---
title: Understanding Requirements
description: Learn how requirement rules define which documents are required, how compliance is evaluated, and when document requests are automatically generated.
---
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# Understanding Requirements
Requirement rules define how document compliance is evaluated in your supply chain.
They determine:
- Which documents are required
- From which organisations
- Under which conditions
Once a rule is active, the system automatically generates requirements and checks compliance every day.
#### How requirement rules work
Requirement rules create individual requirements for organisations in your supply chain.
Each night at **00:00**, the system evaluates all active rules and determines whether:
- Documents are available
- Documents are missing
- Documents are expiring
- Document requests should be created
This automated process ensures that document collection and compliance monitoring run continuously.
#### Must-have and nice-to-have documents
Documents within a rule can be classified in two ways.
**Must-have**
These documents are required for compliance.
If a must-have document is missing or expired, the organisation will appear as non-compliant and document requests may be generated.
**Nice-to-have**
These documents are optional. They can still be requested, but they do not affect the compliance status.
This distinction allows you to prioritise critical documents while still collecting additional information.
#### Maintaining requirement rules
Clear requirement rules help ensure that document collection and compliance monitoring run smoothly.
By maintaining accurate rules and reviewing them regularly, you can reduce manual follow-up and maintain consistent compliance across your supply chain.
For step-by-step guidance on creating rules, see the article [**How to Set Up a Requirement Rule**](https://helpcenter.simvia.com/knowledge-base/creating-and-managing-requirement-rules?hsLang=en).
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