One of the strategies to ensure that the Quality System leads to surpassing strict regulatory limits and achieving recognition as a reliable Manufacturer is certainly to consider internal and external aspects that can significantly impact the overall product Quality level, as discussed in another article (link).
Among these aspects Supplier Evaluation, plays a key role, which can occur at various levels and using different tools such as:
- Evaluation of Non-Conformities and Deviations
- Quality Control through Incoming Inspections
- Supplier Classification (or Vendor Rating).
Supplier management is therefore a task that can either accompany the journey towards excellence or compromise it. It is important to consider adherence to some fundamental rules that can make the path easier:
- Continuous and consistent evaluation of suppliers is a key aspect.
- Such evaluation should form the basis of relationships with suppliers themselves, aiming to create long-term relationships where possible.
- Using important rules such as the "Cascade Technique" to manage potential conflicts between suppliers and customers, as well as sharing customer feedback with suppliers to adequately motivate them.
From a software perspective, supplier evaluation should be performed using tools that enable objective assessment, such as the Supplier Portal. This allows the customer to analyze the characteristics of each supplier before awarding the contract, and enables the supplier to present itself and its company, acquire and maintain the qualification as a qualified supplier over time, and undergo performance evaluation.
The Supplier Portal merits the ability to aggregate supplier information, whether financial, related to company stability, or concerning relationships between the supplying and contracting companies. This management helps evolve the complexity of information and allows parties to reach agreements based on mutual possibilities and inclinations.
This form of organizational balance is a necessary condition to pursue excellence in Quality and thus in competitive market positioning.
