The Kanban Board - Your Command Center

Master the visual pipeline management system that transforms lumber procurement

The Kanban Board - Your Command Center

The Kanban board is where all your active sourcing requests live. Each card represents a unique product combination (dimension-species-grade) moving through your procurement pipeline.

Understanding the Workflow Columns

TO SOURCE (Ready for RFQ)

• New sourcing requests awaiting supplier outreach
• Primary Action: Send RFQs to suppliers
• Card Information: Product specifications, target pricing, total quantity needed

QUOTING (Awaiting Quotes)

• RFQs sent, waiting for supplier responses
• Primary Action: Review incoming quotes, send counter-offers
• Card Analytics: Time since RFQ sent, supplier response rates

NEGOTIATING (Active Negotiations)

• Back-and-forth negotiations in progress with suppliers
• Primary Action: Continue negotiations, finalize terms
• Card Analytics: Negotiation history, latest offer pricing

FULFILLED (Completed Orders)

• Purchase orders created and processed
• View Only: Final pricing, delivery details, PO information
• Analytics: Completed deal metrics and supplier performance

Card Information At-a-Glance

Each sourcing request card displays:

Product Identification

Product Name: “Douglas Fir 2x8 No.2&Btr” (using industry abbreviations) Hover Details: Full product description on hover

Pricing Information

Target Price: Your desired price per MBF Current Quotes: Lowest quote received (if any)

Quantity Details

Total Quantity: Total packs needed Volume: Automatic MBF conversion

Quote Analytics

Quote Count: Number of quotes received Response Time: Time since last supplier contact

Single Card Operations

TO SOURCE Card Actions

1. Get Quotes

   Send RFQs to selected suppliers from your supplier database

2. View Details

   Edit specifications, adjust quantities, review line item breakdown

3. Cancel Request

   Remove from pipeline if no longer needed

QUOTING Card Actions

1. Review Quotes

   Compare received quotes side-by-side with pricing analytics

2. Create Purchase Order

   Generate PO directly from approved quote

3. Send Counter-Offer

   Negotiate pricing or terms with AI-generated professional communications

NEGOTIATING Card Actions

1. Continue Negotiation

   Send follow-up counter-offers maintaining email thread continuity

2. Accept & Create PO

   Finalize negotiations and generate purchase order

3. View Negotiation History

   Review complete communication timeline with supplier

Bulk Selection & Operations

Activating Bulk Mode

1. Click Bulk Select

   Find the Bulk Select button in the top-right corner of your kanban board

2. Select Multiple Cards

   Use checkboxes to select cards across different columns

3. Smart Actions Appear

   System shows context-aware actions based on your selection

Context-Aware Bulk Actions

The system intelligently shows relevant actions based on selected card statuses:

Mixed TO_SOURCE Selection

Send Bulk RFQs: Generate RFQs for multiple products simultaneously

• Groups communications by supplier
• Maintains individual product specifications
• Preserves email thread organization

Mixed QUOTING Selection

Send Counter Offers: Initiate negotiations with multiple suppliers Create Purchase Orders: Bulk PO generation for approved quotes

• Automatic PO numbering (LF-1001, LF-1002, etc.)
• Consistent delivery addresses
• Coordinated supplier communications

Mixed NEGOTIATING Selection

Continue Negotiations: Follow-up negotiations maintaining email thread continuity Finalize Multiple Deals: Accept terms and create purchase orders for multiple negotiations

• Preserves individual negotiation context
• Maintains supplier relationship continuity

Email Thread Intelligence: Bulk operations automatically group communications by supplier email thread, preventing confusion and maintaining professional communication flow.

Advanced Card Analytics

Expandable Quote Details

Click the chevron on any card to reveal:

Quote Performance

• Number of quotes received
• Average response time
• Price variance analysis
• Supplier competitiveness

Timeline Tracking

• Days since RFQ sent
• Last supplier communication
• Negotiation duration
• Deal velocity metrics

Visual Status Indicators

Priority Indicators

High Priority: Red border for urgent requirements Standard: Blue border for normal processing

Activity Indicators

Recent Activity: Green dot for new quotes or communications Pending Action: Orange dot for items requiring your attention

Workflow Optimization Tips

Efficient Card Management

1. Regular Status Review

   Check cards daily for new quotes and required actions

2. Bulk Operations

   Use bulk select for similar actions across multiple cards

3. Priority Management

   Focus on cards with pending quotes and active negotiations

Performance Best Practices

Daily Workflow: Check QUOTING cards first (new quotes to review), then NEGOTIATING cards (active deals), then TO_SOURCE cards (new RFQs to send).

Response Time Matters: Quick responses to supplier quotes maintain good relationships and improve future response rates.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
B	Toggle bulk select mode
Escape	Exit bulk select mode
Enter	Open card details
Space	Select/deselect card in bulk mode

Mobile Responsiveness

The Kanban board is fully responsive:

• Desktop: Full card details and analytics
• Tablet: Condensed view with essential information
• Mobile: Card stack view with swipe navigation

Your command center works wherever you do business.