A Risk-Based Approach To Supplier And Vendor Audits

By David Butcher, MasterControl

A manufacturer’s ability to deliver high-quality products and maintain regulatory compliance relies in part on the quality-related activities of its own suppliers and vendors. Supplier and vendor audits can be important tools for manufacturing organizations to ensure their suppliers and vendors aren’t the source of major issues in product parts or materials.

Identifying and resolving supplier problems before they spread requires visibility into a supplier’s processes. With the right tools, supplier and vendor audits can be an effective mechanism for gaining that visibility and improving product quality. Conducted correctly, audits can be mutually beneficial to the manufacturer receiving goods and services and the vendor/supplier, as they help both parties come together as partners and collaborate to improve and maintain quality and compliance.

Many companies continue to use paper-based or manual systems to conduct and manage their audits. There is an easier, more effective way. Digital supplier quality management tools can dramatically enhance supplier audits and vendor qualification audits in a number of ways.