> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.vintaflow.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Supply Chain Management

Learn how to view, build, and permission your supply chain network in Vintaflow.

## Accessing Supply Chain

1. Navigate to **Supply Chain** from an account's sub-section
2. View your network connections

## Views

### Graph View

A visual map of the network. Nodes are accounts and warehouses, and the lines between them are connections. Direction indicates upstream and downstream flow. Click any node to open its details.

### Table View

The same network as a list, showing each connected account, its warehouses, the relationship type, lead times, and status.

## Relationship Directions

* **Upstream** - suppliers who send products to you
* **Downstream** - buyers who receive products from you

Use the toggle to filter the view to one direction.

## Connection Types

| Type | What It Does |
|------|--------------|
| **Standard Connection** | Connects two accounts through warehouse-level nodes, with configurable lead times |
| **Delegate Connection** | Assigns a delegate account to manage supply chain operations on behalf of a self-managed account |

## Adding a Supply Chain Node

1. Click **Add Supply Chain Node**
2. Choose the **Connection Type**
3. Use **Find Accounts** to locate the account you want to connect to. Tick **Include Alias Nodes** to also search alias records
4. Select the **Upstream Node** and **Downstream Node** - the warehouses on each side of the link
5. Set the lead times, in weeks:

| Lead Time | Covers |
|-----------|--------|
| **Origin Haulage LT** | Getting goods from origin to the port or hub |
| **Main Carriage LT** | The main leg of the journey |
| **Destination Haulage LT** | Final delivery at the destination |

6. Set the **container constraint** for the lane - **Cases**, **Pallets**, **Volume**, or **Weight** - to tell Vintaflow what limits a shipment on this route
7. Add any **Ext. Attributes** you need
8. Click **Save**

|| Total lead time is the sum of the three legs. For made-to-order products, production lead time is added on top - see [Account Types](https://help.vintaflow.com/en/article/account-types-usdeup/) and [Create an Order](https://help.vintaflow.com/en/article/create-an-order-12cedi7/).

## Delegate Connections

A delegate connection lets one account run supply chain operations for another.

* **Delegate Products** - choose which products the delegate may act on
* **Bypass Approval** - allow the delegate's changes to apply immediately instead of queuing for review

||| With **Bypass Approval** off, every change a delegate makes becomes an approval request you must action. With it on, their changes apply directly. See [Approval Requests](https://help.vintaflow.com/en/article/approval-requests-1xpr1mb/).

Delegate permissions are:

| Permission | Grants |
|------------|--------|
| **Manage Orders** | Create and amend orders on your behalf |
| **Manage Inventories** | Adjust inventory on your behalf |

## Requesting Access to Another Network

To connect with an account you do not already manage:

1. Click **Request Access**
2. Choose the **Request Type**:

| Request Type | Purpose |
|--------------|---------|
| **Supply Chain Access** | Ask to establish a connection and gain access to that account's network |
| **Delegate Authorization** | Ask another account to manage supply chain operations on your behalf |

3. Select the account
4. Send the request

The receiving account reviews it and decides. Until they approve, no connection exists.

## Permissioning a Connection

For self-managed accounts in your network, click the **gear** icon on the account to set what they can see and do:

| Permission | Grants |
|------------|--------|
| **Read Orders** | View orders on the connection |
| **Read Inventories** | View inventory levels |
| **Import Orders** | Upload orders |

These permissions drive what a partner sees in the [External Partner Portal](https://help.vintaflow.com/en/article/external-partner-portal-hv6gpt/).

## Node Details

Click a node to see the account information, manager contact details, VAT ID and customer ID, connected warehouses, and related upstream and downstream chains.

## Related Accounts

Click **View Related Accounts** to see everything connected through your network, filtered by account type or relationship.

## Related

* [Accounts Management](https://help.vintaflow.com/en/article/accounts-management-xs9pa7/)
* [Warehouses Management](https://help.vintaflow.com/en/article/warehouses-management-1sovoao/) - the warehouses these nodes connect
* [Approval Requests](https://help.vintaflow.com/en/article/approval-requests-1xpr1mb/) - reviewing what delegates and partners change