Frequently Asked Questions: Supplier Management
What is supplier management?
Supplier management is a structured process for managing suppliers. Supplier management is used by organizations to ensure the consistent quality and compliance of supplier goods and services, and to regulate the impact of supplier products on a buyer’s business.
What is supplier management software?
Supplier management software centralizes supplier information in one, web-based system where organizations can track the status of supplier performance and communicate with them about related tasks, such as corrective actions. The software provides a platform to streamline all of the tasks that make up a business’ relationship with a supplier, including:
- Onboarding
- Documentation, including certifications
- Performance evaluations
- Corrective actions
- Surveys
What are the benefits of supplier management software?
An important advantage of supplier management applications within a QMS system is automatic integration between documentation and compliance processes, providing users with a total quality picture all in one place.
Supplier management software can streamline processes, automate tasks and provide end-to-end visibility into supplier performance. Key benefits include:
- Better risk control
- Improved efficiency
- Built-in traceability
- Improved regulatory compliance
- Stronger supplier relationships
Is supplier management required by regulators?
Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have established standards that support comprehensive supplier management. Deeper levels of traceability are especially important for closely regulated industries, such as pharmaceuticals and other life sciences. Regulatory bodies stress that product owners are the final responsible party for ensuring the quality of all inputs, including those from external parties.
How can QT9 QMS help me with supplier management?
QT9 QMS offers three dedicated supplier management modules: Supplier Evaluations, Supplier Surveys and Supplier Web Portal. Users are able to customize evaluations and surveys, generate reports from real-time data, and connect to quality applications, including corrective actions and deviations. The dedicated supplier web portal enables easy two-way communication with automated alerts and reminders.
Supplier management modules are just part of the 25-plus applications that come standard with QT9 QMS. QT9 QMS is a highly rated, affordable, easy-to-use quality management system that excels at all of the processes that go into providing high-quality goods and services that are FDA and ISO compliant.
