Demo 12 · Decision Cards · the method behind the Sprint

Five decisions. Then they stay made.

Data clean-ups stall because nobody decides. Each card is one plain question with a recommendation, the impact, and your options. When you rule, the fix lands on a staging copy in front of you, and your ruling becomes a check that runs on every future change.

Sample data · fictional distributor Meridian Sample Supply (fictional) · 14,000 lines · 1,377 out of tolerance

Take the owner’s seat Run the X-Ray first

SPA claims
Stale costs
Supplier increases
Expired contracts
Vending billing

Card 1 of 5 SPA claims Decider · Controller

On 140 SPAs, qualifying sales were never claimed from the supplier. File the claims?

140SPAs affected

$8,261claimable now · one-time cash

$50,483.40catch-up request, past the window (ask once)

Recommendation

File everything inside the claim window today; ask each supplier for a one-time catch-up on the rest. You sold at the special price the supplier agreed to support. Claims inside the supplier’s window are money owed to you; past-window claims usually bounce, so they go as one catch-up request with your sales records attached, not as claims.

Your ruling File in-window claims; ask for a catch-upRecommended In-window claims are built today and ready for your release. The older units go to each supplier as one catch-up request, held as pending exceptions. File every unclaimed unit as a claim Claims go to each supplier for every qualifying unit. Past-window claims are likely to be rejected. Leave them unclaimed Nothing is filed. These are recorded as approved write-offs; new unclaimed sales are flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
AQL-SS7-TT	Units claimed	4	—	Out
CBX-MD451-33-9	Units claimed	2	—	Out
CBX-MD454-44-5	Units claimed	3	—	Out
DWL-MD601-33-7	Units claimed	4	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

AQL-SS7-TT Aquilor Fluids Semi-Synthetic Coolant Titan, 275 gal tote
K-30410 · Customer 1345 (oilfield machine shop, fictional): 23 units sold under Aquilor Fluids’s SPA (support $1,104.73 a unit), only 4 claimed. About 2 unclaimed units are still inside the 90-day window ($2,511.18 to claim now); 14 are likely past it ($15,346.10: ask for a one-time catch-up).
CBX-MD451-33-9 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 45" wide x 33" high, 9 Drawers Pro
K-32585 · Customer 1300 (agricultural OEM, fictional): 12 units sold under Cabriox Storage’s SPA (support $256.96 a unit), only 2 claimed. About 1 unclaimed units are still inside the 90-day window ($307.89 to claim now); 7 are likely past it ($1,881.55: ask for a one-time catch-up).
CBX-MD454-44-5 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 45" wide x 44" high, 5 Drawers Max
K-30882 · Customer 2438 (screw machine shop, fictional): 12 units sold under Cabriox Storage’s SPA (support $246.84 a unit), only 3 claimed. About 1 unclaimed units are still inside the 90-day window ($261.05 to claim now); 6 are likely past it ($1,595.32: ask for a one-time catch-up).
DWL-MD601-33-7 Drawerline Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 60" wide x 33" high, 7 Drawers Pro
K-30476 · Customer 1352 (job shop, fictional): 12 units sold under Drawerline Storage’s SPA (support $282.16 a unit), only 4 claimed. About 1 unclaimed units are still inside the 90-day window ($258.73 to claim now); 6 are likely past it ($1,581.11: ask for a one-time catch-up).
CBX-MD602-59-5 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 60" wide x 59" high, 5 Drawers HD
K-33246 · Customer 1537 (fabrication shop, fictional): 12 units sold under Cabriox Storage’s SPA (support $512.29 a unit), only 7 claimed. About 0 unclaimed units are still inside the 90-day window ($253.62 to claim now); 3 are likely past it ($1,549.92: ask for a one-time catch-up).
HCY-R3A2-0750 Halcyra Carbide 3/4" 3FL Roughing End Mill HD, 2-1/4" LOC, AlTiN
K-30737 · Customer 1389 (pump manufacturer, fictional): 150 units sold under Halcyra Carbide’s SPA (support $19.92 a unit), only 44 claimed. About 12 unclaimed units are still inside the 90-day window ($245.13 to claim now); 75 are likely past it ($1,498.01: ask for a one-time catch-up).

Risk: Some suppliers refuse catch-ups. The X-Ray counts only the in-window part as money you can collect.

Unblocks: A claim watch: every SPA sale is matched to a filed claim each month, with an alert at half the window.

Card 2 of 5 Stale costs Decider · Purchasing manager

280 costs on file don’t match the supplier’s current price file, or haven’t been checked in too long. Load the supplier’s cost?

280items affected

$41,269a year at risk, est.

14,000items re-scanned

Recommendation

Load the supplier’s current cost; reprice increases, hold prices on decreases. Every margin report, every cost-plus price and every matrix price on these items is built on a cost the supplier no longer charges. Increases are repriced the same day. A supplier decrease loads the cost but holds the price (our default: a recommendation never lowers a customer’s price): stock bought at the old cost is still on the shelf.

Your ruling Load the cost; reprice increases onlyRecommended Costs match the supplier’s file. Items whose cost rose keep their margin %; items whose cost fell keep their price. Date-only items go to “quote requested”. Load the cost; leave prices for the line review Margin reports become honest today. Prices wait for the next review, so some items may now show under their target. Load the cost; reprice both ways Prices follow the supplier’s file up AND down: decreases lower customer prices at once, on stock bought at the old cost. Leave them as they are Nothing changes. These are recorded as approved; any new mismatch is flagged.

On the bench · example rows · the long tail: items costing $95 or less, where stale costs hide

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
CLV-DC8-1	Cost on file	$88.45	—	Out
HDV-TV12-3	Cost on file	$67.92	—	Out
HDV-TV-8	Cost on file	$95.47	—	Out
AQL-TF8-1G	Cost on file	$40.02	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

CLV-DC8-1 Calvenna Instruments Digital Caliper 6" 2
The supplier’s current file (2026-04-04) says $92.87; your cost on file is $88.45. Margins on this item are overstated by 5.0%.
HDV-TV12-3 Holdvanta Workholding 3" Toolmaker's Vise Max 2
The supplier’s current file (2026-07-27) says $75.01; your cost on file is $67.92. Margins on this item are overstated by 10.4%.
HDV-TV-8 Holdvanta Workholding 8" Toolmaker's Vise
The supplier’s current file (2026-08-25) says $102.94; your cost on file is $95.47. Margins on this item are overstated by 7.8%.
AQL-TF8-1G Aquilor Fluids Tapping Fluid 2, 1 gal jug
The supplier’s current file (2026-06-08) says $42.42; your cost on file is $40.02. Margins on this item are overstated by 6.0%.
AQL-GR2-5G Aquilor Fluids Grinding Fluid HD, 5 gal pail
The supplier’s current file (2026-06-08) says $91.75; your cost on file is $86.56. Margins on this item are overstated by 6.0%.
AQL-SO8-4G Aquilor Fluids Soluble Oil Coolant 2, 1 gal jug, case of 4 · CS/4
The supplier’s current file (2026-06-08) says $87.24; your cost on file is $82.30. Margins on this item are overstated by 6.0%.

Risk: Lines with no supplier price file need a quote before their cost can be confirmed: they are marked “quote requested”, never marked confirmed without one.

Unblocks: A cost-file watch: each supplier price file is compared to your costs the day it arrives.

Card 3 of 5 Supplier increases Decider · Owner or GM

Suppliers raised costs on 420 items and the sell prices never moved. Pass the increases through?

420items affected

$31,994a year at risk, est.

16 suppliersinvolved

Recommendation

Pass it through, keeping each item’s margin %. These prices were set before the supplier’s increase, so every order since has quietly absorbed it. Holding the percentage restores the margin each line’s rule was built for; passing only the dollars loses ground with every increase. In 2026 carbide carries surcharges on top of base increases, so the surcharge option keeps that part separate and temporary.

Your ruling Pass it through, keep margin %Recommended Each price moves to its line’s rule at the new cost (or rises in proportion to its cost). The leak on these items closes. Pass it as a surcharge tied to the supplier’s The same increase, shown as a surcharge that comes off automatically when the supplier removes theirs. Best for tungsten. Pass through the dollar increase only Prices rise by exactly the cost change. Margin dollars hold; margin % slips with every increase. Hold 60 days, then review Nothing changes today and the leak keeps running. The new check flags anything still unpriced after 60 days — possibly right away.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
CBX-MD603-59-7	Book price	$3,985.50	—	Out
CBX-MD601-59-12	Book price	$4,561.05	—	Out
CBX-MD451-44-9	Book price	$2,343.45	—	Out
CBX-MD305-59-9	Book price	$2,865.85	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

CBX-MD603-59-7 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 60" wide x 59" high, 7 Drawers Ultra
Cabriox Storage raised cost 11.0% ($2,642.29 → $2,932.94) on 2026-06-23, 70 days ago; the sell price was last set 2026-01-27, before it.
CBX-MD601-59-12 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 60" wide x 59" high, 12 Drawers Pro
Cabriox Storage raised cost 11.0% ($2,988.60 → $3,317.35) on 2026-06-23, 70 days ago; the sell price was last set 2025-11-23, before it.
CBX-MD451-44-9 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 45" wide x 44" high, 9 Drawers Pro
Cabriox Storage raised cost 11.0% ($1,526.40 → $1,694.30) on 2026-06-23, 70 days ago; the sell price was last set 2026-01-30, before it.
CBX-MD305-59-9 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 30" wide x 59" high, 9 Drawers Edge
Cabriox Storage raised cost 11.0% ($1,884.76 → $2,092.08) on 2026-06-23, 70 days ago; the sell price was last set 2026-04-16, before it.
CBX-MD454-44-12 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 45" wide x 44" high, 12 Drawers Max
Cabriox Storage raised cost 11.0% ($2,092.86 → $2,323.07) on 2026-06-23, 70 days ago; the sell price was last set 2026-04-19, before it.
TSY-FMKN1-1000 Tessaly Tap Works 1-8 Thread Forming Tap Pro, Solid Carbide, TiN
Tessaly Tap Works raised cost 8.0% ($59.39 → $64.14) on 2026-05-04, 120 days ago; the sell price was last set 2026-01-28, before it.

Risk: Customers on contract prices may need notice first: contract and SPA prices sit outside the book and are not touched by this ruling.

Unblocks: A supplier-increase clock: every new supplier price file gets a price review on a timer, not from memory.

Card 4 of 5 Expired contracts Decider · Sales manager

70 contracts have ended but orders are still priced from them. Renew them, or end them?

70contracts affected

$7,985a year at risk, est.

55 customersaffected

Recommendation

Open a 60-day renew-or-end window, with a reminder. Nobody renewed these discounts. Cutting a key account’s price on the end date, with no notice, loses accounts, so our default never does it. Each agreement gets 60 days: renew the ones worth keeping at a price that clears the floor; the rest go to their normal price when the window closes. If the SPA behind it expired, ask the supplier to extend the SPA first.

Your ruling A 60-day renew-or-end windowRecommended Each agreement runs 60 more days at a price that clears the floor; a reminder at day 45; renew or let it end at day 60. Renew each for 12 months Each agreement is renewed from today at its current price, raised to the contract floor where needed. Stop them today: back to normal price Billing stops using these agreements today. Fastest, and the riskiest with key accounts. Leave them as they are Nothing changes. These are recorded as approved; any newly expired contract still in use is flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
HCY-H5A1-0313	Units after end	115	—	Out
AQL-CO10-55	Units after end	5	—	Out
GPF-SC5-6	Units after end	4	—	Out
KSV-SMO-0172	Units after end	95	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

HCY-H5A1-0313 Halcyra Carbide 5/16" 5FL High-Performance End Mill Pro, 15/16" LOC, AlTiN
K-30880 · Customer 1494 (mold and die shop, fictional): ended 2026-04-24, but 115 more units were billed at the contract price of $57.25 instead of $71.85.
AQL-CO10-55 Aquilor Fluids Straight Cutting Oil HD 2, 55 gal drum
K-30650 · Customer 1291 (aerospace machine shop, fictional): ended 2026-03-06, but 5 more units were billed at the contract price of $1,685.20 instead of $1,807.06.
GPF-SC5-6 Gripforth Vises 6" Self-Centering Vise Edge
K-31451 · Customer 1304 (mold and die shop, fictional): ended 2026-02-25, but 4 more units were billed at the contract price of $414.95 instead of $560.99.
KSV-SMO-0172 Kestova Carbide 11/64" Screw Machine Drill, HSS, Black Oxide · PK/12
K-31799 · Customer 1345 (oilfield machine shop, fictional): ended 2026-06-29, but 95 more units were billed at the contract price of $66.50 instead of $71.53.
HDV-5A13-8 Holdvanta Workholding 8" 5-Axis Vise Edge 2
K-33030 · Customer 1175 (oilfield machine shop, fictional): ended 2026-06-22, but 6 more units were billed at the contract price of $1,202.35 instead of $1,266.04.
VRX-SPCN-0875 Vorlex Threading 7/8-9 Spiral Point Tap, HSS-E Cobalt, TiN
K-30370 · Customer 1339 (pump manufacturer, fictional): ended 2026-05-23, but 41 more units were billed at the contract price of $20.30 instead of $28.25.

Risk: The leak runs for up to 60 more days on agreements that end. The reminder fires at day 45.

Unblocks: A contract clock: every agreement is flagged 60 days before it ends, so no window has to be opened after the fact.

What changes in your ERP

Prophet 21: job_price_hdr.end_date on the contract (or price_page.expiration_date on a customer price page)
SX.e / CSD: pdsc.enddt on the pricing record, plus a renewal reminder (SX.e has no reminder field: it goes on your calendar or CRM)
Eclipse: the matrix cell’s Expires date

Card 5 of 5 Vending billing Decider · Controller

42 vending bins dispensed more than was ever invoiced. Bill the difference?

42vending bins affected

$20,296to back-bill now · one-time cash

21 machinesaffected

Recommendation

Fix the billing feed now; back-bill the last 60 days with the machine log attached. The machine log is the customer’s own record of what left the machine. Back-billing a year at once is a relationship landmine; 60 days with the log attached is routine. Older gaps are a conversation with the buyer, not an invoice. The usual root cause is an item with no customer part-number cross-reference.

Your ruling Fix the feed; back-bill 60 daysRecommended The billing feed is fixed today; the last 60 days are billed with the machine log; the older gap goes to a conversation (held as exceptions). Invoice every unbilled dispense The whole year’s gap is billed at the lower of the machine and contract price. Fastest cash; hardest conversation. Count the bins, bill what’s confirmed Most of the gap is billed after a bin count; the unconfirmed part is recorded as shrink. Write it off as shrink Nothing is billed. These are recorded as approved shrink; new gaps are flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
KSV-R3U-1000	Units invoiced	28	—	Out
QMK-CJN1-0875	Units invoiced	20	—	Out
HCY-L4A2-0625	Units invoiced	24	—	Out
HCY-E4U-0375	Units invoiced	56	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

KSV-R3U-1000 Kestova Carbide 1" 3FL Roughing End Mill, 3" LOC, Uncoated
VM-14-B061 · Customer 1802 (job shop, fictional): 48 dispensed in 12 months, 28 invoiced. 20 units left the machine and were never billed.
QMK-CJN1-0875 Quenmark Drills 7/8" Solid Carbide Jobber Drill Pro, TiN
VM-18-B057 · Customer 2683 (medical device maker, fictional): 36 dispensed in 12 months, 20 invoiced. 16 units left the machine and were never billed.
HCY-L4A2-0625 Halcyra Carbide 5/8" 4FL Long Reach End Mill HD, 1-7/8" LOC, AlTiN
VM-21-B011 · Customer 1165 (oilfield machine shop, fictional): 42 dispensed in 12 months, 24 invoiced. 18 units left the machine and were never billed.
HCY-E4U-0375 Halcyra Carbide 3/8" 4FL Square End Mill, 1-1/8" LOC, Uncoated
VM-08-B006 · Customer 2247 (fabrication shop, fictional): 96 dispensed in 12 months, 56 invoiced. 40 units left the machine and were never billed.
KLV-L4A-1000 Kelvane Cutting Tools 1" 4FL Long Reach End Mill, 3" LOC, AlTiN
VM-20-B031 · Customer 1705 (oilfield machine shop, fictional): 49 dispensed in 12 months, 39 invoiced. 10 units left the machine and were never billed.
QMK-SMB-0203 Quenmark Drills 13/64" Screw Machine Drill, HSS, Bright · PK/12
VM-14-B001 · Customer 1802 (job shop, fictional): 39 dispensed in 12 months, 23 invoiced. 16 units left the machine and were never billed.

Risk: A few gaps may be count errors: the bin count is checked before the back-bill goes out.

Unblocks: A weekly dispense-to-invoice reconciliation for every machine.

Card 6 of 5 Line rules Decider · Pricing manager

112 items sit far off their own supplier line’s pricing rule. Put them back on it?

112items affected

$11,560a year at risk, est.

9 lineswith items off their own rule

Recommendation

Raise the under-priced ones to the rule; keep the over-rule prices for the line review. The rule was read from your own file: it is how the rest of each supplier line is priced. An item 30% under its line is almost always a hand-keyed price nobody revisited. Over-rule prices are never cut by default (our default: a recommendation never lowers a customer’s price; lowering stays an alternative): cut only where you are losing quotes.

Your ruling Raise the under-priced; review the over-pricedRecommended Items under their line’s rule move up to it. Items over it stay as they are, as ruled exceptions for the line review. Reset everything to the line’s rule Every item moves to its rule price, including over-rule items, which come DOWN. Lowers some customer prices. Leave them as they are Nothing changes. These are recorded as approved; any new item off its rule is flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
GPF-SC17-6	Book price	$591.00	—	Out
SWT-M461-750-1320	Book price	$26.65	—	Out
CBX-WB3-96	Book price	$844.20	—	Out
ADM-HG1-2	Book price	$401.05	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

GPF-SC17-6 Gripforth Vises 6" Self-Centering Vise Pro 3
$591.00 is 36.3% under Gripforth Vises’s own rule (Supplier list × 0.92), which puts it at $927.30 from its supplier list.
SWT-M461-750-1320 Sawtrell Blades 3/4" x 132" Welded Band Saw Blade Pro, Bi-Metal M42, 4/6 TPI
$26.65 is 25.7% under Sawtrell Blades’s own rule (Supplier list × 0.88), which puts it at $35.89 from its supplier list.
CBX-WB3-96 Cabriox Storage Steel Workbench 96" with Drawer Ultra
$844.20 is 32.3% under Cabriox Storage’s own rule (Supplier list × 0.90), which puts it at $1,247.68 from its supplier list.
ADM-HG1-2 Ardmont Gage Digital Height Gage 18" Pro
$401.05 is 24.6% under Ardmont Gage’s own rule (Cost-plus by class: cost × 1.50 (33% margin at book)), which puts it at $531.70 from its cost.
GPF-5A8-6 Gripforth Vises 6" 5-Axis Vise 2
$756.35 is 20.9% under Gripforth Vises’s own rule (Supplier list × 0.92), which puts it at $956.21 from its supplier list.
ADM-HG9-1 Ardmont Gage Digital Height Gage 12" Pro 2
$345.15 is 35.1% under Ardmont Gage’s own rule (Cost-plus by class: cost × 1.50 (33% margin at book)), which puts it at $531.85 from its cost.

Risk: A few under-rule prices may be deliberate (a promotion, a matched competitor price). Each one is listed for the pricing manager before it moves.

Unblocks: A line-rule guard: every new or changed price is checked against its supplier line’s rule before it goes live.

Card 7 of 5 Below cost Decider · Owner or GM

42 items sell below cost to at least one customer tier. Raise them?

42items affected

$419a year at risk, est.

14,000items re-scanned

Recommendation

Raise book to where every tier clears its class target. The line’s multiplier is fine on average, but the supplier’s discount on these items is thin, so a tier discount takes them under cost. Every sale to that tier loses money before freight.

Your ruling Raise book to clear every tier’s targetRecommended Book moves up just enough that every tier earns its class target margin. Raise just enough to stop the losses Stops selling under cost today. These items may still show under their class target until the next review. Keep them: they are loss leaders on purpose Nothing changes. These become a named exception list; any NEW item under cost is flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
SWT-M46-500-1320	Book price	$28.15	—	Out
SWT-C610-375-1650	Book price	$99.30	—	Out
GPF-SC2-4	Book price	$356.95	—	Out
PDX-XM-02890	Book price	$22.55	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

SWT-M46-500-1320 Sawtrell Blades 1/2" x 132" Welded Band Saw Blade, Bi-Metal M42, 4/6 TPI
Tier A · key accounts pays $24.77 (book $28.15 less 12.0%), under cost $26.49: every sale to that tier loses money.
SWT-C610-375-1650 Sawtrell Blades 3/8" x 165" Welded Band Saw Blade, Carbide Tipped, 6/10 TPI
Tier A · key accounts pays $87.38 (book $99.30 less 12.0%), under cost $91.90: every sale to that tier loses money.
GPF-SC2-4 Gripforth Vises 4" Self-Centering Vise HD
Tier A · key accounts pays $314.12 (book $356.95 less 12.0%), under cost $337.04: every sale to that tier loses money.
PDX-XM-02890 Peldrax Gage Gauge Pin .2890", Class X, Minus Tolerance, Steel
Tier A · key accounts pays $19.84 (book $22.55 less 12.0%), under cost $21.35: every sale to that tier loses money.
PDX-XM-03370 Peldrax Gage Gauge Pin .3370", Class X, Minus Tolerance, Steel
Tier A · key accounts pays $19.84 (book $22.55 less 12.0%), under cost $21.31: every sale to that tier loses money.
SWT-C34-500-930 Sawtrell Blades 1/2" x 93" Welded Band Saw Blade, Carbide Tipped, 3/4 TPI
Tier A · key accounts pays $65.82 (book $74.80 less 12.0%), under cost $70.59: every sale to that tier loses money.

Risk: A few may be deliberate loss leaders. If so, the third option records them as approved exceptions.

Unblocks: A tier floor: no tier price can be loaded under cost without an approved exception.

Card 8 of 5 Tier margins Decider · Owner or GM

98 items earn less than their class target margin at one or more customer tiers. Raise them to target?

98items affected

$9,281a year at risk, est.

14,000items re-scanned

Recommendation

Raise book so every tier meets its class target. They are profitable, just less than the target you set for the class. Consistent targets are what let a price increase land evenly across tiers.

Your ruling Raise to target nowRecommended Each item’s book moves so every tier meets its class target. Halfway now, the rest next quarter Each item closes half the gap today. The check keeps them visible as ruled exceptions until the second step. Leave them as they are Nothing changes. These are recorded as approved; new cases are flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
CBX-MD303-59-9	Book price	$2,887.50	—	Out
PDX-SET-S2	Book price	$289.40	—	Out
CBX-MD305-59-7	Book price	$2,866.95	—	Out
CBX-MD451-33-7	Book price	$1,803.35	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

CBX-MD303-59-9 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 30" wide x 59" high, 9 Drawers Ultra
Tier A · key accounts earns 6.7%, under the 14.0% target for Tooling Cabinets.
PDX-SET-S2 Peldrax Gage Gauge Pin Set .061–.250" (190 pc), Class ZZ Plus, with Case
Tier A · key accounts earns 11.5%, under the 18.0% target for Gauge Pins.
CBX-MD305-59-7 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 30" wide x 59" high, 7 Drawers Edge
Tier A · key accounts earns 7.5%, under the 14.0% target for Tooling Cabinets.
CBX-MD451-33-7 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 45" wide x 33" high, 7 Drawers Pro
Tier A · key accounts earns 6.7%, under the 14.0% target for Tooling Cabinets.
VTR-GB14-3 Valtern Metrology Gage Block Set 88 pc Prime 2
Tier A · key accounts earns 10.7%, under the 15.0% target for Inspection.
CBX-MD604-33-7 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 60" wide x 33" high, 7 Drawers Max
Tier A · key accounts earns 7.0%, under the 14.0% target for Tooling Cabinets.

Risk: Large jumps on high-volume items may need a customer notice first.

Unblocks: A tier-margin check on every price change, by class and tier.

Card 9 of 5 Overrides Decider · Sales manager

84 items were sold at hand-keyed prices below anything you authorized. Write the real deals down, or bring the price back?

84items affected

$20,120a year at risk, est.

14,000items re-scanned

Recommendation

Back to the authorized price after notice; write down the deals you confirm. An override under the customer’s lowest authorized price is a discount nobody approved, and it repeats on every order. Some are real deals someone agreed years ago and never wrote down: confirmed, they become an authorized price with an end date and stop being a leak. The rest return to the customer’s authorized price after notice (our default: a signed or habitual price changes only with notice).

Your ruling Back to the authorized price after notice; write down the real dealsRecommended Each customer gets 30 days’ notice, then orders price at their authorized level. Deals you confirm are written down as authorized prices instead. Overrides under the authorized price need a reason code from today. They are deals we agreed: authorize them Each override price is written down as that customer’s authorized price, with an owner and an end date. The flag disappears; the price stays. Back to the authorized price at the next order Fastest, with no notice: the next order prices at the customer’s authorized level. Expect calls from the accounts whose price jumps. Leave them as they are Nothing changes. These are recorded as approved; any new override under the authorized price is flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
AQL-SS8-TT	Override price	$5,686.60	—	Out
AQL-GR1-TT	Override price	$3,673.45	—	Out
CWN-SO5-TT	Override price	$3,523.70	—	Out
DWL-MD302-59-5	Override price	$1,236.80	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

AQL-SS8-TT Aquilor Fluids Semi-Synthetic Coolant 2, 275 gal tote
5 units were keyed at an average override of $5,686.60, under the lowest authorized price of $6,743.97.
AQL-GR1-TT Aquilor Fluids Grinding Fluid Pro, 275 gal tote
3 units were keyed at an average override of $3,673.45, under the lowest authorized price of $5,071.66.
CWN-SO5-TT Coolwyn Fluids Soluble Oil Coolant Edge, 275 gal tote
3 units were keyed at an average override of $3,523.70, under the lowest authorized price of $4,417.69.
DWL-MD302-59-5 Drawerline Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 30" wide x 59" high, 5 Drawers HD
3 units were keyed at an average override of $1,236.80, under the lowest authorized price of $1,660.52.
DWL-MD303-44-7 Drawerline Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 30" wide x 44" high, 7 Drawers Ultra
3 units were keyed at an average override of $1,177.75, under the lowest authorized price of $1,459.57.
DWL-MD451-33-9 Drawerline Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 45" wide x 33" high, 9 Drawers Pro
3 units were keyed at an average override of $1,258.30, under the lowest authorized price of $1,510.74.

Risk: A rep may have matched a competitor to keep the account. Each customer is listed for the sales manager before any notice goes out.

Unblocks: An override guard: a hand-keyed price under the customer’s authorized price needs a reason code and an approver before the order is released.

Seen it before? Hank’s 38% Thistlewood handshake in the Tenure Capital interview is exactly this check: an override no file explains. Ruled authorized, it stops being a leak and becomes a rule with an owner. Open the interview →

Card 10 of 5 Contract floors Decider · Owner or GM

88 contract or SPA prices are under your minimum contract margin. What happens to them?

88contracts affected

$26,025a year at risk, est.

66 customersaffected

Recommendation

Ask the supplier to re-support the SPA first; other contracts get notice before the price moves. A signed contract price can’t change at the next order unless the agreement says so. On an SPA line the first move is the supplier’s: a deeper SPA cost often fixes the margin without touching the customer. Everything else moves to the floor after written notice (our default: signed prices change only with notice, never at the next order).

Your ruling Supplier first, then noticeRecommended SPA lines: we draft the re-support request to each supplier (held as pending exceptions). Other lines: 30 days’ notice, then the price moves to the floor. Reprice each at renewal Nothing changes today; each agreement is flagged 60 days before it renews, to be repriced then. The leak runs until renewal. Raise to the floor at the next order Fastest, but it changes signed prices without notice: a breach risk and an account risk. Leave them as they are Nothing changes. These are recorded as approved; new agreements under the floor are flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
HCY-H5A1-0438	Contract price	$52.32	—	Out
KLV-E2A-0625	Contract price	$46.70	—	Out
CBX-MD602-59-5	Contract price	$2,455.70	—	Out
VRX-FMKN-0625	Contract price	$50.23	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

HCY-H5A1-0438 Halcyra Carbide 7/16" 5FL High-Performance End Mill Pro, 1-5/16" LOC, AlTiN
K-30268 · Customer 1209 (pump manufacturer, fictional): contract price $52.32 against SPA cost $53.68 is a -2.6% margin, under the 12.0% contract floor: below cost.
KLV-E2A-0625 Kelvane Cutting Tools 5/8" 2FL Square End Mill, 1-7/8" LOC, AlTiN
K-30895 · Customer 1411 (aerospace machine shop, fictional): contract price $46.70 against cost $47.79 is a -2.3% margin, under the 12.0% contract floor: below cost.
CBX-MD602-59-5 Cabriox Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 60" wide x 59" high, 5 Drawers HD
K-33247 · Customer 1028 (screw machine shop, fictional): contract price $2,455.70 against cost $2,385.41 is a 2.9% margin, under the 12.0% contract floor.
VRX-FMKN-0625 Vorlex Threading 5/8-11 Thread Forming Tap, Solid Carbide, TiN
K-32641 · Customer 1380 (agricultural OEM, fictional): contract price $50.23 against cost $48.87 is a 2.7% margin, under the 12.0% contract floor.
KSV-CJB-0875 Kestova Carbide 7/8" Solid Carbide Jobber Drill, Bright
K-30013 · Customer 1105 (oilfield machine shop, fictional): contract price $115.84 against cost $109.93 is a 5.1% margin, under the 12.0% contract floor.
DWL-MD605-44-9 Drawerline Storage Modular Drawer Cabinet, 60" wide x 44" high, 9 Drawers Edge
K-31702 · Customer 1406 (automotive supplier, fictional): contract price $2,133.34 against SPA cost $2,028.53 is a 4.9% margin, under the 12.0% contract floor.

Risk: Some suppliers will say no; those SPA lines then go to notice at renewal. Customers on notice may want to renegotiate.

Unblocks: A contract floor: no agreement can be loaded under the floor without an approved exception.

What changes in your ERP

Prophet 21: job_price_line.price on the contract line; on an SPA line the supplier’s side first (job_price_vendor.rebate_cost)
SX.e / CSD: the pdsc record’s price, after notice; on an SPA line the rebate record (pdsr) first
Eclipse: the matrix cell’s price, with its effective date set to the end of the notice

Card 11 of 5 Vending prices Decider · Vending program manager

50 vending bins bill a different price from the customer’s own contract or tier price. Reset the machines?

50vending bins affected

$12,707a year at risk, est.

22 machinesaffected

Recommendation

Raise the under-billing machines now; review the over-billing ones with the customer. Machine prices were set once and forgotten while the price file moved. Under-billing gives margin away on every dispense. Over-billing machines are a refund question for the customer review, never cut automatically (our default: a recommendation never lowers a customer’s price).

Your ruling Fix under-billing now, review over-billingRecommended Under-billed bins are corrected today; over-billed bins wait for a customer review as ruled exceptions. Reset every bin to the correct price Every machine bills the customer’s own price from today, including over-billed bins, which come down. Leave the machines as they are Nothing changes. These are recorded as approved; new drift is flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
KLV-FMKT-0563	Machine price	$74.14	—	Out
KSV-PCO-0875	Machine price	$56.23	—	Out
HCY-R3A4-1000	Machine price	$148.47	—	Out
HCY-H5U1-1000	Machine price	$154.92	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

KLV-FMKT-0563 Kelvane Cutting Tools 9/16-12 Thread Forming Tap, Solid Carbide, TiCN
VM-24-B007 · Customer 3031 (aerospace machine shop, fictional): the machine bills $74.14, but this customer’s normal price is $94.28 (under by 21.4%).
KSV-PCO-0875 Kestova Carbide 7/8" Parabolic Drill, Cobalt, Black Oxide
VM-18-B070 · Customer 2683 (medical device maker, fictional): the machine bills $56.23, but this customer’s normal price is $65.05 (under by 13.6%).
HCY-R3A4-1000 Halcyra Carbide 1" 3FL Roughing End Mill Max, 3" LOC, AlTiN
VM-14-B019 · Customer 1802 (job shop, fictional): the machine bills $148.47, but this customer’s contract price is $171.15 (under by 13.3%).
HCY-H5U1-1000 Halcyra Carbide 1" 5FL High-Performance End Mill Pro, 3" LOC, Uncoated
VM-21-B014 · Customer 1165 (oilfield machine shop, fictional): the machine bills $154.92, but this customer’s contract price is $184.45 (under by 16.0%).
KLV-BTCB-0875 Kelvane Cutting Tools 7/8-9 Bottoming Tap, HSS-E Cobalt, Bright
VM-15-B028 · Customer 2948 (screw machine shop, fictional): the machine bills $25.59, but this customer’s contract price is $29.35 (under by 12.8%).
KSV-JHO-0109 Kestova Carbide 7/64" Jobber Drill 118°, HSS, Black Oxide · PK/12
VM-14-B053 · Customer 1802 (job shop, fictional): the machine bills $41.65, but this customer’s contract price is $52.05 (under by 20.0%).

Risk: Customers billed over will ask about the past; that is a separate decision.

Unblocks: A vending price sync: every price change reaches the machines the same day.

Card 12 of 5 UOM and packs Decider · Pricing manager

22 items look like a box priced as one piece, or one piece priced as a box. Fix the unit of measure?

22items affected

$11,143a year at risk, est.

14,000items re-scanned

Recommendation

Fix the boxes priced as one piece now; review the pieces priced as a box. The price is off its line’s rule by almost exactly the pack quantity: a classic setup error. A box sold at the each price gives most of the box away. A piece priced as a box overcharges: it is reviewed, never cut automatically (our default: a recommendation never lowers a customer’s price).

Your ruling Fix the under-priced boxes nowRecommended Boxes priced as each move to their rule today; each-priced-as-box items wait for review as ruled exceptions. Reprice each to its line’s rule Every item moves to its rule price for its unit, including over-priced pieces, which come down. Leave them as they are Nothing changes. These are recorded as approved; new cases are flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
AQL-GR5-4G	Book price	$36.70	—	Out
AQL-CO8-4G	Book price	$41.25	—	Out
CWN-TF-4G	Book price	$37.75	—	Out
AQL-SS7-4G	Book price	$38.20	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

AQL-GR5-4G Aquilor Fluids Grinding Fluid Edge, 1 gal jug, case of 4 · CS/4
A CS of 4 is priced $36.70, about what ONE piece should sell for. Aquilor Fluids’s rule (Cost matrix: × 1.66 under $25 · × 1.55 $25–100 · × 1.46 $100–500 · × 1.40 over $500) puts it near $146.75.
AQL-CO8-4G Aquilor Fluids Straight Cutting Oil 2, 1 gal jug, case of 4 · CS/4
A CS of 4 is priced $41.25, about what ONE piece should sell for. Aquilor Fluids’s rule (Cost matrix: × 1.66 under $25 · × 1.55 $25–100 · × 1.46 $100–500 · × 1.40 over $500) puts it near $164.86.
CWN-TF-4G Coolwyn Fluids Tapping Fluid, 1 gal jug, case of 4 · CS/4
A CS of 4 is priced $37.75, about what ONE piece should sell for. Coolwyn Fluids’s rule (Cost matrix: × 1.66 under $25 · × 1.55 $25–100 · × 1.46 $100–500 · × 1.40 over $500) puts it near $150.93.
AQL-SS7-4G Aquilor Fluids Semi-Synthetic Coolant Titan, 1 gal jug, case of 4 · CS/4
A CS of 4 is priced $38.20, about what ONE piece should sell for. Aquilor Fluids’s rule (Cost matrix: × 1.66 under $25 · × 1.55 $25–100 · × 1.46 $100–500 · × 1.40 over $500) puts it near $152.66.
AQL-TF10-4G Aquilor Fluids Tapping Fluid HD 2, 1 gal jug, case of 4 · CS/4
A CS of 4 is priced $64.85, about what ONE piece should sell for. Aquilor Fluids’s rule (Cost matrix: × 1.66 under $25 · × 1.55 $25–100 · × 1.46 $100–500 · × 1.40 over $500) puts it near $259.25.
AQL-SO6-4G Aquilor Fluids Soluble Oil Coolant Prime, 1 gal jug, case of 4 · CS/4
A CS of 4 is priced $31.10, about what ONE piece should sell for. Aquilor Fluids’s rule (Cost matrix: × 1.66 under $25 · × 1.55 $25–100 · × 1.46 $100–500 · × 1.40 over $500) puts it near $124.29.

Risk: Check the pack quantity on the item record too, or the same error comes back with the next price load.

Unblocks: A pack guard: price files are checked against pack quantities before they load.

Card 13 of 5 Quantity breaks Decider · Pricing manager

On 56 items, buying more costs more per unit. Fix the quantity breaks?

56items affected

Counts onlynot a margin leak

14,000items re-scanned

Recommendation

Rebuild the breaks from book with your class’s steps, never below today’s price; the climbing break goes to review. Neither neighbouring break is known to be right; book × the class’s standard step is the independent anchor. Breaks that sit too low rise to it. The break that sits too high is not cut automatically (our default: a recommendation never lowers a customer’s price): the pricing manager confirms it first.

Your ruling Rebuild from book; never lower a breakRecommended Breaks under the class step rise to it; the climbing break is held for the pricing manager as a ruled exception. Rebuild every break from the class’s steps Every break is recomputed from book: the too-high break comes down, a too-low one goes up. Cap the climbing break at the one before it Only the wrong break moves, down. Always gives price away. Leave them as they are Nothing changes. These are recorded as approved; new inversions are flagged.

On the bench · example rows

SKU	Value	Now	After ruling	Status
SWT-C34-250-930	Break 4	$57.75	—	Out
SWT-C34-250-1650	Break 4	$83.10	—	Out
SWT-C34-500-645	Break 4	$59.45	—	Out
SWT-C46-375-1650	Break 4	$99.00	—	Out

More details: what’s wrong on each row, the risk, what it unblocks

SWT-C34-250-930 Sawtrell Blades 1/4" x 93" Welded Band Saw Blade, Carbide Tipped, 3/4 TPI
Break 4 ($57.75) costs more than break 3 ($54.45): buying more costs more.
SWT-C34-250-1650 Sawtrell Blades 1/4" x 165" Welded Band Saw Blade, Carbide Tipped, 3/4 TPI
Break 4 ($83.10) costs more than break 3 ($78.35): buying more costs more.
SWT-C34-500-645 Sawtrell Blades 1/2" x 64.5" Welded Band Saw Blade, Carbide Tipped, 3/4 TPI
Break 4 ($59.45) costs more than break 3 ($56.05): buying more costs more.
SWT-C46-375-1650 Sawtrell Blades 3/8" x 165" Welded Band Saw Blade, Carbide Tipped, 4/6 TPI
Break 4 ($99.00) costs more than break 3 ($93.35): buying more costs more.
SWT-C46-500-1410 Sawtrell Blades 1/2" x 141" Welded Band Saw Blade, Carbide Tipped, 4/6 TPI
Break 4 ($100.15) costs more than break 3 ($94.45): buying more costs more.
SWT-M610-375-1500 Sawtrell Blades 3/8" x 150" Welded Band Saw Blade, Bi-Metal M42, 6/10 TPI
Break 4 ($27.20) costs more than break 3 ($25.65): buying more costs more.

Risk: Until the review, buying more can still cost more on these items.

Unblocks: A break-direction check on every price file you load, including supplier and EDI files.

More decisions on the sample: Line rules · Below cost · Tier margins · Overrides · Contract floors · Vending prices · UOM and packs · Quantity breaks

Your ruling log

#	Decision	Your ruling	Rows fixed	New check

Now picture this on your real data.

The Data Decision Sprint runs this with the people who have the authority: a forensic scan of your item, price and customer data, Decision Cards ranked by dollars, fixes built as import files your team loads, and every ruling left behind as a check. Starting at $15,000. Afterwards, Data Watchdog re-scans monthly and sends only the new decisions.

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Why this works

A ruling nobody enforces is a wish.

One question, one minute.
Every card says what is being decided, what we recommend and why, what it costs to do nothing, and what each choice changes. Details are one click away, never in the way.
The right person decides.
“Not my call” routes a card to the person with authority instead of stalling it. The log records who ruled, when, and their words.
Staging first.
Rulings change a copy, never the live system. You see the rows move before anything is loaded, and your team loads the import files.
Rulings become checks.
Each decision is written as a rule that runs on every future change, so the same problem cannot come back silently.

Next step

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