Webinar on Supplier Management
Overview:
This talk includes the rationales behind the elements and policies of a good Supplier Management Program.
The quality and value of our finished products will only be as good as the quality of our worst suppliers. Therefore, a well-established supply chain is the key to productivity and profit for any business. But each link in that chain is subject to its own ups and downs.
If one supplier falters, every subsequent link and the entire chain become vulnerable. Therefore, the Goal of Supplier Management is to have a consistent supply of components with a required level of quality for the intended use at the lowest possible cost.
Many companies have increased their outsourcing of manufacturing processes as a strategy for remaining competitive in the global marketplace. Supplier controls are becoming increasingly important due to increased regulatory scrutiny in response to several hi profile recalls traced to issues at the suppliers that made it right through the existing quality controls at the end manufacturer. This has placed greater emphasis on Supplier Management and the need for better managing and controlling processes at these suppliers.
In general, it is usually more cost effective to implement controls at the supplier level, but additional controls
may also add cost. So there is usually a trade off between the level of supplier controls and purchase price.
When two parties are involved, it is critical that process knowledge and understanding is effectively
developed and communicated back and forth between the two parties.
The most important factor in Supplier
Management is the communications between the 2 parties. Sales Representatives and Purchasing Agents focus
mainly on the economic communications as stated in the purchase order. Supplier management goes much
deeper into the technical communications and responsibilities necessary to secure a consistent supply chain.
The regulatory agencies are now more deeply scrutinizing supplier controls and causing primary
manufacturers to push controls and requirements to their secondary and tertiary suppliers. However, it's still
important to base these controls on risk, rather than a knee-jerk response to control everything.
Otherwise, you'll just create needless work and cost for everyone.
The Goal of Supplier Improvement is to bring each supplier to a level of consistent quality that eliminates
or minimizes the need for further inspection and controls at the customer. To do this, we need to change
from Supplier responding to problems to Supplier preventing problems.
Areas Covered in the Session:
- Deciding to Outsource or Do It Yourself
- Supplier Selection and Qualification
- Planning and Supplier Controls
- Supplier Communication & Agreements
- Inspection Points and Programs
- Supplier Improvement & Cost Reduction
- Supplier Surveillance and Feedback
- Supplier Inactivation/Suspension
Who Will Benefit:
- Purchasing Agents and Program Managers
- Supplier Quality Assurance Managers and Engineers
- Quality Auditors
- Other managers and engineers involved in the supplier selection process