parameters. The supplier monitors stock levels through shared MITBAL data and creates replenishment shipments when inventory drops below agreed minimums. M3 VMI is configured through PPS100 (VMI Agreement), consignment warehouse settings in MMS005, and automatic goods receipt processing. VMI eliminates purchase order cycles and reduces administrative overhead by 60-70%.
- Configure VMI agreements in PPS100 defining min/max inventory levels, replenishment lead times, and supplier access to consumption data
- Set up consignment warehouse codes in MMS005 for VMI inventory owned by the supplier until consumption or withdrawal
- Enable automatic consumption reporting in PPS110 generating periodic settlement invoices based on actual material usage from consignment stock
- Define VMI exception alerts in MNS205 triggering notifications when supplier fails to replenish within agreed response windows
EDI Integration and Transaction Automation
EDI integration in M3 automates procurement transactions through standard message formats including EDIFACT and ANSI X12. M3 EDI capabilities handle purchase orders (ORDERS/850), order confirmations (ORDRSP/855), advance shipping notices (DESADV/856), and invoices (INVOIC/810). The M3 EDI subsystem processes inbound and outbound messages through the EDITR tables, with BOD (Business Object Document) mapping in Infor ION for modern API-based integration.
- Configure EDI partner profiles in EDS001 defining message types, communication protocols, and trading partner identification codes
- Set up automatic PO transmission in PPS200 triggering EDI 850 or ORDERS messages upon purchase order approval
- Enable ASN receipt processing in EDS100 matching inbound EDI 856 messages to open purchase orders for automated goods receipt
- Configure invoice matching automation through EDS100 validating EDI 810 invoices against PO terms and receipt quantities
- Implement Infor ION BOD integration for real-time supplier collaboration replacing batch EDI with event-driven message flows
Transform your supply chain with M3 collaboration tools. Contact Netray for supplier integration consulting.
Related Resources
Infor M3 Distribution Management Configuration Guide
Configure Infor M3 distribution management with order processing, warehouse allocation, shipping integration, and customer delivery scheduling best practices.
Infor M3Infor M3 Demand Planning Configuration Guide
Configure Infor M3 demand planning with statistical forecasting, forecast consumption, MPS integration, and demand sensing for accurate production scheduling.
Infor M3Infor M3 Multi-Warehouse Management Configuration
Configure Infor M3 multi-warehouse management with inter-facility transfers, allocation rules, warehouse-specific policies, and inventory balancing strategies.