Supplier Qualification Services:
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New suppliers offer challenges to all organizations and are costly to effectively
qualify. Every supplier development project begins with pre-assessment planning,
followed by the supplier assessment/operational analysis. PlanTech can assist you
in conducting an onsite assessment of new suppliers to determine their weaknesses
and to recommend improvements. PlanTech Supplier Compliance Program can also monitor
(or train you to monitor) your supply chain to ensure that good suppliers are retained
and suppliers are encouraged to improve.
Supply Chain - Operational Assessment and Improvement
First, PlanTech believes the assessment process, to add value, must be undertaken
prior to sourcing - not after the fact, to "certify" an already-selected supplier
or to attempt to remediate an under-performing supplier. Second, the process must
assess enterprise capability - evaluating, at a minimum, product and process technology,
process design, process control methodologies, system disciplines and deliverables.
This necessitates an operational assessment involving personnel with extensive,
sophisticated knowledge of product and process engineering as well as effective
process control methodologies, partnered with others capable of making profound
organizational and commercial judgments.
Operational Due Diligence
PlanTech employs Operational Due Diligence, a thorough, disciplined process, to
determine real value, potential, and risk. To be effective, it must involve a rigorous
assessment of several critical areas. Each area is examined in the context of both
the present state and the (potential) future state, with careful considerations
of practicality, addressing:
- Cultural Barriers
- Technical and Technology Hurdles
- Systemic Concerns
- Financial Feasibility
In the PlanTech approach, an operational assessment will address, at a minimum:
- The overall capabilities, qualifications and limitations of an organization, considering
things like operational performance metrics in addition to more traditional financial
metrics, certifications, customer recognition and system awards (Shingo, Deming,
Baldrige, etc.), and evidence of valid 2nd and 3rd party assessments.
- Management systems are defined and effectiveness determined based on goals and measurable
objectives, understanding of actual (vs. public) drivers of policy and practice,
processes for and effectiveness in determining and acting on customer driven, critical
competitive issues.
- Current and historical customer-specific concerns, incidents and trends. These are
identified and examined, determining issues, performance criteria and benchmarks,
assessing what the organization considers "normal" versus "extraordinary" in terms
of failure and containment and as drivers for corrective action.
- Approaches to operational Planning of Products & Processes, with particular attention
to the focus (or lack thereof) on customer requirements, process definition and
control, manufacturing product and process metrics, the use of AQP, statistical
tools, analytical and error proofing techniques and preventive action. What approaches
to both process and product verification and validation are employed?
- Actual Products and Processes, including assessments of process capability and availability,
conformity to and effectiveness of control plans and inspection/test disciplines,
MSA and gauge control, application of error proofing, identification and traceability
and material controls as well as evidence of reduction in variation and continual
improvement. Purchasing and supplier relationships receive particular focus and
robust assessment, as do hiring and compensation practices.
- Technologies employed in product, process and information management are gauged
for competitiveness, suitability, compatibility and useful life, including facilities
and infrastructure, both internal and external (utilities, logistics, etc.)
- Process capability and Leanness, using sampling metrics to establish present state
as well as potential future state opportunities for efficiencies and economies in
flows, cycle times and capacity utilization.
This ultimately leads us to develop a statement of work, action plan and project
plan. Implementation includes executing the action plan and project plan with progress
reports along the way. Included in the progress reports are the number of deliverables
met and other measures of success. PlanTech monitors results after the conclusion
of the project to ensure that the improvements remain in place through our Supplier
Compliance Program.
Assistance can range from systems and/or process assessment per your criteria. Or
PlanTech can provide full development or review and improvement of qualification
criteria.
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Supplier Compliance Services
Suppliers can have drastic impact on an organization. An effective supplier program
with regular onsite assessment of systems, processes and products are critical for
an effective program. These assessments can be costly and with today’s global economy
cost is climbing. PlanTech can provide organization with assistance with ongoing
Supplier Assessments. Assistance can range from assessment per criteria provided
to full assistance in the development and /or improvement of qualification criteria.
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