Organization of a Supplier Audit

ORGANIZATION OF A SUPPLIER AUDIT Objective of Supplier Audits 

Suppliers should consider developing a qualification strategy so that they can demonstrate to a customer how they manage the development and integral quality of their product. SAP s own qualification strategy is based on 

During an audit, the supplier aims to present its quality management system, demonstrating the qualification strategy ( say what you do ) and the documented evidence that everything is followed during development of a new release ( do what you say ). 

The efficient performance of customer audits requires careful planning between the vendor and the customer. The points given below should be taken into account and passed on to the customer during the planning of a customer audit. 

The date of the audit should be determined at least four weeks in advance. The areas to be audited should be agreed on three weeks before the date at the latest. If a checklist is to be used during the audit, it should also be made available to the supplier sometime before that date. SAP requires an advance copy of the auditor s checklist three weeks before the audit. It is in the customer s interest to share Its checklist with the supplier so that the supplier can ensure relevant information to checklist items are readily available during the audit. The duration of the audit should be limited to a maximum of two days. 

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