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Supply quality: today's pressing priority: in today's global environment, assuring product quality throughout the supply chain has become more important--and more difficult--than ever. The guidelines presented here can help companies meet that challenge.

Article Excerpt
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The guarantee of product quality has long been considered a pillar of corporate responsibility. However, recent events have demonstrated that ensuring the integrity of raw materials purchases is a growing challenge for many organizations. As supply chains continue to globalize, the need for robust supplier qualification and supplier management programs becomes increasingly critical.

Supplier qualification is more than simply auditing new direct suppliers--it is knowledge management of the whole supply chain from manufacturing site through delivery. By capturing and managing supply chain information, organizations can meet increasing regulatory standards and improve overall supplier management.

Recent health safety issues caused by contaminated raw materials in pharmaceutical drugs and consumer goods have highlighted the importance of knowing the pedigree of your supplier. Companies that do not effectively manage supplier quality run the risk of litigation and damage to their brand names and reputations.

Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers are all equally liable for quality issues under the Consumer Product Safety Acts. As supply chains and markets become increasingly global, companies must examine their supplier qualification processes to...