// SUPPLIER ONBOARDING STANDARDS
Network protocol for commercial suppliers.
The criteria every supplier is reviewed against before entering the Archalign procurement system.
Archalign operates a managed supplier network. Every supplier — whether a long-established trade partner or a new vendor introduced to a specific buyer brief — is reviewed against six standards before being integrated into active procurement. This page documents those standards. It is published in full so that buyers can understand what supplier review involves, and so that prospective suppliers know what is required before applying for network integration.
// 01 The Six Standards
Every supplier is reviewed against these criteria before integration into active procurement.
Fulfilment reliability
Track record of order fulfilment against quoted lead times. Verifiable through trade references, completion records or pilot-order performance. Suppliers without commercial trading history are accepted with limited initial allocation.
// REVIEW CRITERIONLead-time consistency
Quoted lead times must match actual dispatch performance within an agreed variance band. Suppliers with structural lead-time variance are flagged for specific category use only (e.g. ad-hoc rather than fit-out-critical orders).
// REVIEW CRITERIONCommunication standards
Response within one working day on procurement enquiries during active orders. Designated commercial contact, no chain-of-go-betweens. Stock-status, lead-time and delivery updates issued without prompting on flagged orders.
// REVIEW CRITERIONProduct consistency
Production output matches specification, sample, or previous batch within agreed tolerance. Quality control documentation provided where applicable. Replacement protocol agreed in advance of supply.
// REVIEW CRITERIONCommercial responsiveness
Quotation issued within agreed window. Pricing structure clear, no hidden fees, no per-order renegotiation outside of agreed escalation triggers. Invoicing accurate and on agreed terms.
// REVIEW CRITERIONCompliance & documentation
Where applicable: fire-rating certification (BS 7177 / Crib 5), HACCP-aligned certification for hospitality equipment, electrical safety, CE / UKCA marks. Documentation provided per delivery. Insurance and trade-body registration verified.
// REVIEW CRITERION// 02 Onboarding Flow
Five steps from application to integration into active procurement.
Application
Supplier submits the form below. Company details, categories, trade references, commercial terms structure, compliance documentation summary.
Initial Review
1–2 working weeks — document verification, trade reference checks, category fit assessment against active buyer brief pipeline.
Pilot Allocation
Where applicable — small-allocation pilot order against the six standards. Performance reviewed against quoted lead time, communication, product consistency.
Network Integration
Supplier added to active procurement registry. Category allocation defined. Standing commercial terms confirmed. Public listing on the supplier network page where applicable.
Quarterly Review
Ongoing performance scoring against the six standards. Allocation adjusted up or down. Persistent variance triggers review or removal protocol.
// 03 What This Means for Buyers
Pre-reviewed supply chain.
Buyers engaging through Archalign source from a pre-reviewed network. The six standards are applied before a supplier is available against an active brief, not after problems surface mid-fit-out.
Network-level performance monitoring.
Quarterly performance scoring on lead-time variance, communication and product consistency is applied across the network. Buyers benefit from continuous network quality maintenance without managing supplier relationships directly.
Network composition published.
The active supplier registry is published on the Supplier Network page. Buyers can review who is in the network, by category, before commissioning a procurement file.
Procurement-grade accountability.
Where a supplier fails one of the six standards mid-order, Archalign manages the escalation, replacement or re-sourcing on the buyer's behalf. The buyer interacts only with the Archalign procurement contact, not the supplier directly.
// SUPPLIER NETWORK APPLICATION
Apply to the Archalign supplier network.
For suppliers seeking integration into the Archalign procurement registry. Applications reviewed against the six standards above. Response within 1–2 working weeks.