Supplier quality training is crucial to running any successful business. After all, you want to ensure you're buying the best product if you're going to pass it along to your customers. Safety of the goods is of course paramount, followed by quality. It's imperative to your reputation that you maintain good supplier relationships.

A vendor audit allows companies to check into the quality procedures and documentation of the vendors. Knowing that their performance will be subject to audit will help your suppliers deliver the best goods consistently.

If you're going to start improving your vendor relationships with quality training and auditing, here are a few tips.

1. Consider contracting with just one safety and auditing consultant to perform safety testing and audits. It could end up costing you less in the long run.

2. Think about instituting ISO standards in your company and require the same standard for all suppliers.

3. Apply the training and auditing consistently across your suppliers. By identifying and eliminating costly problems, you'll see an improvement in your product quality and bottom line.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Ensure safety and quality with supplier training courses

Before you hold your suppliers accountable, you have to know the standards yourself. Appoint an employee who can take on the task of training and auditing suppliers to ensure safety and quality of the product. You can get your key employee up to speed with supplier audit training courses and certifications.

I recommend: You can take an auditing and supplier quality training course through eQuality to help ensure food safety, as well as plan for a food safety crisis such as a product recall. The American Society for Quality offers certification as a Quality Inspector in manufacturing and service industries.

Gain a competitive edge with supplier auditing classes

To stay on top of your game, you need to know the latest regulations and requirements. Making this investment in education through auditing training will help your business in the long run with improved processes and customer satisfaction. Take advantage of an online auditing course if you don't have time to invest during the day.

I recommend: The Center for Professional Innovation and Education offers quality assurance auditing for FDA-regulated businesses, as well as supplier quality audit training at several sites in the United States and Europe. Globepharm, for healtcare manufacturers, provides supplier training for auditing and e-learning opportunities. Caliso offers an online course in ISO 9000 and auditor training.

Choose an outside company for vendor audits or vendor management issues

A consultant can help you evaluate and improve your relationships with your suppliers and keep you abreast of government regulations. Consultants can analyze your vendor data, seeing where you need to make improvements, and conducting supplier quality seminars to get you up to speed.

I recommend: The Robert Francis Group can help you with vendor management issues, offering consulting, publications, training and workshops to businesses. Soltys conducts vendor audits as part of a full operational audit, and can assist your company with vendor accountability issues.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to note improvements in quality, however incremental, and bring them to your vendor's attention. Your suppliers may become more productive and dependable when they see that they are achieving their goals, and that you're willing to work with them to improve their processes.