Vendor Management: Helping You Navigate Supplier Disruptions and Certification Lapses
At Peerless Precision, we’re proud of our network of qualified suppliers. We’ve worked hard to build partnerships with vendors that we know we can rely on to keep your project on time and on budget. We take vendor management very seriously because their work can be a reflection on us.
But we realize that many of our customers have strict lists of approved vendors, and even the most reliable suppliers can face challenges. In recent years, we’ve seen several of our customers’ approved suppliers face certification lapses, whether that’s due to tighter budgets or audit cycles. Learn how our team helps customers navigate these disruptions and keep production moving forward.
When Supplier Certifications Lapse
As an AS9100 Rev. D machine shop that’s CMMC compliant, we understand how vital certifications and credentials are. They’re especially critical in aerospace machining, where nearly every outside process we manage (from heat treating to welding and plating) requires Nadcap certification.
During one recent project, a plating vendor informed us that their Nadcap certification had lapsed. We needed to act quickly, so our team immediately went to their facility to retrieve the parts and discuss a path forward with our customer.
Finding a Practical Solution
When challenges like these arise, our determination drives us to collaborate with our customers and help find the best possible resolution in vendor management. Depending on the project, there are several options available:
Use Backup Suppliers
If a customer already has additional approved suppliers, we can often redirect the work immediately. Depending on the new supplier’s location and open capacity, this could lead to increases in lead time or cost. But it’s still typically the simplest path to a solution.
Review and Approve With a Temporary Authorization
In another recent case, a plating vendor let their Nadcap lapse, but our customer needed to keep the project moving forward. They got in touch with their quality department, reviewed their process, and approved them to continue temporarily, allowing production to proceed while the supplier sought to be re-certified.
Leverage Customer In-House Capabilities
Sometimes, our customers have relevant in-house capabilities themselves, and they can simply complete the remaining steps internally. That can stabilize their lead time and cost, and we’re happy to deliver the parts more quickly.
Adjust Qualification Criteria
In highly regulated industries like aerospace, for instance, exceptions are rarely possible. However, some of our customers may be able to adjust criteria to more quickly find new suppliers or allow the current supplier to continue.
Add New Suppliers
We can help identify and qualify new vendors. It’s important to understand that this process can take significant time, but we’re always committed to helping you find a solution to maintain production stability.
The Proactive Option: Expand Your Supplier List Ahead of Time
At Peerless Precision, we maintain contingency plans across our operations to ensure business stability and continuity in our precision machining. But for companies with strict approved supplier lists, there isn’t always a quick solution. That’s why proactive vendor management is critical for companies with approved supplier lists.
We recommend periodically expanding your supplier list to prepare for unexpected disruptions. Whether it’s a certification lapse, a natural disaster, or a labor shortage, issues can always arise at any supplier. Backup vendors help to balance workloads and ensure flexibility in the face of these events.
Your Partner in Manufacturing
At Peerless Precision, we manage projects on your behalf because we view ourselves as a part of your team. When you need a precision parts manufacturer, we’re always ready to go the extra mile to help you find a solution.
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