Supplier Evaluation Criteria – What To Look Out For
Beyond merely providing goods, suppliers play a crucial role in company operations, impacting product quality, timely deliveries, and overall customer satisfaction. Therefore, supplier evaluation isn’t just an operational necessity but a strategic imperative.
While many companies have their assessment protocols, certain criteria often slip under the radar, leading to enduring repercussions like quality issues and legal entanglements. In this discourse, we’ll shed light on five commonly neglected criteria, underlining their importance and demonstrating their repercussions through examples.
1. Supplier’s Factory Audit Practices and Management
Just as companies prioritize supplier evaluation, it’s essential for the factories they engage with to uphold similar scrutiny towards their suppliers.
A robust internal audit system signifies a proactive approach to identify and mitigate risks, ensuring minimal disruptions within the supply chain. Additionally, how a factory manages its suppliers reflects its commitment to maintaining product quality and delivery consistency. It also offers insights into their organizational resilience and potential for long-term collaboration.
Example: Neglecting Factory Audit Practices
A renowned medical device company, Company A, faced setbacks when a regulatory audit revealed that their new partner’s sub-supplier didn’t meet required standards. This oversight disrupted their product launch, emphasizing the need to vet every tier of the supply chain meticulously.
2. Incoming Quality Control (IQC) Process Management
IQC serves as the gatekeeper for manufacturing, determining raw material and component quality before production. A strong IQC process signifies proactive quality assurance, reducing wastage and associated costs.
Example: Ignoring IQC in Supplier Evaluation
A motorcycle brand faced quality defects due to a lack of IQC at a new supplier’s facility. Implementing IQC procedures post-inspection helped rectify the issue, underscoring the importance of verifying a supplier’s IQC process beforehand.
3. Process Control and Monitoring
Efficient process control ensures adherence to standards and swift issue resolution, indicating a well-trained workforce and efficient resource utilization.
Example: Process Control Lapse in Fabric Manufacturing
A fashion brand faced delays and costs due to unnoticed production issues at a fabric supplier, emphasizing the need for meticulous process control assessments during vendor evaluation.
4. Inspection Record Completeness and Traceability
Thorough and traceable inspection records reflect a factory’s commitment to transparency, aiding quality control and issue resolution.
Example: Traceability Challenges
A furniture brand struggled to trace defects back to specific batches due to incomplete records from a supplier, resulting in shipment halts and brand reputation damage.
5. Continuous Improvement Culture
A commitment to continuous improvement signals a supplier’s adaptability and long-term performance.
Example: Supplier’s Resistance to Improvement
A kitchen appliance brand faced post-launch issues due to a supplier’s reluctance to adapt, highlighting the importance of assessing a supplier’s continuous improvement commitment.
Conclusion
These overlooked criteria, when not addressed, can lead to avoidable disruptions. However, they should be part of a comprehensive supplier evaluation framework to ensure a reliable supply chain and uphold brand reputation. A Supplier Quality Audit solution by third parties cover essential evaluation points, empowering businesses to make informed decisions and strengthen their supply chain reliability.
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