> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.chemcloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to add an approved material

> Add a new approved material record to track a supplier's product against one of your raw materials

This guide shows you how to add a new approved material record to track a supplier's product against one of your raw materials.

***

## Before you start

To add an approved material, you'll need:

* The product (raw material) - create it first if it doesn't exist
* The supplier - create them first if they're not in the system
* The supplier's product details (their product name, code, etc.)

***

## Ways to add an approved material

You can start adding an approved material from several places:

* **Dashboard** - Click **New Approval**
* **Top navigation** - Click the **+** button
* **[Approved Materials page](https://app.chemcloud.com.au/buyer/approved_materials)** - Click **[Add Approved Material](https://app.chemcloud.com.au/buyer/approved_materials?hide_add_material=false)**

***

## Fill in the details

1. Select your **Product** (the raw material you're approving a source for)
2. Select the **Supplier**
3. Select or add the **Supplier's Product** (you can create it here if needed)
4. Set the **Approval Status** (e.g., "R\&D Not Started" for new materials)
5. Click **Create**

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## Field descriptions

| Field              | What to enter                       | Why it matters                                  |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Product            | Your internal raw material          | Links this approval to your product catalogue   |
| Supplier           | The company supplying this material | Associates the approval with the correct vendor |
| Supplier's Product | The supplier's specific product     | Tracks exactly which variant is approved        |
| Approval Status    | Current stage of approval           | Shows progress through your approval workflow   |

***

## Approval statuses

Common approval statuses include:

* **R\&D Not Started** - New material, not yet reviewed
* **R\&D In Progress** - Currently being evaluated
* **Approved** - Passed all checks, ready to purchase
* **Rejected** - Did not meet requirements

***

## What's next?

After creating an approved material:

* Upload documents (SDS, COA, TDS) to the approval record
* @mention a colleague to notify them about the new material
* Update the status as the material moves through your approval process