diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/__manifest__.py b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/__manifest__.py
index 8b0bd91b..faada38e 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/__manifest__.py
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/__manifest__.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 {
     'name': 'Fusion Plating — Configurator',
-    'version': '19.0.22.10.0',
+    'version': '19.0.22.11.0',
     'category': 'Manufacturing/Plating',
     'summary': 'Quotation configurator with part catalog, coating configs, and formula-based pricing engine.',
     'description': """
diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/models/fp_part_catalog.py b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/models/fp_part_catalog.py
index 89ba1257..46413465 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/models/fp_part_catalog.py
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/models/fp_part_catalog.py
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ class FpPartCatalog(models.Model):
     partner_id = fields.Many2one(
         'res.partner', string='Customer', required=True, ondelete='cascade',
         tracking=True, domain="[('customer_rank', '>', 0)]",
+        context={'default_customer_rank': 1},  # inline-created customers get rank=1 so they stay visible in this picker
     )
     part_number = fields.Char(string='Part Number', required=True, tracking=True, help="Customer's part number (e.g. VS-R392007E01).")
     revision = fields.Char(
diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/models/fp_quote_configurator.py b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/models/fp_quote_configurator.py
index 3bef5f37..82089438 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/models/fp_quote_configurator.py
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/models/fp_quote_configurator.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ class FpQuoteConfigurator(models.Model):
     partner_id = fields.Many2one(
         'res.partner', string='Customer', required=True,
         domain="[('customer_rank', '>', 0)]",
+        context={'default_customer_rank': 1},  # inline-created customers get rank=1 so they stay visible in this picker
     )
     part_catalog_id = fields.Many2one(
         'fp.part.catalog', string='Part (Catalog)',
diff --git a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/wizard/fp_direct_order_wizard.py b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/wizard/fp_direct_order_wizard.py
index 3b58de3a..f5bf2e11 100644
--- a/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/wizard/fp_direct_order_wizard.py
+++ b/fusion_plating/fusion_plating_configurator/wizard/fp_direct_order_wizard.py
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ class FpDirectOrderWizard(models.Model):
     partner_id = fields.Many2one(
         'res.partner', string='Customer',
         domain="[('customer_rank', '>', 0)]",
+        # 2026-06-02: default customer_rank=1 so a customer created inline
+        # (quick-create) from the Express Order form is marked as a customer
+        # and stays visible in this picker AND the Customers menu (both filter
+        # customer_rank>0). Without it new customers got rank 0 and vanished.
+        context={'default_customer_rank': 1},
         tracking=True,
     )
     partner_invoice_id = fields.Many2one(