Approved Vendor List (AVL)

Approved Vendor List (AVL) — also called Approved Supplier List (ASL) — is the data object that records, for each part or commodity, the distributors and resellers from which procurement is authorized to buy. It is the whom-you-buy-from layer, distinct from the AML’s who-makes-it layer.

What it covers

• Vendor / distributor records with vendor part number, terms, lead times, and pricing tier.
• Approval status — preferred, alternate, restricted, suspended, or terminated.
• Vendor-specific qualifications — quality scorecard, audit results, certifications (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485).
• Supplier risk and diversity attributes — single-source flags, geography, ownership designations.
• Linkage to procurement rules — auto-block POs to non-AVL vendors.

Relationships (see sidebar)

• Supports Supplier Development, BOM Management, and Quality Management.
• Implemented by PLM and procurement platforms including Siemens Teamcenter, PTC Windchill, Aras Innovator, Oracle Agile, and PTC Arena.
• Pairs with the Approved Manufacturer List (the whom-makes-it side).