Our latest quarterly newsletter Feature Article discussed strategic supplier selection. Due to the response we’ve had, we wanted to follow-up on our blog.
We were surprised to discover many of our newsletter subscribers didn’t know a variety of options existed for gaining additional assurances when going through the supplier selection process.
Determining which option you leverage involves the level of risk you’re willing to take in the process.
What are the options?
Legal Verification
The most basic information that you will want to have verified by an external source includes legal verification. Is the supplier legally able to partner and produce products for you? It becomes less clear how to do that when you’re looking at potential suppliers abroad. Using a 3rd party with local access is often preferred due to the cost and time required to execute internally.Credit Standing
Another indicator of performance is generally an organization’s credit rating.Supplier Verification
Does the supplier exist, and are they observably consistent with the information they provided. For example:- How many employees work there?
- How many years have they been in business?
- Who are their top three customers and what percent of sales do they make up?
- Do they have any certifications?
- What does the factory look like?
- What equipment is available on-site?
- How many production lines are there?
- Do they subcontract anything to other suppliers?
- What is their product capacity?
Supplier Audit
This on-site evaluation is performed by a quality professional that specializes in evaluating quality management systems. The idea is to gain assurances on a number of applicable topics through objective evidence. In general, the auditor looks at the following and provides a comparative analysis of conformances and non-conformances:- Management
- Engineering
- QC & Assurance
- Incoming Receiving Inspection
- Manufacturing
- Packaging
- Non-Conforming Materials
- Corrective Action
- Inspection & Test Equipment
Specialized Audits
Depending on your industry or other factors, specialized audits may be required. For example, many stakeholders now demand organizations support their social responsibility claims with on-site audits. SA8000 or social-based audits specialize in topics related specifically to the workforce and human rights issues. Other examples include:- Automotive ISO/TS 16949
- Medical Devices ISO 13485
- Environmental ISO 14001
- GMP
