Archive for March 15th, 2010
ISO 9001 Helping Select and Manage Your Suppliers?
When you purchase products or services from a supplier, you have two primary considerations:
1. Will the supplier you eventually select provide the best overall value or service which is consistent with your requirements?
2. Does the supplier have the ability to consistently provide the quality desired?
For consideration one – as the customer, you must specify criteria and quality objectives for the product. Through the use of your own quality management systems, you then confirm that delivered product meets your specifications.
For the second consideration – you may want the supplier to have a quality management system of their own to insure consistent controls are in place. How much control? To answer this, you need to consider the following questions:
· What (goods or services) will you be purchasing?
· What significant impact could these products have on the products you make and sell to your customers?
· What are the risks to your business if you experience a major upset as a result of a product non-conformance caused by these products?
· What do you know about the character and past performance of your supplier?
ISO 9001:2008 provides requirements for the purchasing process that your organization can implement, to develop and improve relationships with suppliers. These requirements include:
· Establishment of criteria and quality objectives for products or services you expect to purchase
· And quality management system controls that you require your suppliers to develop to meet your organizational requirements.
Supplier surveillance audits are very advantages when working with a supplier who’s product could have an major impact on your continued success. By periodically auditing these suppliers to your requirements, you will be ensuring that their quality management system continues to meet the needs of your organization. Even with the best of relationships, changes can occur that may cause unforeseen catastrophic results. Keeping your supplier close and monitoring their quality system will strengthen the relationship and reduce the chances of a major upset.