Supplier Quality Audit Basics<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>PurchTips edition #150<\/p>\n<\/div>
What Should You Do On A Supplier Quality Audit?<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div>Performing a supplier quality audit is one step in ensuring the selection of a capable supplier. There is great emphasis on providing quality products because quality ensures a good market position. For important purchases, ensuring acceptable supplier quality is critical.<\/p>\n
A supplier quality audit is more than just walking a supplier’s shop floor and looking around. You should leave a supplier quality audit with a greater understanding of at least the following items.<\/p>\n
Quality Methodologies<\/b> \u2013 Many quality methodologies are used today, including Total Quality Management, Six Sigma, and Lean Six Sigma. Ask the about the methodology the supplier employs and how it’s used.<\/p>\n
Lot Determinations<\/b> \u2013 Asq.org defines a lot as “a defined quantity of product accumulated under conditions considered uniform for sampling purposes.” In quality recalls, good suppliers know exactly which lots were affected by the non-conforming material, ingredient, etc. So learn how the supplier tracks lots.<\/p>\n
Tools<\/b> \u2013 How is the supplier monitoring its quality? One common tool used is Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts. SPC identifies an acceptable range of quality measurements and then graphs actual measurements both between upper and lower limits of acceptability and outside those limits. Ask the supplier to show you how quality tools are used to monitor quality.<\/p>\n
Improvements<\/b> \u2013 Suppliers often use numbers to gauge their quality performance. Ask the supplier for a few years of reports with these metrics. Are the metrics getting better, worse, more static, or more erratic?<\/p>\n
Team Empowerment<\/b> \u2013 Experts agree that quality improves when line workers are empowered to watch for defects. For example, can the supplier’s employees tell you what they do to mitigate situations like discovering defects in their product? How will they address the problem?<\/p>\n
Sampling Arrangements<\/b> \u2013 In mass production, not every unit made is inspected. How does the supplier choose the size and composition of inspected samples?<\/p>\n
Inspection Process<\/b> \u2013 How does the supplier inspect items before shipment? Is this inspection method similar to the way your company evaluates conformance?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Do You Want a More Rewarding Procurement Career?<\/h5><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/12\/spsm_verify.jpg\" "\\"spsm_verify\\"")
<\/span><\/div>Are you tired of not getting enough opportunities, respect, and money out of your procurement career? Well, guess what? Nothing will change unless you take action towards becoming a world-class procurement professional.<\/p>\n
Earning your SPSM Certification is the action to take if you want to bring the most modern procurement practices into your organization and achieve your career potential. Download the SPSM Certification Guide today to learn how to get started on your journey to a more rewarding procurement career!<\/p>\n<\/div>
Download<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>Need Better Performance From Your Procurement Team?<\/h5><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/12\/services.jpg\" "\\"services\\"")
<\/span><\/div>Are you a procurement leader whose team isn\u2019t achieving the results you know are possible? Maybe it\u2019s not enough cost savings. Or frustrating performance from the supply base. Or dissatisfied internal customers.<\/p>\n
You need a performance improvement plan that\u2019s easy to implement and quick to produce results. The NLPA can help.<\/p>\n
Download our whitepaper \u201cThe Procurement Leader\u2019s Guide To A More Successful Team.\u201d You\u2019ll learn the 7 steps for transforming your staff into a results-producing, world-class procurement team.<\/p>\n<\/div>
PurchTips edition #150<\/p>\n<\/div>
What Should You Do On A Supplier Quality Audit?<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div>Performing a supplier quality audit is one step in ensuring the selection of a capable supplier. There is great emphasis on providing quality products because quality ensures a good market position. For important purchases, ensuring acceptable supplier quality is critical.<\/p>\n
A supplier quality audit is more than just walking a supplier’s shop floor and looking around. You should leave a supplier quality audit with a greater understanding of at least the following items.<\/p>\n
Quality Methodologies<\/b> \u2013 Many quality methodologies are used today, including Total Quality Management, Six Sigma, and Lean Six Sigma. Ask the about the methodology the supplier employs and how it’s used.<\/p>\n
Lot Determinations<\/b> \u2013 Asq.org defines a lot as “a defined quantity of product accumulated under conditions considered uniform for sampling purposes.” In quality recalls, good suppliers know exactly which lots were affected by the non-conforming material, ingredient, etc. So learn how the supplier tracks lots.<\/p>\n
Tools<\/b> \u2013 How is the supplier monitoring its quality? One common tool used is Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts. SPC identifies an acceptable range of quality measurements and then graphs actual measurements both between upper and lower limits of acceptability and outside those limits. Ask the supplier to show you how quality tools are used to monitor quality.<\/p>\n
Improvements<\/b> \u2013 Suppliers often use numbers to gauge their quality performance. Ask the supplier for a few years of reports with these metrics. Are the metrics getting better, worse, more static, or more erratic?<\/p>\n
Team Empowerment<\/b> \u2013 Experts agree that quality improves when line workers are empowered to watch for defects. For example, can the supplier’s employees tell you what they do to mitigate situations like discovering defects in their product? How will they address the problem?<\/p>\n
Sampling Arrangements<\/b> \u2013 In mass production, not every unit made is inspected. How does the supplier choose the size and composition of inspected samples?<\/p>\n
Inspection Process<\/b> \u2013 How does the supplier inspect items before shipment? Is this inspection method similar to the way your company evaluates conformance?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Do You Want a More Rewarding Procurement Career?<\/h5><\/div><\/span><\/div>Are you tired of not getting enough opportunities, respect, and money out of your procurement career? Well, guess what? Nothing will change unless you take action towards becoming a world-class procurement professional.<\/p>\n
Earning your SPSM Certification is the action to take if you want to bring the most modern procurement practices into your organization and achieve your career potential. Download the SPSM Certification Guide today to learn how to get started on your journey to a more rewarding procurement career!<\/p>\n<\/div>
Download<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>Need Better Performance From Your Procurement Team?<\/h5><\/div><\/span><\/div>Are you a procurement leader whose team isn\u2019t achieving the results you know are possible? Maybe it\u2019s not enough cost savings. Or frustrating performance from the supply base. Or dissatisfied internal customers.<\/p>\n
You need a performance improvement plan that\u2019s easy to implement and quick to produce results. The NLPA can help.<\/p>\n
Download our whitepaper \u201cThe Procurement Leader\u2019s Guide To A More Successful Team.\u201d You\u2019ll learn the 7 steps for transforming your staff into a results-producing, world-class procurement team.<\/p>\n<\/div>
Performing a supplier quality audit is one step in ensuring the selection of a capable supplier. There is great emphasis on providing quality products because quality ensures a good market position. For important purchases, ensuring acceptable supplier quality is critical.<\/p>\n
A supplier quality audit is more than just walking a supplier’s shop floor and looking around. You should leave a supplier quality audit with a greater understanding of at least the following items.<\/p>\n
Quality Methodologies<\/b> \u2013 Many quality methodologies are used today, including Total Quality Management, Six Sigma, and Lean Six Sigma. Ask the about the methodology the supplier employs and how it’s used.<\/p>\n
Lot Determinations<\/b> \u2013 Asq.org defines a lot as “a defined quantity of product accumulated under conditions considered uniform for sampling purposes.” In quality recalls, good suppliers know exactly which lots were affected by the non-conforming material, ingredient, etc. So learn how the supplier tracks lots.<\/p>\n
Tools<\/b> \u2013 How is the supplier monitoring its quality? One common tool used is Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts. SPC identifies an acceptable range of quality measurements and then graphs actual measurements both between upper and lower limits of acceptability and outside those limits. Ask the supplier to show you how quality tools are used to monitor quality.<\/p>\n
Improvements<\/b> \u2013 Suppliers often use numbers to gauge their quality performance. Ask the supplier for a few years of reports with these metrics. Are the metrics getting better, worse, more static, or more erratic?<\/p>\n
Team Empowerment<\/b> \u2013 Experts agree that quality improves when line workers are empowered to watch for defects. For example, can the supplier’s employees tell you what they do to mitigate situations like discovering defects in their product? How will they address the problem?<\/p>\n
Sampling Arrangements<\/b> \u2013 In mass production, not every unit made is inspected. How does the supplier choose the size and composition of inspected samples?<\/p>\n
Inspection Process<\/b> \u2013 How does the supplier inspect items before shipment? Is this inspection method similar to the way your company evaluates conformance?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Are you tired of not getting enough opportunities, respect, and money out of your procurement career? Well, guess what? Nothing will change unless you take action towards becoming a world-class procurement professional.<\/p>\n Earning your SPSM Certification is the action to take if you want to bring the most modern procurement practices into your organization and achieve your career potential. Download the SPSM Certification Guide today to learn how to get started on your journey to a more rewarding procurement career!<\/p>\n<\/div> Are you a procurement leader whose team isn\u2019t achieving the results you know are possible? Maybe it\u2019s not enough cost savings. Or frustrating performance from the supply base. Or dissatisfied internal customers.<\/p>\n You need a performance improvement plan that\u2019s easy to implement and quick to produce results. The NLPA can help.<\/p>\n Download our whitepaper \u201cThe Procurement Leader\u2019s Guide To A More Successful Team.\u201d You\u2019ll learn the 7 steps for transforming your staff into a results-producing, world-class procurement team.<\/p>\n<\/div>Do You Want a More Rewarding Procurement Career?<\/h5><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>Need Better Performance From Your Procurement Team?<\/h5><\/div>
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![](\"https:\/\/www.certitrek.com\/nlpa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/12\/services-contracting.jpg\" "\\"services-contracting\\"")
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