Do you evaluate your suppliers?

Suppliers: Partners in the development of our company.

Indeed, our suppliers are there to help us become better, but we still need to collaborate with them. We must treat them as partners. To establish a solid partnership with your suppliers, you could, for example, share your needs with them. And take an interest in their businesses. They may have other services or products that could be added and meet your needs.

I've already made my needs known to my suppliers on several occasions. Sometimes, I was looking for a product or accessory that could do a certain thing. Or I was sending out a message that I would appreciate the addition of a service point at a certain location. And I can assure you, my suppliers appreciated this feedback from me.

If I added a service to my business, my suppliers would be among the first to know. Our suppliers are stakeholders in our business and have a stake in our success. Take the time to have dinner with your key suppliers and make time for this exchange regularly.

Develop a business partnership with suppliers

You would also benefit from listening to your supplier's reality. For example, I found it very important that my warehouse be delivered first. And subsequently, I asked them to deliver buildings with high consumption of sanitary supplies within 48 hours of the order. Buildings that didn't require urgent delivery within 72 hours. So instead of requiring a 24-hour lead time for all our contracts, I took their own needs into account.

I also facilitated the procurement process by having software myself that had the items with their product codes to facilitate data entry and thus streamline the process. The purchase order system was simple and made purchasing easier for both parties. While reducing sources of error.

Of course, before ordering, I took the time to do my own inventory to sort out what I would need in the month. And very few urgent orders were made between 2. The purchases therefore included a large batch and he ensured that a minimum purchase per delivery was made. Gasoline in vehicles is a significant expense for suppliers.

Paying invoices on time shows the respect we have for our suppliers. Some months may be more difficult than others. Be honest with your supplier. Don't tell them your check has been mailed if it hasn't. If you want their cooperation, be honest and respectful.

Supplier Evaluation

First and foremost, an annual evaluation of major suppliers seems essential to me. And this evaluation must be communicated to suppliers. Why? This will allow you to have a frank discussion about your needs and requests. Your suppliers will also have the opportunity to adjust and find solutions to meet your requirements. Furthermore, it's an excellent opportunity to share your future goals, new services, etc. Therefore, you should have the same respect for inquiring about what's new with your suppliers. Communicate your successes and what you would like to see improved in the coming year. I assure you, this process has always been a success over my years of dealing with suppliers.

I would like to send you two forms to help you complete your supplier evaluation.

One is for suppliers of products, accessories and equipment:

Form – Supplier evaluation of products and accessories.

And the other is for service providers:

Form – Service Provider Assessment

Non-conformity report

Of course, if there's a problem in the meantime, we report it immediately to minimize any irritations. There are several ways to inform your suppliers of a major problem. I remember a supplier who delivered an order to us on a pallet over 6 feet high. It had been wrapped in plastic. But due to gravity, it was swaying sideways and threatened to fall. So we took a photo and filled out a non-conformity report and sent it to our supplier. We attached the photo while informing them that in the future, orders would have to respect a maximum height and meet certain safety packaging standards. Everything was easily resolved, and we haven't had this type of problem since. For their part, my supplier was able to use this example to provide refresher training to their packaging employees.

Here is a non-conformity form Products, materials and equipment:

Form – Product or Equipment Non-Conformity Report

Non-compliance given to a subcontractor or employee

Form – Employee and Contractor Non-Compliance Notice

Have a great week and remember to take care of your suppliers.