---
title: Product suggestion
description: How the catalogue is scored against a line, and what the bands mean.
sidebar:
  label: Suggestions
  order: 5
---

Scores the Flowtech catalogue against each line item's process conditions and
returns a ranked shortlist, with the reason behind every rejection, warning
and size finding. The same enquiry produces the same answer.

It uses the [item group](/business/features/item-groups) as the family,
the [item codes](/business/features/item-master) as released variants,
and [product limitations](/business/features/product-limitations) plus
sizing tables as the bounds. It does not invent a rating where the guide is
silent.

## Bands

| Band | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| **Excellent match** | All process conditions within rated limits, no deviations, no assumed values |
| **Suitable** | Fits, with minor considerations named |
| **Marginal** | Fits poorly, or too much is unknown to say better |
| **Rejected** | A stated requirement breaches a known rating |

The top band requires a duty the customer **stated** (R28). Where any value
was assumed, the best rating is suitable.

## Survive versus read

Rated limits say whether the instrument **survives** the process. Published
sizing tables say whether it can **read** the duty (R29). A stated bore the
flow does not suit costs the product points and names the size to use instead.
A duty that no published size in the family reaches is an exclusion.

## Rules that shape the shortlist

- Ruled out only when a **stated** requirement provably breaches a **known**
  rating (R23). Unconfirmed stays visible.
- A breach of an assumed value **warns**; a stated breach **excludes** (R24).
- The product the customer asked for **always stays on the shortlist**, even
  when rejected (R25). That is what justifies a substitution.
- Any rejection reason on the requested product makes the quotation a
  **deviation** (R26) — not only an outright rejection.
- A requested **flowmeter family** narrows the answer; a requested **level
  type** does not (R27). Level types are alternatives to each other — otherwise
  "you asked for reflex, but this fluid is dark" could never be given.

## Who uses it

It runs automatically at the end of every processing run. The sales person
reads it on the conversation and acts on it in the
[quotation builder](/business/features/quotation-builder).

Related: [Line items](/business/features/line-items) ·
[Business rules](/business/business-rules).