| name | supplier-lifecycle-operations |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| description | Manage supplier onboarding, qualification, performance monitoring, and offboarding with auditable lifecycle controls |
| author | Happy Technologies LLC |
| tags | ["procurement","supplier","lifecycle","onboarding","qualification","performance","offboarding"] |
| platforms | ["claude-code","claude-desktop","chatgpt","cursor","any"] |
| tools | {"mcp":["SN-Query-Table","SN-Read-Record","SN-Create-Record","SN-Update-Record","SN-Add-Work-Notes"],"rest":["/api/now/table/core_company","/api/now/table/ast_contract","/api/now/table/proc_sourcing_event","/api/now/table/proc_po","/api/now/table/sn_proc_invoice","/api/now/table/task"],"native":["Bash"]} |
| complexity | advanced |
| estimated_time | 20-40 minutes |
Supplier Lifecycle Operations
Overview
This skill provides a repeatable supplier lifecycle workflow in ServiceNow® across four stages:
- Onboarding
- Qualification
- Performance monitoring
- Offboarding
Use this skill to reduce supplier risk, improve procurement consistency, and maintain clear audit evidence for supplier decisions.
Prerequisites
- Roles:
sn_shop.procurement_administrator, sourcing or vendor operations equivalent, or admin
- Plugins: Sourcing and Procurement Operations enabled
- Access: Read/write to
core_company, proc_sourcing_event, proc_po, sn_proc_invoice, ast_contract, and task
- Policy Inputs: Qualification criteria, risk thresholds, and offboarding policy
Procedure
Step 1: Onboard Supplier Record
Create or validate the supplier master profile.
Using MCP:
Tool: SN-Create-Record
Parameters:
table_name: core_company
fields:
name: "Example Supplier Pty Ltd"
vendor: true
vendor_type: "Strategic"
country: "Australia"
website: "https://example.com"
Decision points:
- If supplier already exists -> proceed to qualification
- If duplicate profile detected -> merge or retire duplicate before continuing
Step 2: Execute Qualification Checks
Run baseline qualification checks (coverage, capability, policy alignment, commercial readiness).
Typical checks:
- Category fit and service capability
- Legal and contractual readiness
- Compliance documentation availability
- Financial and operational risk signals
Step 3: Link to Sourcing and Contract Context
Associate supplier with sourcing events and contracts to establish operational readiness.
Using MCP:
Tool: SN-Query-Table
Parameters:
table_name: ast_contract
query: vendor=[supplier_sys_id]^state!=expired
fields: sys_id,number,state,starts,ends,cost
limit: 20
Step 4: Monitor Ongoing Supplier Performance
Track delivery, invoice quality, and responsiveness using purchasing and AP activity.
Using MCP:
Tool: SN-Query-Table
Parameters:
table_name: proc_po
query: vendor=[supplier_sys_id]^ordered_date>=javascript:gs.beginningOfLast12Months()
fields: number,state,ordered_date,expected_delivery,total_cost
limit: 100
Performance dimensions:
- Delivery timeliness
- Quality / exception rate
- Invoice match success
- Contract compliance
Step 5: Trigger Risk-Based Offboarding or Remediation
If supplier performance drops below policy thresholds, create a structured remediation or offboarding plan.
Using MCP:
Tool: SN-Create-Record
Parameters:
table_name: task
fields:
short_description: "Supplier lifecycle review required"
description: "Supplier exceeded risk thresholds. Evaluate remediation vs offboarding."
priority: 2
Step 6: Document Lifecycle Decision
Capture decision evidence and next steps in work notes, including owners and due dates.
Tool Usage
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|
SN-Query-Table | Gather supplier, purchasing, and invoice history |
SN-Read-Record | Retrieve full supplier and contract context |
SN-Create-Record | Create lifecycle tasks and governance actions |
SN-Update-Record | Update supplier status and lifecycle stage |
SN-Add-Work-Notes | Record qualification and offboarding rationale |
Best Practices
- Use consistent qualification criteria across all suppliers in the same category
- Separate corrective action plans from immediate offboarding decisions
- Review supplier lifecycle stage on a scheduled cadence (for example quarterly)
- Keep lifecycle evidence linked to supplier record for auditability
- Avoid single-owner decisioning for high-risk supplier outcomes
Troubleshooting
Supplier Appears in Multiple Profiles
Symptom: Duplicate supplier records with partial history.
Cause: Onboarding happened through different channels without identity matching.
Solution: Consolidate to one canonical supplier profile and re-link dependent records.
Lifecycle Stage Not Updating
Symptom: Supplier remains in onboarding despite completed checks.
Cause: Required qualification fields are missing or workflow conditions are unmet.
Solution: Validate mandatory fields and rerun lifecycle transition conditions.
Related Skills
procurement/supplier-recommendation - Rank suppliers using scorecard criteria
procurement/sourcing-summarization - Summarize sourcing events and outcomes
procurement/procurement-summarization - Review procurement pipeline performance
References