In each stage, the programme for securing the quality will be different and must be chartered out. The approach will involve a lot of legal documentation, data analysis and evaluation methods such as:
•Product specification: Details the product or service to be delivered by the supplier.
•Supplier agreements: Contract on the supply of internal results from the supplier’s production, Confidentiality agreements, Just-in-time agreements, Kan-ban, etc.
•Initial Sampling: These are the first samples that arrive from a supplier upon which ability to deliver according to the specification agreed upon. This is extremely important as it is the stage where problems are ironed out on both sides.
•Incoming Goods assessment: This is the continual assessment of delivered goods and issues such as sustainable quality and reliability are key.
•In-Production results analysis (demanding a degree of traceability): This analysis takes place initially as part of the Initial Sampling report and thereafter according to the Supplier Quality Engineering strategy. Each product will have its own risk factor that needs appropriate addressing.
•Data reporting on logistic results: timeliness of delivery by the supplier, accuracy of delivery, Quantity of complaints, Quantity of returns, speed in replacing poor quality items, etc.
•Response times to issues needed to be addressed. Turnaround times in new developments.
•External Criteria would include, Quality Audits at the supplier, Certification according to a Quality Standard, other 3rd party audit results (for example, audits carried out by competitors), etc.