Supplier Quality Auditing Services

The purpose of performing Supplier Audits (i.e., 2nd Party Audits) “should” be to reduce risks and/or costs. In either case, Supplier Audits should only be performed when they're cost-effective and add value to the company. Supplier Audits can include:

• System Audits (e.g., for compliance with a specific QMS Standard, such as ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 17020, ISO 17025, etc.)
• Product Audits
• Configuration Audits

Supplier Audits can be On-site or Remote and may include witnessing specific activities (e.g., Product Testing, First Article Inspections).

Generally, there is little or no value in performing a “System Audit” of a supplier who is registered or accredited to a specific QMS Standard, such as ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 17020, ISO 17025, etc. In these cases, a System Audit is redundant. Most “real” value is realized through performing “Product Audits” and/or “Configuration Audits”. These are often initiated as a part of following up to verify the implementation and effectiveness of one or more Corrective Action Requests.

However, a more effective approach is to audit suppliers with repetitive deliveries of nonconforming products. These can result in auditors also providing support for the supplier (in the interest of the “Buyer” to increase the number of conforming products) through providing additional skills / knowledge in assisting the supplier to eliminate or mitigate the number of nonconformities. While this would be a conflict of interest for 3rd party audits, it is completely acceptable (and encouraged) for 2nd party auditors.

Richard Randall also offers Supplier Quality Auditing Services on behalf of companies.

Richard Randall is an Probitas AS 9100:2016 (Rev. D) Aerospace Auditor (listed in the Aerospace IAQG OASIS database) and was a IRCA certified Principle Quality Auditor for 25 years (from 1993 to 2018).