Critical resource yet limited control.

Abstract

More and more frequently buyers and purchasing agents are being instructed to give preference to suppliers who have demonstrated the ability to provide quality material, products and/or services and suppliers who’s Quality Management Systems have been registered to an International or National Standard (e.g., ISO 9000, ISO/TS 16949, TL 9000, AS 9100, or ISO 17025).

Supplier selection is typically based on the following hierarchy:

First Choice: Supplier Performance.

The supplier has a current (last 12 months) history of providing quality material, products, and/or services, on time, and at a competitive price.

Second Choice: Quality Management System Registration (Assessment by a Registrar - Third Party Audits)

The supplier’s Quality Management System is "registered" to an International or National Standard (e.g., ISO 9000, ISO/TS 16949, TL 9000, AS 9100, or ISO 17025).

Registration to an International or National Standard demonstrates the supplier's commitment to providing quality materials, products and/or services.

Third Choice: Quality Management System Compliance (Assessment by a company representative or qualified service provider - Second Party Audits)

The supplier’s Quality Management System is "compliant" to an International or National Standard (e.g., ISO 9000, ISO/TS 16949, TL 9000, AS 9100, or ISO 17025).

The supplier has a documented Quality Management Systems that adequately address an International or National Standard but the system is not registered. This would be their third choice because company resources will be needed to review the suppliers documented Quality Management System.

Fourth Choice: Quality Management System Under Development

The supplier is in the process of developing and documenting a Quality Management System that will adequately address an International or National Standard.

The third and fourth choices requires companies to dedicate internal resources needed to perform supplier assessments or outsource supplier assessments to a qualified service provider.

You and your customers would prefer to reduce operating expenses by using suppliers that have demonstrated their ability to provide quality material, products, and/or services and have obtained registration to an International of National Standard.

Evaluation and Selection of Suppliers

We recommend the following criteria be used for evaluating and selecting approved suppliers. Approval should be based on one or more of the following:

a) Your experience with the supplier during the last twelve (12) months,

b) Third party registration to a National or International Standard (e.g., ISO 9000, QS 9000, AS 9100, TL 9000, ISO 17025),

c) Evidence of involvement in a quality program of equal or more stringent requirements,

d) Your evaluation of the supplier’s capabilities, which may include completion of a Quality Management Systems Questionnaire and/or an on-site assessment,

e) Customer required supplier, or

f) "Expected" performance by a new supplier.

 

Conclusion:

When suppliers know future orders are directly tied to their performance, satisfying your company's needs and expectations becomes a higher priority.

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