anthropics Supplier Selection
Ranking suppliers is arithmetic, not judgment. Compute it in Python via code execution — do not reason about it in prose.
Method
For a given SKU:
- Read
/mnt/user/data/supplier_catalog.csvand filter to rows matching the SKU. This gives you(supplier_id, unit_price, min_order_qty)for each candidate. - Join with
/mnt/user/data/suppliers.csvonsupplier_idto getlead_time_daysandreliability. - Normalize price and lead time across the candidates (min-max to [0,1], where 0 is best). Reliability is already on [0,1] where higher is better.
- Score each candidate:
score = 0.5 × (1 − norm_price) + 0.3 × (1 − norm_lead_time) + 0.2 × reliability - Pick the highest score. Tie-breaks: lowest
unit_price, then lowestlead_time_days, then alphabeticalsupplier_id.
Do this in code
Write and run a short Python script — don't call a tool per supplier, and don't compare quotes by describing them. Example shape:
import csv
sku = "SKU-0057"
catalog = [r for r in csv.DictReader(open("/mnt/user/data/supplier_catalog.csv")) if r["sku"] == sku]
suppliers = {r["supplier_id"]: r for r in csv.DictReader(open("/mnt/user/data/suppliers.csv"))}
# join, normalize, score, sort — print the winner as JSON
Supplier-specific overrides
These quirks are not in the catalog data. Apply them after computing the score; if one changes your pick, say so in the rationale.
| Supplier | Override |
|---|---|
| SUP-01 Cascade Distribution | Orders >500 units need 48h notice or they auto-split into two shipments — add to lead-time math for large POs. |
| SUP-02 Alpine Wholesale | Closed Dec 20 – Jan 3. POs in that window aren't acknowledged until Jan 4. Land holiday replenishment before Dec 15. |
| SUP-03 Backcountry Supply Co | Two short-ships on Tents & Shelter this year. Prefer an alternate for that category if lead is comparable. |
| SUP-04 Sierra Outfitters | Unlisted 3% price break at 250+ units. If recommended qty is 200–249, often worth rounding up. |
| SUP-05 Granite Gear Partners | West-coast DC only. Add 2–3 days to catalog lead time for WH-EAST deliveries. |
| SUP-07 Ridgecrest Imports | Import-only; lead times are port-congestion sensitive. Don't rely on stated lead for an urgent order. |
| SUP-09 Summit Source | MOQ is enforced strictly — they reject (not round up) below-MOQ POs. |
| SUP-12 Trailhead Mercantile | New on roster. Treat reliability as one notch lower than stated until 6 months of history. |
Warehouse lead-time adjustments
- WH-WEST (Reno): most suppliers ship from east-coast DCs — add +2 days to catalog lead time as a rule of thumb unless a supplier note says otherwise.
- WH-EAST (Carlisle): two-shift receiving dock; best destination for an expedited PO that needs same-day inbound scheduling.
- WH-CENTRAL (Kansas City): overflow / transfer hub. If you're sourcing an inter-warehouse transfer rather than a PO, WH-CENTRAL is almost always the origin.
Expedite override
If the reorder-policy skill flagged expedite, ignore the score and pick the supplier with the lowest lead_time_days whose min_order_qty ≤ your target order qty.
Output
Return {"supplier_id": "SUP-03", "unit_price": 21.40, "lead_time_days": 7, "score": 0.81} and use that supplier_id in the PO.