Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Are you getting overrun with requests for supplier surveys?

How many supplier surveys are you asked to fill out each year?  Is there any way to make this process simpler?  One of my clients has over 2000 customers which means they get inundated with requests to fill out each customers supplier survey.

Most of these surveys do not contain anything new.  No earth shattering requests but the typical ones.  Do you have a quality manual, perform internal audits, a non conforming product procedure, etc.

I helped my client take all these requests and develop a Survey Response form that answers each one of these questions.  Will all of her customers take her version over theirs?  No, but the bulk of them do, understanding the time consuming process that it is, and knowing how little value added is there.

Everyone is going through the motions.  Mailed out survey to our suppliers? Check.  But until a comprehensive supplier audit and visit takes place, a survey asking these mundane items gives you very little in the way of how the supplier operates.

What do all suppliers want to know?  Do you have the capability and capacity to make a quality product and  ship it to me on time?  I haven't seen a supplier survey yet that addresses the basic issue of risk to the customer.  So until then, consider saving yourself some time, and develop a template to mail out when receiving these requests.

Love this idea or hate it - please let me know.