Who you depend on.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH BEFORE ENGAGING ANY SUPPLIER
That they exist and operate as claimed Their capacity Their reliability Their financial stability Their quality Their terms
WHY FINANCIAL STABILITY
A supplier that fails stops your operation.
HOW TO ASSESS IT
Payment behaviour with their own suppliers Length of operation Willingness to provide information Reputation in the trade
WHAT TO VERIFY
Their registration and their premises.
WHY PREMISES
Trading companies presenting as manufacturers is common.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Whether they make it or buy it.
WHY
It determines lead time, control and where problems originate.
WHAT TO REQUEST
References from current customers Samples Evidence of capacity
WHAT TO ASSESS
Quality, against your requirement Consistency, across samples and over time
WHY CONSISTENCY SEPARATELY
Single samples are selected.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT CAPACITY
Whether they can supply your volume alongside existing commitments.
WHY
Suppliers accept orders beyond their capacity.
WHAT TO ASK
Who else they supply and what proportion you would represent.
WHY
Being a small customer means low priority when capacity is constrained.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Whether alternatives exist.
WHY BEFORE COMMITTING
A sole source with no alternative is a serious exposure.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT
The assessment.
