Convince as a strong business partner with supplier compliance

Why the compliance with requirements by suppliers is so important for a company

As every entrepreneur knows the supplier compliance with customer specifications is essential for the quality of customer products. Customers rely on suppliers to provide them with safe and compliant products, and if suppliers fail to meet these expectations the supplier relationship can be damaged. Under certain circumstances customers may even feel forced to take legal actions against the supplier. To avoid these problems suppliers must ensure that their products are always state-of-the-art technology and comply with applicable laws and regulations. Therefore, it is important that supplier stake measures in order to ensure the compliance with the applicable rules. This way they can protect the interest of their customers and avoid potential liability.

The benefits of certified suppliers

Reliable suppliers are important for every company. Even the smallest interruption in the supply chain can have a huge impact on the production. Companies need to ensure that they find the best suppliers for their products and services. Certified suppliers have an important competitive advantage over non-certified competitors: they are verified by an independent organisation and meet strict quality standards. This means that customers can trust that products and services sourced from certified suppliers meet their requirements. Other benefits of collaboration include greater efficiency, lower costs and better communication. In today’s competitive market companies cannot afford to take risks with their supply chain. Certified suppliers give customers the assurance of working with a reputable partner. For suppliers certification often offers sales advantages as many customers now only do business with certified suppliers. Certifications are often the entrance ticket to becoming a so-called preferred supplier from supplier to customer partner.

What your customers think of supplier certification

As an entrepreneur you know how important it is to certify your own suppliers. By ensuring that your suppliers comply with certain standards, you contribute to the protection of your customers and your own business. But what do your customers think about a certification of your company? Your customers see your certification most likely as a positive sign. It shows that you care about the quality of the products and services that you sell. This will make your customers aware that they are receiving high-quality products and services from you. Your customers will appreciate it if you act ethically and ecologically responsibly and can prove this through independent controls. This can help create a positive association with your brand and build loyalty among your customer base. Overall, it is clear that customers see supplier certification as something positive. By ensuring that you and also your suppliers are certified, you can help build trust with your customers.

How you are being found as a certified supplier

If you are a certified supplier potential customers can find you in several ways. First and foremost, they can search for you via the official register operated by the certifier such as TÜV Rheinland. Furthermore, customers can also search your website to find out about your products and services. In order for your certificates to be found they should be accessible via a separate menu item on the website. If you are active in professional networks and social media customers may also become aware of you through your personal contact details on platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. To increase your chances of being found as a certified company, you should use all available channels and actively market your certificates.

The meaning of supplier audits

Supplier audits are an important tool that customers use to monitor and ensure the quality of their suppliers. By conducting audits, companies can improve the quality of the products and services they receive from their suppliers. Furthermore, supplier audits can help to identify and minimise potential risks. Conducting regular supplier audits is therefore crucial to ensure the quality of supply chains. Certificates reduce the effort of supplier audits since a lot of information is already available and can be easily checked.

Five tips for keeping the status of a certified supplier

As a certified supplier you must meet certain standards and criteria on a permanent basis. To maintain your status, it is important that you keep up with the latest changes and updates. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of things:

• Find out about the latest changes and updates to the certification programme. You can often find the relevant information on the website or via your certifier’s newsletter.
• Make sure your contact information is up to date. This way you can be sure to receive important updates and notifications on certification requirements.
• Respond promptly to any enquiries or questions about your certification status.
• Designate a contact person who will compile the information and answer the enquiries.
• Be proactive in maintaining status. This includes regularly reviewing your policies and procedures to ensure they are up to date. Hire an external auditor to give you an objective overview.

When you follow these tips you can ensure that a you stay a certified supplier with a good reputation.

Conclusion

In summary, supplier compliance is important because it builds customer trust and minimises risk. To maintain certified supplier status, companies need to be aware of the latest changes and updates, regularly update their policies and procedures, and proactively verify compliance with the standards. With the right strategies companies can market their certificate effectively and position themselves permanently as a trustworthy supplier and partner to their customers.