Supplier Assessment and Development Consulting

Supplier assessment and development are critical components in the realm of engineering and manufacturing. The operational assessment focuses on the manufacturing systems, process analysis, reviewing the quality management systems, analysis of materials and logistics efficiency, new product development, leadership and human infrastructure and IT systems and support. Conducting operational assessments allows organizations to identify areas for improvement and establish basic line metrics to gauge progress. These baseline metrics can be seen as zone control plans broken down by zone, implementation of a pilot project, view and measure the impact of actions on the data, also use plan, do, check and act (PDCA) plan and use data to drive the team forward, and lastly use the team developed metrics to identify problems and drive sustainable improvements for future projects.

Assessing Operational Efficiency

Once assessments are complete, an improvement plan can be devised to address any shortcomings identified. This plan may include a detailed review with the leadership team, consensus of the gaps and priorities, a focused improvement plan with baseline metrics established and goals set for future growth, a phased plan roll-out and pilot project or model area selection for deployment. Once the assessment is complete, it is essential to create a structured improvement plan that outlines specific actions to be taken to enhance supplier performance. The improvement plan should include clear objectives, timelines, responsibilities, and key performance indicators to measure progress. Regular monitoring and review of the plan are essential to track the effectiveness of the actions taken and make adjustments as needed.

Enhancing Supplier Performance Through Structured Plans

By implementing a structured approach to supplier assessment and development, companies can optimize their operations, enhance quality control measures, and foster continuous improvement within their supply chain ecosystem. With the proper training, coaches and smooth transition this can be a major asset to supplier development and performance. It is important that these supplier companies sustain the gain and expand the project for growth as well as continue to coach and train for sustainability.

The Productivity Team’s Expertise in Supplier Development

The Productivity Team has been providing supplier development consulting services for a wide range of manufacturing clients including automotive OEMs and Fortune 100 Automotive Tier 1 suppliers. For more information on our supplier quality development consulting services, contact the team at TPT today!